Monuments

Pyramid of the Sun — major monument of Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Sun Largest pyramid at Teotihuacán, north of Mexico City; an ancient Mesoamerican stepped monument built in the early centuries CE, important architecturally, ritually, and as a modern…

Pyre: structure, cultural uses, history and modern considerations Pyre A pyre is an outdoor structure of combustible material used historically and today to cremate bodies or as part of ceremonial burnings; its form, meaning and regulation vary across…

Quai Branly Museum (Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac) Quai Branly Museum Museum in Paris devoted to the arts and cultures of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania; opened 2006 and holding hundreds of thousands of objects, with thousands on display.

Queen's Hall: London concert venue and birthplace of the Proms Queen's Hall Historic London concert hall opened 1893, famed for the Promenade Concerts (the Proms). Located in Langham Place, it served orchestral and chamber music until destroyed by bombing…

Quirinal Palace (Palazzo del Quirinale) Quirinal Palace Historic palace on Rome's Quirinal Hill; former papal and royal residence and today the official residence of Italy's president, used for state ceremonies, receptions and limited p…

Raigad Fort Raigad Fort is a hill fort in Maharashtra, India, known as the capital chosen by Shivaji and a key site for Maratha history, with surviving fortifications, waterworks, memorials an…

Red Bridge (Campbell Town, Tasmania) Red Bridge (Tasmania) Historic brick arch bridge at Campbell Town, Tasmania. Built by convict labour in 1836–38, it remains a functioning Midland Highway crossing and an important example of colonial en…

Red Fort (Lal Qila) — Mughal citadel in Old Delhi Red Fort Red Fort, or Lal Qila, is a 17th-century Mughal fortress in Old Delhi. Built under Shah Jahan, it housed the royal court and now serves as a historic monument, UNESCO site, and sym…

Reflecting pool A shallow calm water feature used in architecture and memorials to mirror structures and invite contemplation; covers form, history, notable examples, design, and maintenance.

Regensburg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter) Regensburg Cathedral Major Gothic cathedral in Regensburg, Germany, serving as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Regensburg; known for its twin spires, medieval stained glass and centuries-long const…

Reginald's Tower, Waterford: Ireland’s Oldest Civic Building and Viking Heritage Reginald's Tower Reginald's Tower in Waterford, Ireland: the country's oldest civic building, a Viking-named medieval defence landmark tracing centuries of urban history and preservation.

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Presidential library and museum in Yorba Linda, California, preserving the papers, artifacts, birthplace and tomb of the 37th U.S. president and offering exhibits and a research fa…

Richmond Bridge (Tasmania) A historic early 19th-century stone arch bridge in Richmond, Tasmania. Built by convict labour, it is recognised as the oldest bridge in continuous use in Australia and remains a h…

Riddarholmen Church (Riddarholmskyrkan) Riddarholmen Church Medieval former monastery church on Stockholm’s Riddarholmen, preserved as a royal burial site and historic landmark notable for its Gothic masonry, funerary monuments and later sp…

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK Stadium) Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C., originally D.C. Stadium, renamed for Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Longtime home to football, baseball and soccer tea…

Rochester Cathedral Rochester Cathedral, founded in 604 AD and rebuilt by the Normans, is the historic Anglican cathedral in Rochester, Kent, notable for early medieval origins, mixed Norman–Gothic ar…

Rohtas Fort (Qila Rohtas) Rohtas Fort A mid-16th century garrison fort near Jhelum, Pakistan, built by Sher Shah Suri; noted for massive defensive walls, monumental gates and a blend of Pashtun and local architectural…

Rök Runestone An early medieval Swedish runestone with the longest known runic inscription in stone, notable for its complex text, mythic references and central place in the history of Swedish w…

Roman Walls of Lugo (Muralla Romana de Lugo) Roman Walls of Lugo A largely intact late-Roman defensive circuit around Lugo's historic centre in Galicia, Spain, noted for its towers, ditch and continuous promenade; inscribed on the UNESCO World H…

Ross Bridge, Tasmania — historic convict-built sandstone crossing Ross Bridge Ross Bridge is a sandstone road bridge completed in 1836 in Ross, Tasmania. Built by convict stonemasons, noted for its carved decoration, it remains in use and is an important col…

Ross Hotel (Gran Hotel Pichilemu) — historic seaside hotel in Pichilemu, Chile Ross Hotel Late‑19th‑century coastal hotel and landmark in Pichilemu, Chile, created by Agustín Ross Edwards in 1885; declared a national monument in 1988 and notable for its resort architect…

Rouen Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame) — Gothic landmark in Rouen, Normandy Rouen Cathedral Major Gothic cathedral in Rouen, Normandy. Seat of the archbishop, celebrated for its façade, layered medieval building history, Monet paintings, and important art and funerary mon…

Royal Albert Hall Historic London concert hall opened in 1871, dedicated to Prince Albert; known for its domed auditorium, varied programme including the BBC Proms, and continued role in British cul…

Royal Alcázar of Madrid: fortress, palace and lost art Royal Alcazar of Madrid Former medieval fortress and royal residence in central Madrid (9th–18th c.), known for its layered architecture, rich art collection and destruction by fire in 1734.

