Did you know that some of the most famous landmarks are actually fakes? Are you surprised? However, it is so! Ancient legends, fantasies of writers, poets and filmmakers have given rise to many deceptions for tourists … So, let's debunk some myths!
Juliet's balcony
The story of two teenagers in love, Romeo and Juliet, brings a huge number of tourists to Verona. They all strive to see the house where the famous Shakespearean heroine lived. Couples in love go up to the balcony of this house. It is believed that if you kiss there, then the love union will be lasting and happy. And no one realizes that this balcony is just a fake.
Everyone understands that Juliet never really existed. It was invented by a great poet. By the way, he himself had never been to Verona. The house, where tourists go, was built in the 13th century. But the balcony was attached to it 7 centuries later. Especially for tourists.
Doesn't sound very romantic? Dont be upset! After all, this is not really important. Belief in true love is important. For those who believe, the Veronese balcony will truly become a place where dreams come true.
Dracula's castle
Many people love vampire stories. This is why the castle of the world's most famous vampire is so popular. But where is this castle? There is no definite answer to this question.
The prototype of the famous blood-sucking character in films and books was a real historical person. The principality ruled by this "vampire" was located on the territory of present-day Romania. He lived in a castle called Poenari. Alas, now only ruins remain of this building. Instead, tourists are usually shown the colorful Bran Castle. True, according to legend, the evil ruler sometimes stayed here for the night.
However, there is no big problem here: the castles are located close to each other. You can get from one to the other by car in a couple of hours.
Zeus cave
With the cave of the Greek god of thunder, the same problem as with Dracula's castle. Where is she located? There are different opinions on this matter.
The young thunderer was forced to hide in a cave from his cruel father. According to myths, this father devoured all his children. The mother decided to save the youngest son, Zeus, at all costs. She gave birth and hid him in a cave. And it is this cave that many tourists who come to Greece strive to visit.
They are usually taken to the Diktic mountains. Although the natives secretly laugh at the simple-minded travelers. They know that the right place is on Mount Ida. However, the descent into this Ideiskaya cave is not very comfortable.
Holmes House
Everyone's favorite detective with a pipe in his mouth lived on Baker Street. Everyone knows that. But not everyone knows that house 221B did not exist at all at that time. And there were no more than a hundred houses on the famous street.
But the harsh truth about the popular attraction doesn't end there. The fact is that a house with such a number does not exist today. "What about the famous building?" - you ask. Its official number is 239. The plate with the number 221B is installed to attract tourists.
But this does not mean that you should refuse to visit this attraction! Coming here, travelers thereby demonstrate their love for the famous detective. And to the author of stories about him.
Shangri-La
Once upon a time a place with that name was invented by the science fiction writer Hilton. And today it really is on the geographical map. What is this weirdness?
The explanation is simple. One of the Chinese settlements was recently renamed in honor of the fantastic country. The goal is to attract tourists. Deception? Not really. There is really fantastically beautiful nature here. And many ancient temples.
Oymyakon
This place is considered the coldest in our hemisphere. Excursions come here. But in fact, it is much colder in neighboring Verkhoyansk. Officially, the pole of cold is located in it.
Kwai
This name is known to many thanks to the famous film by David Lean. This is the name of the Thai river, the bridge over which the characters of this motion picture build.
The river exists in reality, but there is no bridge on it. But in order not to disappoint tourists, the Thai people decided to rename one of the local rivers to Kwai. The one on which there is a bridge.
Sleepy Hollow
Have you seen this Johnny Depp movie? If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to take a look. Gripping storyline, great actors … And after watching, it will be especially interesting for you to visit the place that bears the same name as the film.
And the point is not only in the name. A story was once written here, based on which a famous movie was shot. And the film itself was filmed here too.
What, then, is a fake? And the fact that earlier this place had a completely different name - North Tarrytown. At the end of the 20th century, it was changed. The reason is to attract tourists.
Deception? Not really. Yet the mystical and terrible events of the famous film based on the plot took place exactly here. In addition, many other films have been filmed here, for example:
- "Good marriage";
- "The Girl on the Train";
- "Mighty Aphrodite".
As you can see, some famous landmarks turn out to be fakes. Still, we advise you to visit them. It doesn't matter in which cave Zeus was born (and whether he was born at all). It doesn't matter if Juliet existed and if she had a house with a balcony. What is important is the scent of the legend, its aura surrounding the cult place.
