No, this list does not start with the Taj Mahal. Rather, my favorite world architecture is actually a group of buildings: the candy-colored town of Willemstad, Curacao in the Caribbean ABC Islands! What can I say? Color captures my heart. Click through to see the city's rainbow bridge.

Yes, I took that photo by dangling my camera off the edge of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, to snap pictures from 1,825 feet above Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. What a surreal experience and place.

As someone who has studied the history of the Greek and Roman Empires, it was magical to walk through the 2,000-year-old ruins of Ephesus: a city in Turkey where you can still see the library, theater, and even toilets used by ancient people.

How does a house in southwestern Pennsylvania make it onto a list with Ephesus and the Burj Khalifa? Because Frank Lloyd Wright's 1964 Fallingwater house is astounding in how it connects with the natural rocks, waterfall, light, and forest around it. It's America's architectural gem for a reason.

Heeeeey, here it is! What's often called the most beautiful building in the world, Shah Jahan's 1635 "Monument to Love" in Agra, Uttar Pradesh India, exceeds all expectations when seen in person. Check out these photos of the details from the inside, walls, and views.

What a miraculous building! Turkey's Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was built in 537 CE and has served as a church, mosque, museum, and more. Delight in these photos of its 182-foot-tall arched ceiling and shimmering gold decorations.

The tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere has over 2,000 rooms and windows, and a set of classrooms to represent different nations!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the architecture of this 2007 building in the United Arab Emirates. If you click nothing else in this list, pop over to this link to see the 49-foot-high chandelier covered in gold and colorful gems, plus the biggest marble mosaic on earth. Oh, and it's free to enter!

Traveling south to the Central American country of Belize, we find the ancient Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, nestled in the lush green jungle. Built between 650 and 1000 CE, these pyramids are still open to climb! Now that's some solid construction.

What's the most photographed hotel in the world? The 1893 Chateau Frontenac, which is perched artfully on the banks of St. Lawrence river in Quebec City. In fact, the entire district of Historic Old Quebec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and when you scroll these photos you'll see why. It looks like a fairy tale!

During the Guilded Age of the late 1800s and early 1900s, wealthy families built extravagant mansions along an ocean cliff in Newport, Rhode Island that we can now tour today for a jaw-dropping walk through luxury. The Breakers, Marble House, and the Elms are just a few.

Sometimes architecture is so famous, we don't realize that it has influenced buildings in our home town. This article explains how I realized that the Acropolis in Athens, Greece helped shape the entryway sculptures at the school where I teach in Boston!

It's a real workout to tour the 7,800,000 square foot, 980-building Forbidden City in Beijing China, but the historic and artful architecture (dating five centuries back to the 1400s CE) make it worth the effort. If you can't tour in person, these detailed photos can give a virtual experience.

I have to include an architectural gem from my home city, right? The Copley Library in Boston , Massachusetts (built in 1895) is one of the most beautiful -- and FREE -- attractions in the city. It's a perfect place to sit, get work done, or tour when in Back Bay. Don't miss the arched courtyard, green lamp reading room, and new rooms for children and teens.

The Greek ruins on the misty mountainside of Delphi, Greece were built in the 8th Century BC, and are a perfect example of how architecture can blend perfectly with its natural surroundings to evoke feelings of awe and importance.

Learn the story here of how one man saved the colorful buildings of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, to make it the beloved attraction it is today!

New York City is home to the biggest church building on the continent: a phenomenal 120,000 square foot structure which was started in 1892 and is still not complete -- earning it the nickname "St. John the Unfinished." Fact: The author of A Wrinkle in Time is buried there.

I knew the Great Wall of China was over 5,000 miles and one of the wonders of the world, but I didn't realize that sections of it were so steep, or the views so incredible! See the photos here of this less-visited part of the historic tourist attraction... and why I was sweating so much.

Want to see the most beautiful doorways in the world? Ogle the art of this Rajasthan, India architecture.

When we think of ornate architecture, stone often comes to mind, but seeing these bright, elaborate wooden houses in the vacation island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts might open your imagination for what's possible. You can even rent some of these delightful houses for a vacation stay!

What kind of hotel results when the construction budget is over THREE BILLION dollars? The mind-blowingly extravagant architecture of Emirates Palace in the UAE. It opened in 2005, and even has a gold bar vending machine in the lobby.

One of my favorite aspects of architecture -- particularly ancient buildings -- is examining detailed decorative carvings. These features are plentiful at Qutub Minar, a 72.5 meter tower made of bricks (the world's tallest), completed around the year 1220 CE in Delhi, India.

The skyline of Minneapolis, MN boasts something I'd never seen before: a city-wide network of raised glass bridges between buildings so you can walk for miles without ever stepping outside! In addition to this "Skyway," the city also has a glorious stone arch bridge which provides views of the Mississippi River and town architecture.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built in the early 1600s in Istanbul, Turkey, and has 20,000 hand-made ceramic tiles and 141-foot high domes. Wow!

In County Clare, Ireland sits 15th century Bunratty Castle which is still open to tour. Just watch out for the narrow stairs...

Architecture doesn't have to be limited to buildings that rise up -- it can also be a massive pit built into the ground, like this stepwell in Rajasthan, India!

San Juan, PR has a magical, historic feel to it in part because of these castle-like forts which guard its shores. From San Felipe del Morro, to La Fortaleza, to Castillo de San Cristobal, these hulking stone structures have survived for hundreds of years. Learn their stories here.