Royal Hospital Kilmainham: history, architecture and modern use Royal Hospital Kilmainham A 17th-century Dublin complex built as a home for retired soldiers, later restored and adapted as a cultural site and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

Royal Museum (Edinburgh) — overview, architecture, collections and history Royal Museum Formerly the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, now part of the National Museum of Scotland: a Victorian museum building on Chambers Street housing science, technology, natural history and…

Royal Observatory, Greenwich: history, functions, and legacy Royal Observatory, Greenwich Historic observatory on Greenwich Park hill where the Prime Meridian was established; founded 1675 to improve navigation, now a museum and UNESCO-linked cultural site.

Royal Palace of Aranjuez (Palacio Real de Aranjuez) Royal Palace of Aranjuez An 18th-century Spanish royal residence in Aranjuez, Madrid, noted for its layered architecture, historic interiors, extensive gardens and its UNESCO-listed cultural landscape.

Royal Palace of Madrid Eighteenth-century royal residence in Madrid, Spain. A grand Baroque-Neoclassical palace used for state ceremonies, partly open to the public and housing important decorative colle…

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Museum, archives, and historic estate in Fremont, Ohio, housing the personal library and papers of President Rutherford B. Hayes; established in 1916 as the first presidential libr…

Saalburg — Roman fort and archaeological museum in the Taunus, Germany Saalburg Saalburg is a reconstructed Roman fort on the Upper Germanic Limes in the Taunus mountains. Built c. 90 CE, enlarged to c. 210, abandoned in the 3rd century, rebuilt in 1897 and no…

Sacred Cenote (Cenote Sagrado) — Chichen Itza Sacred Cenote A natural limestone sinkhole at Chichen Itza used by the ancient Maya for water, ritual offerings and ceremonies to the rain deity; an important archaeological and cultural site.

Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai: Byzantine-era Orthodox Monastery and Manuscript Library Saint Catherine's Monastery Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt's Sinai: a continuously inhabited 6th-century Eastern Orthodox monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site housing one of the oldest collections o…

Sainte-Chapelle: 13th-century Gothic reliquary chapel on Île de la Cité Sainte Chapelle Medieval royal chapel in Paris built for King Louis IX to house Passion relics; famed for its tall stained-glass windows and rayonnante Gothic design, restored in the 19th century.

San Juan de la Peña — historic monastery carved into the cliff near Jaca San Juan de la Peña San Juan de la Peña is a medieval monastery in Huesca, Spain, famed for its cliff-set church, Romanesque cloister, royal associations and layered complex of old and new monastic bu…

San Luigi dei Francesi — Church of Saint Louis of the French in Rome San Luigi dei Francesi San Luigi dei Francesi is Rome’s national church of France, famed for the Contarelli Chapel with three Caravaggio masterpieces, its late-Renaissance/Baroque architecture, and ties…

San Marco, Florence — Dominican convent, museum and Fra Angelico frescoes San Marco, Florence Dominican convent and church in Florence famed for Fra Angelico’s frescoed cells, Michelozzo’s library, Medici patronage and the Museo Nazionale di San Marco.

San Pietro in Montorio Historic Roman church on the Janiculum hill, celebrated for Donato Bramante’s Tempietto—a small High Renaissance martyrium marking the traditional site of Saint Peter’s martyrdom.

Sandringham House (Royal Country Home in Norfolk) Sandringham House Private country house and estate in Norfolk, long associated with the British royal family; a personal residence of the sovereign and the site of family traditions and seasonal eve…

Sangtarashan Cave (Stonecutters' Cave) — Jahrom, Iran Sangtarashan cave Hand-carved cave complex near Jahrom in southern Iran, featuring a network of corridors, carved columns and openings; often cited as one of the world's largest man-made cave system…

Santa Croce, Florence: history, art, and the 'Pantheon' of Italian glories Santa Croce, Florence The Basilica of Santa Croce is Florence’s principal Franciscan church: a Gothic landmark housing chapels, major frescoes, and funerary monuments to Italy’s most celebrated artists,…

Santa María del Naranco 9th-century Asturian pre-Romanesque building on Monte Naranco near Oviedo, originally a royal hall for King Ramiro I and later converted to a church; UNESCO World Heritage site.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Medieval cathedral in Galicia, Spain, reputed burial site of Saint James; Romanesque core with Gothic and Baroque additions, endpoint of the Camino de Santiago and a UNESCO World H…

São Paulo Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de São Paulo) São Paulo Cathedral The São Paulo Cathedral is the principal Catholic church of the Archdiocese of São Paulo in Brazil. A landmark of Gothic Revival design, it dominates Praça da Sé and functions as a…

Sarvestan Palace A Sassanid-era monument near Sarvestan, Iran, built in the 5th century as a royal leisure pavilion; notable for its vaulted hall, domed architecture and archaeological layers showi…

Schönbrunn Palace: Vienna’s Rococo summer residence and historic gardens Schönbrunn Palace Schönbrunn Palace is a major Rococo palace in Vienna with 1,441 rooms, extensive Baroque gardens, the world’s oldest zoo, and deep links to the Habsburg monarchy and Austrian cultu…

Great Seal of Oklahoma Seal of Oklahoma Official emblem used to authenticate Oklahoma state documents, featuring a central territorial seal, a five-point star showing the Five Civilized Tribes, and 45 stars for the Union…

Selby Abbey Selby Abbey is a medieval former Benedictine monastery and active Anglican parish church in Selby, North Yorkshire, noted for its Norman and Gothic architecture, long history, and…