Read the article about beautiful buildings around the world, and then answer the following questions.
Beautiful buildings around the world
Potala Palace, Tibet
High above the city of Lhasa is Potala Palace where, in the past, the Tibetan government worked. This huge construction is 13 floors high and contains thousands of rooms. It was designed like a traditional Buddhist temple, but is much more decorative. More than 7000 workers were involved in building it in the 7th century CE. Potala Palace has now been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List because it is a building of great significance.
Alexandrina Library, Egypt
The Alexandrina Library, situated next to the sea in the city of Alexandria, was the first great design of the new millennium. Many people feel the design of the library makes it look like a giant plate which has landed at an angle, or even an enormous light switch. However, the architect of this modern building intended the design to symbolise a second sun rising beside the Mediterranean. The building was completed in 2002. It was inspired by the first Alexandrina Library, which was constructed in the 3rd century BCE, and was regarded as the greatest of all libraries in the world. The vast interior space of this 21st-century building can hold eight million books.
Imam Mosque, Iran
The Imam Mosque in Esfahan, Iran, is an impressive 17th-century building in the main square. The mosque was not built in line with the other buildings on the square, but at an angle, so that it faced Mecca. It is completely covered, inside and out, with pale blue and yellow ceramic tiles. These tiles appear to change colour depending on the light conditions. The main dome is 54 metres high and is covered in a detailed floral-patterned mosaic.
Winter Palace, Russia
The Winter Palace was originally the home of the Russian royal family, but is now best known as the State Hermitage Museum. Visitors come to admire the many famous paintings which are on display in the State Rooms. This pale green building on the banks of the Neva River in St Petersburg was designed by Francesco Rastrelli. It is highly decorated, with statues which line the edges of its roof. It is the showpiece of the city and is very popular with tourists.
Aya Sofya, Turkey
Aya Sofya is a great architectural landmark at the heart of Istanbul. It has four towers, known as minarets, which point up to the sky. It was constructed in the 6th century CE as a church, and later became a mosque. Since 1935, it has been a museum. The enormous structure was built in just five years, and its magnificent dome can be seen from a great distance. The base of the dome has windows all around it, so that when you are inside the dome and look up, the top of the dome seems to hover above the building.