The Monument, London

Conceived by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr. Robert Hooke as a memorial to mark the devastating aftermath of the Great Fire of London in 1666 (notice the gilded orb of fire crowning the top of the column), this monument stands as the world's tallest freestanding stone column, offering vistas of the city from its viewing platform located 160 feet above the ground. The commission given to these two architects was to place the monument as near as possible to the fire's point of origin, which led to its precise positioning at a distance of 202 feet from the suspected source, Farrier's bakery on Pudding Lane.

Constructed over the period spanning 1671 to 1677, this fluted Doric column also attains a height of 202 feet. For those who find ascending the 311 steps of the captivating spiral staircase to the public balcony too demanding, an alternative is available: you can enjoy a live view from the platform streamed on a screen located at the entrance. Meanwhile, the bas-relief on the column's base vividly depicts Charles II and the Duke of York, both garbed in Roman attire, overseeing the emergency relief operation.