A survey of users of Google’s geolocation-oriented photo-sharing website, Panoramio, has ranked 15,000 cities and their attractions according to the number of photos tagged. While New York bagged the top spot as the most photographed city, Europe dominated the chart with eight places in the top 10. Although that may not come as shocking news to some, the most photographed attractions themselves are nonetheless surprising. Join us on a tour of the 5 most photographed attractions in the world this year.
5. Maiden’s Tower, Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, the city where east meets west. With so many cultural influences from two different continents and two different religions either side of the Bosphorous river, the city is awash with fascinating monuments: The Hagi Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Gala Tower to name a few. Contrary to many expectations however, it was Maiden’s Tower that trumped them all as the stand out monument for online photographers. Sat at the southern entrance of the Bosphorous strait, Maiden’s Tower represents the exact point where the two continents, Asia and Europe, meet. Impressive.
4. Moulin Rouge, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower, the most visited monument in the world. Since its construction over 200,000,000 tourists have visited the iconic sculpture. Surely it must be the most photographed attraction in the world, let alone in Paris? Well not quite. The Moulin Rouge has outdone the famed Parisian structure, as well as the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Montmartre. Just another reminder that sex sells.
3. Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain
Designed by world renowned architect Antoní Gaudi, Barcelona’s Park Güell and its exotic building structures make up one of Southern Europe’s largest architectural compounds. Situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, the UNESCO World Heritage site provides plenty of photographing opportunities from its many vantage points. Just one of the reasons it is third in this year’s most photographed attractions in the world. Another being that the park celebrates its centenary this year and has thus seen an increase in tourists in 2014.
2. Trinità dei Monti, Rome, Italy
Rome is the world’s second most photographed location according to Google. Within Rome you have the spectacular millennia old Colosseum, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Besides the Colosseum, there is the famous Trevi Fountain, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel among many other wondrous monuments, but the most popular of all for photographers… The Trinità dei Monti, a stunning Renaissance church built on a former vineyard.
1. Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA
Every year New York attracts tourists from all around the world. People travel miles to see the bright lights of Times Square, the glory of the Statue of Liberty and the sheer size of the Empire State building. Yet the more modest but equally impressive Guggenheim is not only the most photographed tourist attraction in New York, nor in America, but in the world. The contemporary arts museum’s bizarre cylindrical structure which widens from bottom to top is a worthy albeit surprising winner.
