After trying to figure out what the New 7 Wonders of the World and the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World were in 2007 and 2011 respectively, a new campaign was launched in 2011. This campaign was aimed at discovering the 7 Wonders of the World regarding cities.
The goal was to find the “cities that best represent the achievements and aspirations of our global urban civilization,” as described by Bernard Weber, the founder of the New7Wonders organization.
The original list of the competition, which ran between 2011 and 2014, included 1,200 cities in 220 countries, but this number was reduced to 77 first and then to 28 finalists. Below you’ll find the list of 7 winning cities that can call themselves one of the 7 Wonders of the World!
1. Beirut – Lebanon
Beirut is the largest city in and capital of Lebanon, a country in the Levant region on the Mediterranean coast. The city has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world.
The first mentions of the city were found in an inscription of the New Kingdom of Egypt which dates back to the 15th century B.C. Today, the city is an important port city in the region. It was heavily damaged during the Lebanese Civil War which lasted between 1975 and 1990.
2. Havana – Cuba
Havana is the capital of Cuba and the 4th most populous city in the Caribbean. It was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century and played a major role in the Spanish Conquest of the Americas.
The Spanish also built walls and a fort around the Old City to protect it and granted it capital status in 1592. The city can now be divided into 3 different areas, Old Havana, Vedado, and the newer suburban districts as a result of the city’s expansion. It’s also a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of people every year.
3. La Paz – Bolivia
La Paz is officially known as “Nuestra Señora de La Paz” and is the capital city of Bolivia in South America, even though it’s only the third-most populous city in the country. The city was founded in the year 1548 by Spanish conquistador Captain Alonso de Mendoza and was named as such after peace was achieved in the region.
What’s remarkable about La Paz is its location at an altitude of 3,640 meters (11,942 feet) above sea level, making it the highest capital city in the world. This obviously provides stunning views of the nearby mountain ranges.
4. Vigan – Philippines
Vigan is officially known as the “City of Vigan” and is located in the province of Ilocos Sur in the utmost northwestern part of the Philippines in Southeast Asia. It’s remarkable because it’s one of the few Spanish colonial cities that have remained in good condition in the country.
It has therefore been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city features a remarkable combination of Spanish Philippines colonial-era architecture with local oriental architecture, making the entire place pretty much a large open-air museum.
5. Doha – Qatar
Doha is the capital and largest city of the State of Qatar, a country located on the coast of the Persian Gulf. The city is remarkable because over 80% of the country’s population lives in or around Doha, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.
The city was founded in the 1820s and only became the capital of the State of Qatar in 1971, after the country gained independence from being a British Protectorate. It’s home to countless fascinating skyscrapers that were built on reclaimed land that look wonderful against the Persian Gulf and desert setting, as well as multiple artificial islands.
6. Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is another relatively young city that has expanded from a simple village in the 19th century into a bustling metropolis. It’s the capital of Malaysia and the biggest city in the country. It features numerous stunning skyscrapers including the World-famous Petronas Twin Towers.
It was also the 6th-most visited city in the world in 2019 and houses 3 of the world’s 10 biggest shopping malls. This is remarkable because the city’s name literally translates to “muddy confluence,” a reference to the swampy area it was originally founded on.
7. Durban – South Africa
Durban is the third-most populous city in South Africa after the two major cities Johannesburg and Cape Town. It’s located on the east coast of the country and is the main city of a much larger metropolitan area referred to as the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
This metropolitan area is one of the largest urban areas on the Indian Ocean side of the African continent. One of the most remarkable facts about Durban is that it was named the “greenest city in the world” by the Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index, a remarkable achievement!
