The iconic tilt in the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the gobsmackingly expensive white marble of the Taj Mahal, the quaint atmosphere of an English market town – you might think it impossible for these architectural quirks to be recreated anywhere else. Think again – it’s a widespread phenomenon.
In fact, you’ll find scaled-down versions of iconic monuments, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, around the world.
Why build them? Surely, there’s no better tribute to greatness than successful mimicry – at least that’s what the Chinese, undefeated masters of the imitation game, would say. But there are different, fascinating stories behind each of these fantastic fakes, so keep reading on and avoid the crowds on your next sightseeing adventure.
Eiffel Tower, Shenzhen, China
No need to go to Paris – see The Eiffel Tower in Windows of the World, China
Claiming it had to be torn down due to engineering faults, notorious con artist Victor Lustig managed to “sell” the Eiffel Tower – not once, but twice! – to a gullible group of Parisian scrap metal dealers back in 1925, before his incarceration in Alcatraz. The real thing is still standing in the French capital, but numerous replicas have erected around the world since then, one of the most impressive ones in Window of the World in China. This Shenzhen theme park contains dozens of scale replicas of instantly recognisable landmarks that –from a distance anyway – bear a close resemblance to the real thing. The park, elaborately lit-up for evening entertainment, is dominated by a 108 metre tall Eiffel Tower, and as all of the exhibits are within easy walking distance of each other, you can travel around the world in just half a day. Phileas Fogg would be jealous.
Leaning Tower of Niles, Illinois
A replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands in Niles, Illinois © Ken Lund
Even at half the size of the original, the Leaning Tower of Niles is still a breathtaking sight. Built by a businessman named Bob Ilg, the iconic lean (half the angle of the original in Italy) is protected by anchoring the base in concrete. While Galileo is thought to have dropped pebbles from the Leaning Tower of Pisa for his experiments in gravity, the Leaning Tower of Niles is used for a rather more practical purpose – concealing the city’s unsightly water filtration tanks. It’s also, if we’re honest, probably a lot less likely to topple over.
Find a flight to near Illinois
Statue of Liberty, Norway
Lady Liberty in Visnes, Norway © visitkarmoy
The Statue of Liberty, in New York Harbor, is perhaps the most iconic symbol of the United States – a beacon of justice and freedom, which has welcomed immigrants from across the world for over 150 years. As you might expect, the statue has been copied many times, but one four-meter tall replica standing in the coastal village of Visnes, Norway holds particular significance.
Over 28,000 kilos of copper were used to construct the statue now standing on Liberty Island in New York, and it’s been claimed that much of it was supplied by the now-closed copper mine in Visnes – hence this charming tribute. While some debate exists over the veracity of the claim, locals are proud of their contribution and of their own Lady Liberty.
London Bridge, Arizona
London Bridge, Arizona is actually not a replica – it’s the real thing © Graeme Maclean
The first thing to know about the London Bridge, which stands in Lake Havasu, Arizona, is that it’s not actually a replica – this is the real thing. The bridge spanned the River Thames from the 1830’s to 1962, at which point it was, as the song goes, falling down, and rebuilding it was less expensive than repairs.
So, amid some controversy and bewilderment, the bridge was sold for $2.5 million to oilman Robert P. McCulloch, who promptly had it dismantled, shipped across the Atlantic and rebuilt in Arizona. Supposedly, when McCulloch’s real estate agent first suggested the idea, the oilman replied “that’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard”… but then did it anyway. A new bridge, imaginatively named London Bridge again, was unveiled in London in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Christ the King, Lisbon
Christ the King overlooking Lisbon, Portugal
When the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon visited Rio de Janeiro in 1934, he was so amazed by the immense Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city that he requested permission from the authoritarian President of Portugal, Salazar, to recreate it. Permission was eventually granted, and the Cristo Rei was built in the 1950s to thank God for preserving Portugal from the ravages of WWII. Spectacular views of Lisbon and the River Tagus can be enjoyed from the statue’s observation deck, and the monument contains several important religious relics, including a cross from the Shrine of Fatima.
Taj Mahal, Bangladesh
Impressive replica of the Taj Mahal in Bangladesh – built by a local filmmaker © Imran Karim
Built in the 17th century, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, is one of the greatest monument to love ever constructed, housing the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, favourite wife of the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. The intimacy behind the mausoleum has not, however, prevented a scaled version from being erected near Dhaka by a Bangladeshi filmmaker, who claimed he wanted to make the Taj Mahal accessible for even the poorest residents of his country.
To most a lovely tribute, but Indian officials were less than pleased with the idea of a replica. Nevertheless, the project was finished in 2008, so let’s just hope they never read this article – they’d go mad.
Hallstatt, Guangdong
The Chinese don’t stop at landmarks – they build whole replica cities. Here, it’s Austrian town Hallstatt in Luoyang © Danny Tseng
Building replica landmarks is one thing. But recreating an entire town? That requires commitment. Hallstatt is a scenic 16th century community in the Austrian Alps, a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with tourists for its charming architecture and cobbled streets.
Bizarrely, Hallstatt has been faithfully copied as part of a housing development in Luoyang, China, a move that was, if not encouraged, at least grudgingly accepted by the inhabitants of the original town. The Chinese mining company behind the outlandish plan even went so far as to import a flock of the local Austrian doves to give Hallstatt #2 that “authentic feel.”
Colosseum, Las Vegas
Colosseum: the centre of entertainment in Ancient Rome, and now also in Sin City © BOG ~ MOL
Accusations of needless extravagance don’t tend to worry Las Vegas casinos too much, so when Caesar’s Palace decided to replace its Circus Maximus Showroom, they naturally went with the “go big or go home”-approach.
It seems quite appropriate that a grand reproduction of the centre of entertainment in Ancient Rome should now be one of the most prestigious entertainment venues in Sin City, given how many other landmarks can be found scattered around the city’s hotels and casinos. Suggestions that some of the performances held here would be greatly improved by the introduction of a few lions are, of course, completely unjustified.
St. Peter’s Basilica, Ivory Coast
An exact replica of St. Peter’s Basilica stands in The Ivory Coast
Perhaps the most curious replica landmark of all, is the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, in the Ivory Coast. Affectionately known as the Basilica in the Bush, or the African Vatican, and less kindly referred to as the colossal vanity project of former President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, it’s an almost exact replica of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome (actually, it’s bigger than the original), with vast quantities of marble and stained glass imported from Europe, and 7,000 individually air-conditioned seats. Despite a reputed cost of $300 million, the church is for the most part unused, making it ideal for those who want to see the architectural majesty of St. Peter’s, but prefer to avoid the crowds.
Thames Town, Shanghai
Ever wondered what The Truman Show felt like? Visit Thames Town near Shanghai © Drew Bates
Wander the streets of Thames Town near Shanghai, and you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped back in time. Built by a team of British architects as a tribute to English market towns of the past, complete with Victorian terraced houses, cobbled streets, corner shops and even replica London taxis, the town is now a popular choice of wedding photography location for Chinese couples.
Some visitors have suggested that Thames Town is like being in The Truman Show – it looks perfect, but somehow just feels a little ‘off.’ Wherever you go in the world, you’re never far from a grubby English-style pub, but this effort takes things to an entirely new level.
