Mental Floss

ARCHITECTURE









Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece.

Its cantilevered tiers hang over a 30-foot waterfall—Frank Lloyd Wright’s ingenious way of melding the human-made structure with its natural surroundings. Here are 12 facts about its history and legacy.

Kirstin Fawcett




St. Peter’s at night.

Whether you're Catholic or not, it's hard to argue with the claim that St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is an amazing feat of architecture and art.

Stacy Conradt






The Parthenon sits atop Athens’s Acropolis.

The ancient Acropolis has loomed over the Greek city of Athens for more than 3000 years as a defensive citadel, temple complex, weather station, and even a site of resistance against the Nazis.

Allison C Meier


The Treasury at Petra in Jordan.

Carved from rock in modern-day Jordan, Petra prospered for centuries under Nabataean and Roman rule. This dazzling settlement is now one of the region’s greatest attractions.

Benjamin Lampkin