Just like a face, every city has a distinct profile, says Yolanda Zappaterra, co-author of the new book Skylines: A Journey Through 50 Skylines of the World\u2019s Greatest Cities (Aurum Press, $19.99). \u201cPeople immediately feel a connection. It\u2019s something that\u2019s more than the sum of its parts.\u201d She and co-author Jan Fuscoe share some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.<\/span><\/p>\n Hong Kong<\/span><\/p>\n The saying goes that financial buildings are the churches of the modern era. So it\u2019s not surprising that for more than a century, tiny Hong Kong, long a financial hub, has been filling with skyscrapers, Zappaterra says. While not all are noteworthy, some, such as I.M. Pei\u2019s Bank of China, stand the test of time. And taken as a whole, the skyline makes a dramatic sight across Victoria Harbor. Discoverhongkong.com<\/span><\/p>\n Las Vegas<\/span><\/p>\n Sure, it\u2019s odd to find the Eiffel Tower and pyramids in the middle of the Nevada desert, but you can\u2019t deny it attracts attention \u2014 which is the whole point. \u201cI love the brashness of Vegas. It\u2019s cheeky and playful,\u201d Zappaterra says. But venture off the Strip and you can find other notable buildings, such as Frank Gehry\u2019s Cleveland Clinic, which looks like a crumpled piece of paper. Lvcva.com<\/span><\/p>\n Miami<\/span><\/p>\n Booming South Florida seems to effortlessly mix building styles from playful Art Deco and sleek Miami Modernism to cutting-edge skyscrapers, Zappaterra says. When visitors aren\u2019t at the beach, they can find some of the world\u2019s top architects here. Coming soon will be Zaha Hadid\u2019s curvy One Thousand Museum high-rise. \u201cIt\u2019s almost like an album of skylines meshed together.\u201d miamiandbeaches.com<\/span><\/p>\n Washington<\/span><\/p>\n For more than a century, the nation\u2019s capital has limited building height, which makes the city with its monuments and National Mall instantly recognizable, Zappaterra says. Newer additions, like the just-opened Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture by David Adjaye, only enrich the scenery. \u201cIt really has some great buildings.\u201d Washington.org<\/span><\/p>\n London<\/span><\/p>\n In the past several decades, the U.K. capital has updated its storybook profile of Big Ben and the Tower of London with gleaming glass high-rises and even the giant London Eye Ferris wheel. \u201cLondon\u2019s skyline is always changing,\u201d says Fuscoe, a resident. \u201cWe have stuff that goes back to the 11th century.\u201d A 1986 addition, the Lloyds Building, a startling modern tower with ducts and elevators on the exterior, was widely criticized at first but now is a city favorite, she says. VisitBritain.org<\/span><\/p>\n Brasilia<\/span><\/p>\n The master-planned city was heralded as a modern wonder when established in 1960. Architect Oscar Niemeyer shaped the urban area like an airplane, with cultural and government buildings in the fuselage, and the residential areas in the wings. \u201cIt was designed by one of the best architects in the world. His stuff is so beautiful, it hasn\u2019t dated,\u201d Fuscoe says. www.visitbrasil.com\/en\/<\/span><\/p>\n New York<\/span><\/p>\n From the Empire State Building to the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan wows visitors with some of the most recognizable structures in the world. Its skyline, unalterably changed by the Sept. 11 attack that destroyed the twin-towered World Trade Center, now features the even-taller One World Trade Center. Fuscoe says other notable additions include architect Norman Foster\u2019s Hearst Tower, the first skyscraper built in New York after 9\/11. goNYC.com<\/span><\/p>\n Vancouver, Canada<\/span><\/p>\n Backed by mountains and sea, this Pacific Northwest gem is regularly named one the world\u2019s most beautiful cities. \u201cThey\u2019ve been quite smart. They haven\u2019t allowed physical buildings to obscure nature. You get the best of the both worlds,\u201d Fuscoe says. It\u2019s also home to the Marine Building, hailed as a masterpiece of Art Deco design. tourismvancouver.com<\/span><\/p>\n Mumbai, India<\/span><\/p>\n This former British colonial city, once known as Bombay, offers a fascinating blend of Victorian construction and modern skyscrapers, Zappaterra says. \u201cIt\u2019s a really great mix, which is hugely loved by Mumbaikars\u201d \u2014 the name for city residents. Particularly noteworthy is the 27-story Antilia building, which has been called the most expensive private residence in the world, valued at $1 billion. incredibleindia.org<\/span><\/p>\n Chicago<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise the city that invented the skyscraper is one of the world\u2019s most important places for architecture, Fuscoe says. It has some of the tallest buildings in the nation, including the 108-story Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower. Taken together with its lakefront parks and museums, the vista is memorable.<\/span> Source:\u00a0http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/travel\/destinations\/10greatplaces\/2016\/11\/11\/best-city-skylines\/93589798\/<\/span><\/p>\n
\nChooseChicago.com.<\/span><\/p>\n