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Natural stone has always been a preferred building material and evidence of that are the stunning buildings that surround us. Some of them date back many centuries ago but are still included in any list of beautiful or original buildings and sculptures, such as Taj Mahal or the Coliseum. Many modern buildings are also covered with natural stone tiles and nowadays having marble, granite or travertine as exterior or interior solution in your home or office is a sign of good taste and vision. Many natural stone constructions have been used as places of worship of various deities around the world, while marble has been the preferred material for sculptures throughout the ages – from depicting the gods of Olympus in Ancient Greece to modern art installations. Below you can find a compilation of some of the most beautiful buildings and sculptures in the world – some of them are well-known, others are more exotic and of course, there are even some you might not have supposed that are constructed of natural stone.

Famous stone buildings around the world

Our tour begins with the four probably most famous stone buildings around the world – Taj Mahal, The Coliseum, The Great Pyramid and The Washington Monument. This is a fine selection of constructions made of different stone and used for different purposes. They are a symbol of the durability and longevity of marble, travertine, limestone, granite. They all have their unique beauty and history and are definitely an attractive tourist destination. The Washington Monument is the youngest of all and also holds the prize for the tallest stone structure. The obelisk stands at 169.294 m but its initial height was intended to be 183 m.

Find some more interesting details about these four buildings in this blog post.

27 world famous buildings to inspire you

Architecture and stunning design combined with natural or extravagant building materials result into some of the most inspiring buildings of the world. This list feature versatile constructions from different time periods, religions and serving different purposes. Some of them, like the Coliseum or the Lotus Temple are made entirely of natural stones, while others like the Cologne Cathedral feature elements made of black marble that enhance their beauty. There are also some, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, which was initially build of wood and covered with coloured marble slabs at a later period. You can enjoy the example of a completely natural house if you visit La Pedrera in Barcelona – its uniqueness made UNESCO recognize it as World Heritage back in 1984. Even though natural stone is an excellent building material, some of the modern buildings that made it to this list are made of other materials such as glass and iron, see the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur or the Shard in London. They make a statement with their different approach to architecture. Keep reading and you will uncover many more amazing buildings here.

Famous buildings and structures

This interesting article by infoplease.com really provides us with curious details about the most famous buildings and sculptures around the world. You won't be surprised to hear that many of them are made of marble, granite, limestone or other natural stones and materials. It takes you on a tour throughout the ages starting from prehistoric and ancient times to later European architecture. You will also find interesting information about the buildings and constructions in Asia, Africa South America and in the USA.

Learn a bit more about the Great Wall of China or Machu Picchu in this illustrative and informative article.

10 Famous Stone and Rock Indian Sculptures

Our tour in search of fascinating natural stone constructions takes us to India, where you can find truly different things. The tour starts from the Kangra Fort in Himachal Pradesh, which is believed to be one of the oldest forts in India, and takes us to Dilwara Temple and the Qutub Minar. The carvings in the temples look quite extraordinary and are more than impressive. They are evidence of the amazing skills of the stone carvers of that time. You can also see a series of cave temples and examples of colossal stone work. If you don't have the opportunity to travel to India, then just read the article below and enjoy the amazing pictures and interesting video about Akshardham, which is often described as the 8th Wonder of The World. Read more.

A Web Gallery of Stone Buildings and Their Building Stone

 

This is an unbelievably comprehensive list depicting different buildings and the stone they are made of. A true gallery of images and information that takes you around the world. You can find well-known buildings such as the Roman Arena in Verona, Italy or almost unknown ones as the stone cabin in Utah, USA, which is made of the unique red sandstone. The article is divided into sections depending on the type of stone – metamorphic rocks, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and combination of 2-3 or more types of rocks. Enjoy this detailed and informative compilation of gorgeous buildings and the material they are made of.