Europe's 7 most valuable monuments

The iconic Eiffel Tower has turned out to be Europe's most valuable monument.

A new study conducted by Italy's Monza and Brianza Chamber of Commerce valued Europe's monuments on the basis of its image, branding and aesthetic qualities.

1. Eiffel Tower, Paris
Value: 344 billion pounds

Named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower, the tower stands 320 metres (1,050 ft) tall.

about these most valuable monuments...

Built in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France.

The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world. Around 7.1 million people visited it in 2011.

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Colosseum, Rome (Rank 2)
Value: 72 billion pounds

An iconic symbol of Imperial Rome, The Colosseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy.

It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

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Its construction started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign

It could accommodate 50,000 spectators. The Colosseum was used for contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.

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Sagrada Familia, Barcelona (Rank 3)
Value: 71 billion pounds

Designed by Antoni Gaudi, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Though construction of Sagrada Familia had commenced in 1882, Gaudi became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style - combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms.

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The Duomo Cathedral, Milan (Rank 4)
Value: 65 billion pounds 

The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the fourth largest cathedral in the world and the largest in the Italian state territory.

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Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente (Saint Mary Nascent), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan.

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The Tower of London (Rank 5)
Value: 56 billion pounds

The Tower of London a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England.

It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

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It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England.

The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.

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The Prado Museum, Madrid (Rank 6)
Value: 46 billion pounds

The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid.

It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection.

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Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture, it also exhibits important collections of other types of works.

A new, recently opened wing enlarged the display area by about 400 paintings, and it is currently used mainly for temporary expositions.

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Stonehenge, UK (Rank 7)
Value: 8.3 billion pounds

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshir.

One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks.

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It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.