Stari Ras

Ras is known in modern Serbian historiography as Stari Ras. It was one of the first capitals of the medieval Serbian state of Raška, and the most important one for a long period of time. It's located in today's region of Raška. The city was right in the centre of the early medieval state. Stari Ras was founded between 8th and 9th centuries and Ras got deserted in the 13 th century.

This medieval town is 11 km west of Novi Pazar and it stands on a hill known as Gradina. There are three archaeological sites within the old Ras complex: the fortress on Gradina, the cave together with the monastery of the Archangel Michael beneath the fortification and the settlement  of Pazarište ( formerly Trgovište ). The Ras fortress is preserved in a ruined state as the oldest example of a military architecture from medieval Raška. Around Ras there is also a group of medieval monasteries and churches that in 1979 were entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List under the common name of Stari Ras and Sopoćani.

The Walled City of Dubrovnik, Croatia

In the Croatian region of Dalmatia along the Adriatic Sea is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Dubrovnik is idyllic yet bustiling with activity. The walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the citizens of the afterward proclaimed maritime city-state of Dubrovnik, situated in southern Croatia. 

The city is as old as 7th century. In 1979, the old walls of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The city is a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea and ancient enough to have other activities apart from soaking in the Mediterranean beaches. Dubrovnik, being an independent state, was the first country to recognize the United States as a sovereign state when it declared independence from the British. Most of its buildings are built using the Baroque style architectural designs. 

Everyone can engage in almost every holiday activity in Dubrovnik. From jeep safari, horseback riding, sailing to the Elafite Islands and a visit to the national park on the Island of Mljet. Tourists will never be short of fun things to do.

The state of Dubrovnik was among the first countries to abolish slave trade in the 15th c. It seems that the country valued freedom even then. 

The city of Dubrovnik is the Eastern European Paradise. It is sort of what Hawaii is to North America.

La Sagrada Familia, Spain

La Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, that has been under contruction since 1882. The main architect of the church was Antoni Gaudi, who died in 1926 when La Sagrada Familia was only about 25% complete.

The design of La Sagrada Familia is believed to be Art Nouveau style, with influences of Spanish Late Gothic, and Catalan Modernism. The ground-breaking for a La Sagrada Familia took place in 1882.  The construction has been funded by donations. As of October 2015 La Sagrada Familia is estimated to be 70% complete. The entrance fees of tourists visiting La Sagrada reach approximately 25 million euros a year. This is the annual budget for construction. The spire of La Sagrada Familia is planned to reach 560 feet when completed.This beautiful attraction was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed it a minor basilica in 2010. The expected completion date for completion of La Sagrada Familia is 2041.

The London Eye, England

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel located along the river Thames in London, England. Today, it is Europe's tallest Ferris wheel. The London Eye was opened formally by Prime Minister Tony Blair on New York's Eve 1999, but it was not opened for public use until the march of 2000 due to technical issues. By June of 2008, 30.million people had taken a ride on the London Eye. This attraction had several names including - the British Airways Eye, the Coca-cola London Eye and so on.. It has also been known as the Millennium Wheel. The London Eye has 32 air-conditioned and sealed passenger capsules that can hold as many as 25 people. Inside the capsule passengers can move around or sit in the chairs provided. It takes 30 minutes to ride the London Eye, and does not stop to allow passengers on and off. Approximately 3.5 million people visit the London Eye each year and it is U.K.s most popular(paid) tourist attraction. Very interesting thing about  attraction is that is a popular place for proposals. More than 5000 engagements have begun while riding the London Eye.

The London Eye in London is symbolic to its people in the same way that the Eiffel Tower is to the people of Paris.

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. It was built as a symbol of Brazilian Christianity. In 1850, the idea of building a religious monument was first suggested by a Catholic Priest- Pedro Maria Boss. The request for financing wasn't approved because Princess Isabel was not a fan of idea.

 It wasn't until 1920. when a group petitioned for support to build a landmark statue that it became a reality. The design was chosen from several ideas-one wasa depiction of the Christian cross. Another was a statue of Jesus holding a globe, while standing over a pedestal that was to symbolize the world. Construction began in the 1920's, taking nine years to finish. 

Christ the Redeemer is the largest art deco statue in the world, also it is the 5th largest statue of Jesus. This statue is located in the Tijuca Forest National Forest, at the top of the Corcovado Mountain. The statue weighs approximately 635 tonnes. The stones that were used to build Christ the Redeemer came from Sweden. The statue had to be constructed in pieces and carried to the mountain top to be erected. The statue is considered an icon of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, and also became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on July 7th, 2007.

Ellis Island

When people today refer to Ellis Island, they generally invoke its legacy in the national saga of immigration to America, standing with the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. So, Ellis island was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the United States as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. 
The island was greatly expanded with land reclamation between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the site of  Fort Gibson and later a naval magazine. 
It is located in Upper New York Bay and most of the Island is located in New Jersey. Ellis Island had several names before it was acquired by Sam Ellis, during the American Revolution. Ellis Island was also nicknamed- 'Heartbreak Island' and also 'The Island of Tears'- because of the amount of those denied immigration.

During and after World War II the Island was used to detain approximately 7,000 Japanese, Italians and Germans, believed to be spies or guilty of sabotage. 1907. was Ellis Island's busiest year. 1,004,756 immigrants were processed there in that year. In order to gain entry to the U.S., immigrants were required to answer 29. questions. Annie Moore, a 15-year old from Ireland, was the first immigrant to pass through at Ellis Island.

Alcatraz, San Francisco.

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay, 2.01 km offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The small island was developed with facillities for a lighthouse, a miliitary fortification, a military prison- 1868, and a federal prison from 1933 until 1963. Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of aboriginal people from San Francisco, who were part of a wave of Native activism across the nation with public protests through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

The entire Alcatraz island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In 1993, the National Park Service published a plan entitled Alcatraz Development Concept and Environment Assessemnt. This plan offers visitors to enjoy its scenery and bird, marine, and animal life. Gardens planted by families of the original Army post, have been restored after 40 years. Alcatraz was remembered as the most secure prison of old times, home to most vicious criminals of that time. Families lived on Alcatraz during its prison years. Interesting thing is that prisoners actually did escape from Alcatraz. The average number of prisoners was 260. 

The word Alcatraz -Spanish, means pelican. The first hospital on Alcatraz opened in 1893. Each year, hundreds of athletes participate in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. The event includes a 1.5-mile swim to San Francisco, plus an 18-mile bike ride and 8-mile run. Alcatraz might be haunted.