World Heritage Sites

Agra is a medieval city 1) on the banks of the river Yamuna and is famous for having once 2) been the capital of the Mughal empire. It has three World Heritage Sites from the Mughal era.The most important of these is the Taj Mahal, which is 3) not only a World Heritage Site but is 4) also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal is a masterpiece of symmetry and when viewed 5) from a distance appears to float in the air. It was originally built as a mausoleum for the favourite wife of one of the Mughal emperors. The other major sites of interest 6) are the red sandstone Agra Fort, and the Fatehpur Sikri, a city built on the outskirts of Agra in the form of a Mughal military camp. Agra also has a long tradition 7) as a centre of learning and literature.

Established at the beginning of the 11th century, the historical centre of this city is a World Heritage Site. In the 17th century it 1) was Russia's second largest city, and during the Polish occupation of Moscow it acted 2) as the country's capital. Yaroslavl has many Orthodox shrines and monasteries located along the banks 3) of the Volga River. The oldest building in Yaroslavl is the Transfiguration of the Saviour Monastery, parts of which date 4) back to the 12th century. Yaroslavl is renowned for 5) its 17th-century churches built of red brick with bright tiled exteriors, and for having some of the 6) most impressive frescoes of the Golden Ring churches. Yaroslavl can also lay claim to having the oldest theatre in Russia. The Volkov Theatre was the first professional public theatre in the country and is still 7) in use to this day.

Vladimir, although traditionally accepted as having been established as a city in the early 12th century, has been inhabited 1) for approximately 25,000 years. It was one of the medieval capitals of Russia and three of its buildings are World Heritage Sites. 2) From the middle of the 12th to the early 13th century, Vladimir enjoyed immense growth and prosperity, 3) which lasted until the Mongol invasion of Russia. After the Mongols, Vladimir 4) never fully regained its former importance and went 5) into decline.Today, the city is a significant tourist centre with many remarkable examples 6) of pre-Mongol Russian architecture.The World Heritage buildings in the city 7) include the magnificent five-domed Assumption Cathedral, the Cathedral of St Demetrius and the splendid Golden Gate.

The city of Bath, a World Heritage Site, was originally founded 1) by the Romans, who built baths and a temple around the natural hot springs that occur in this part of the Avon valley. But it was in the 18th century 2) that Bath became one of the most fashionable places in England, as the aristocracy and the wealthy gathered there to enjoy the health benefits of the hot springs and the many theatres and 3) other places of entertainment. The best preserved Roman site in the city is the Roman Baths complex, 4) which features the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple and the Roman Bath House. Despite the extensive damage the city sustained from bombing in World War II, 5) Bath also has many fine examples of Georgian architecture in the Palladian revival style. 6) One of the finest examples is The Circus, which is believed to have 7) been inspired by the Colosseum in Rome.