New 7 Wonders of Southern Arizona

In the last week of voting for the new Seven Wonders of the World, the Arizona Daily Star asked readers to choose their favorite regional sights. Here are the results.

I've just returned from Athens, where I've been working for the past 10 days– apart from two heavenly days at the Cape Sounio hotel, southeast of the city. This beautiful resort has a stunning view of the ancient Temple of Poseidon on a hilltop across the bay. It was only fitting to honor the mythological god of the sea by plunging right in to his domain from the hotel's private beach.

Temperatures in Athens were nearly as hot as those in Arizona, which made sightseeing and photography rather wearing at times. But on July 7, there were few better places to be for the announcement of the new Seven Wonders of the World than this historic world city with its wealth of ancient monuments.

Unfortunately Greece didn't feature on the new list. Latin America led the way with three of the seven wonders: Chichen Itza (Mexico), Machu Picchu (Peru) and Brazil's statue of Christ Redeemer. Rounding out the list are the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal (India), Petra in Jordan and the Coliseum in Rome.

And what of our own regional list, the Seven Wonders of Southern Arizona, sponsored by Tucson's Arizona Daily Star newspaper? Readers voted online for their favorite human-built (rather than natural) wonders, as in the international poll.

Topping the list was Mission San Xavier del Bac, an 18th-century mission 10 miles south of the city. It was followed by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Kitt Peak National Observatory. Tumacacori Mission and Picture Rocks Petroglyphs tied for fourth place. The Catalina Highway to Mount Lemmon and Old Pima County Courthouse completed the list.

I'm happy to say that several of my own favorites made the final list. But they are all great sights, and I urge you to visit and enjoy on your next trip to southern Arizona.