There are plenty of examples of art and architecture that show that natural marble can thrive in the elements and withstand the test of time. Centuries later, some of the world’s most famous buildings are standing tall and proud in all their marble glory. Check out this short list of some of the most famous pieces. 

The Taj Mahal (India)

            The Taj Mahal in India is one of the most famous buildings in the world. With it’s unique dome-like roof and the elegance surrounding the entire structure, the Taj Mahal is a spot like no other. Shah Jahan, king of the Mughal Empire, had the building built to fulfill a promise to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. On her deathbed, Mumtaz Mahal made her husband swear to build her the most beautiful tomb in the world, so that is exactly what he did with the Taj Mahal. It took builders from multiple countries 17 years to complete the Taj Mahal, but their effort was well-worth it. From the towering ivory marble to the reflecting pools, the Taj Mahal is a must-see destination. To learn more about this famous building, check our National Geographic’s site: https://bsyl.ink/TajMahal. 

The Tower of Pisa (Italy)

The Tower of Pisa is more commonly called the Leaning Tower of Pisa because of its iconic tilt. Located in the ever-gorgeous Italy, the Tower of Pisa is one of the world’s most popular tourists destinations. Building the tower took 200 years because of a series of wars that caused many delays. The Tower of Pisa was constructed with white and grey marble as a bell tower to accompany the other buildings in the piazza. Standing at roughly 185 high, the Tower of Pisa is a massive example of Romanesque architecture. Learn more about the tower here: https://bsyl.ink/LeaningTowerOfPisa. 

The Washington Monument (United States)

              The Washington Monument is one of the most recognizable structures in America. Jutting 555 feet into the Washington DC sky, this massive marble structure is as commanding as the presidents that have ruled America. The monument actually has two different colors that switch at the 150 foot mark. Originally designed by Robert Mills in 1848, construction of the Washington Monument was halted in 1879 due to wars, political uprisings, and lack of funding. It was completed in 1884 by Thomas Casey and the US Army Corps. The variation in color is due to the different lengths of time each section was exposed to the sun and elements, as well as mining from a different quarry. You can learn more about the Monument here: https://bsyl.ink/WashingtonMonument.

The Statue of David (Italy)

             The Statue of David is one of the most famous pieces of artwork in the world. Housed in Italy, this magnificent marble sculpture by Michaelangelo has graced the pages of countless History books. The Statue of David was sculpted from a solid block of white marble and depicts David from the biblical story of David and Goliath. For the first time ever, David was depicted before the battle rather than as the victor like past sculptures. Michaelangelo captured the moment unlike any artist before him, and David remains one of the most well-known works of art in the world. You can read a deeper history of the Statue of David here: https://bsyl.ink/StatueOfDavid. 

There are of course many more examples of marble around the world. This list only contains some of the more famous examples of marble used in architecture and art. With a simple search, you can find dozens of examples not discussed here. Now that you know more about marble, consider adding it to your home. Take a look at our fabulous selections: https://bsyl.ink/NaturalMarble. Check out our blog for more reasons why marble is so magical.