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 2,516 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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Apple trees in spring, Germany
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An architectural masterpiece fit for a king
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Sanctuary among the trees
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International Whale Shark Day
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J.R.R. Tolkien Day
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On the edge
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Halfway there
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Dream world
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Angel of the sea
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Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
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Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Surrounded by a sea of sand
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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
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See-through cephalopod
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Whats blooming so brightly?
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Rethymno, Crete, Greece
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50 years of the Endangered Species Act
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Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
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Nature at its colourful best
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Drifting through Kerala
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In the running
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If these walls could talk...
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Pancake Day
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International Polar Bear Day
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Hangin around
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An old bridge in a new light
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Rugged rocks and ancient history
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Llansteffan Castle, Carmarthenshire, Wales
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Magnificent moss, magnified
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An ocean of stars above the desert