Today is a monumental occasion: International Day for Monuments and Sites. Also called World Heritage Day, the event aims to highlight how important the task of conserving our cultural heritage is. A monument can be anything from an architectural work to a sculpture—something that has outstanding value from a historical, artistic or scientific point of view. Some of the amazing heritage sites around the world include Machu Picchu in Peru and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The stone structure in today"s image is part of the medieval city walls of Ávila in Spain. Built between the 11th and 14th centuries, these fortifications have a perimeter of over 2,438 metres. When they were first built, they served to defend the city against attacks from outsiders; nowadays, visitors can walk around nearly half of the circumference of the walls, enjoying views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
International Day for Monuments and Sites
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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A remote oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert
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The animal kingdoms great migration
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Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
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Christmas Day
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This clever bird passes with flying colours
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Mount Sopris, Colorado
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Unbe-leaf-able
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When ice imitates art
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A modern recreation
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Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna, Austria
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The Painted Hills, Oregon
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Farewell, Ma’am
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Festivus
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An endless stretch of sky
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Incan ingenuity
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Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, USA
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The Rainbow Bridge
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International Polar Bear Day
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An oasis in the desert
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Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Ireland
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Time to make an impression
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Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
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Bowling Ball Beach, California, USA
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Where the humpback whale sings
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Grey seal pup
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Old barn and canola field, Palouse region, Idaho
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Big rocks, big heads, still counting?
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Reflecting its stylish past today
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Mesmerising glass pyramids
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Nature’s own canvas