#3: Machu Picchu (Peru)
Built by the Inca in the 15th century, this mountaintop citadel was mysteriously abandoned before Spanish conquest. Forgotten outside local communities, it was “rediscovered” by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Its exact purpose—royal retreat, sacred site, or both—remains debated. Today, its terraces and temples make it one of the world’s most iconic ruins.
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