"World monuments presents fifty of the world's most compelling destinations, cultural heritage sites, and significant architectural works that must be seen and preserved. In commemoration of its fiftieth anniversary, World Monuments Fund has commissioned eight of todays' most important writers... Each essay explores a specific place and theme relating to WMF's history and the challenges of its conservation work: Anne Applebaum writes about war and human conflict in Krakow, Poland; John Julius Norwich reflects upon natural catastrophe and climate change in Venice, Italy; Ismail Serageldin pens an essay on the pressures of development in Cairo, Egypt; André Aciman considers the lack or overabundance of resources in Rome, Ital; William Dalrymple delves into the challenges of recognizing what we have in Agra, India; Fernanda Eberstadt illuminated the erosion of cultural traditions in Cusco, Peru; Justin Davidson discusses the impact of urbanization in Mexico City, Mexico; and Andrew Solomon explores hidden treasure in Beijing, China. "A stunning tour of 50 of the world's most extraordinary destinations selected from the World Monuments Fund's most important sites of global heritage. In commemoration of its 50th anniversary, the World Monuments Fund has commissioned some of today's most important writers to give voice to the organization's work around the world over the past 50 years. Curated by the International Center of Photography, the book features striking images from renowned photographers, including Edward Burtynsky, Tiina Itkonen, Erich Lessing, Gideon Mendel, and Sebastião Salgado. In essence, this is a bucket list for the educated traveler--armchair or otherwise. From Venice and Petra to New Orleans and Angkor, Easter Island to the Tempel Synagogue in Kraków, Poland, to the Mughal Gardens of Agra, India, to the Chancellerie d'Orléans in Paris, World Monuments presents 50 of the world's most compelling destinations, cultural heritage sites, and significant architectural works that must be seen and preserved" --