This is the first of three “Best Works of Art and Architecture By Geographic Location” lists.  To create these lists, I combined all the items listed in the ‘Best Works of Visual Art’ ‘Art History 101’, ‘Best Architecture’, ‘Best Photography’ and ‘Best Contemporary Artists’ lists and arranged them by geographical location, including the museums or other specific locations of the artworks or architecture. With the exception of Antarctica, there are items on every continent, in 54 different countries and in 39 of the 50 United States (despite this diversity, more than half of the most highly-regarded artworks can be found in just six cities: New York, London, Paris, Rome, Florence and Madrid.

Note that, while most of the items on the list can be seen today at the listed location, some are not available for viewing because: (1) the artwork or building has been destroyed or dismantled; (2) the artwork was only visible temporarily; (3) the item can only be seen when installed as part of a museum or gallery exhibition; or (4) the item is in the collection of a museum or gallery but not currently on display.  This last explanation holds true for the vast majority of photographs in the collections of the world’s museums.  To give one example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York owns over 30,000 photographs, but as of this writing, only 34 are on display in the museum.

NOTE: I’m trying something new by adding a map from ZeeMaps showing the locations of all the artworks listed on this page.  This is an experiment and I’ll remove it if it doesn’t seem to work.

//www.zeemaps.com/pub?group=1602376&simpleadd=1

AFRICA

EGYPT

Alexandria
1989-2002: Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria). Architect: Snøhetta.
A view of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Cairo
Egyptian Museum (Museum of Egyptian Antiquities)
c. 3100-3000 BCE: Palette of Narmer. Artist: Unknown
c.  2570-2550 BCE: Statue of Chephren (Khafre Enthroned). Artist: Unknown
c. 1353-1334 BCE: Akhenaten and His Family (Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their Children). Artist: Unknown.
1333-1323 BCE: Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun. Artist: Unknown.

The Statue of Chephren in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt.

National Library
1487-1488: Illuminated Bustan of Saadi. Artist: Kamal ud-Din Behzad.

Edfu
237-57 BCE: Temple of Horus (Temple of Edfu) (Ptolemaic). Architect: Unknown.
The Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Giza
2560-2540 BCE: Great Pyramid of Giza. Architect: Unknown.
2558-2532 BCE: Great Sphinx of Giza. Architect: Unknown.
The Great Sphinx, with the Great Pyramid of Khafre in the background, at Giza, Egypt.

Near Luxor
c. 1493-1213 BCE: Precinct of Amun-Re, Karnak Temple Complex. Architects: Unknown.  A small temple to Amun-Re was present on the site as early as 2112-2063 BCE, and construction continued until approximately 30 BCE.

Ram sphinxes at the Precinct of Amun-Re, Karnak Temple complex, near Luxor, Egypt.

Sinai
St. Catherine’s Monastery
548-566 CE: Transfiguration of Christ (mosaic).  Artist: Unknown
c. 550-600 CE: Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels (Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Sts. Theodore and George) (Byzantine). Artist: Unknown.

ETHIOPIA

Axum
c. 300-400 CE: Obelisk of Axum (Axum Stele) (Kingdom of Axum). Artist: Unknown.
The Axum Obelisk.

NIGERIA

Ife
National Museum of Antiquities
c. 1100-1500: Ife Heads. Artist: Unknown

Lagos
National Museum
c. 1100-1500: Ife Heads. Artist: Unknown.

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg
Johannesburg Art Gallery
1936: Lobster Telephone (white version). Artist: Salvador Dalí.

No Show Museum
1997: Paradox of Praxis I (Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing) (video and documentation). Artist: Francis Alÿs.

ASIA

AZERBAIJAN

Baku
2007-2012: Hejdar Aliyev Center. Architect: Zaha Hadid.
The Hejdar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan was designed by Zaha Hadid.

BANGLADESH

Dhaka
1961-1982: National Assembly Building (Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban; National Parliament House) Architect: Louis I. Kahn.

The National Assembly building in Dhaka, Bangladesh was designed by Louis I. Kahn.

CAMBODIA

Siem Reap Province
1113-1150: Angkor Wat (temple complex). Architect: Unknown.
The Angkor Wat temple complex.

1113-1150: Relief Sculptures, Angkor Wat. Artist: Unknown.
c. 1190-1210: Face Towers, Bayon. Artists: Unknown.

CHINA

Beijing
1406-1420: The Forbidden City. Architects: Unknown.
2003-2008: Beijing National Stadium (“Bird’s Nest”). Architects: Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron; Stefan Marbach, Ai Weiwei.
2004–2008: CCTV Headquarters. Architect: Rem Koolhaas.
CCTV Headquarters in Beijing was designed by Rem Koolhaas.

Palace Museum
c. 1190-1224: Dancing and Singing (Peasants Returning from Work). Artist: Ma Yuan.
1341: Stone Cliff at Heavenly Pond. Artist: Huang Gongwang.
1850-1857: Self-Portrait. Artist: Ren Xiong.

National Art Museum of China
1980: Father. Artist: Luo Zhongli.

UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
1991: Hospital Triptych No. 1. Artist: Zeng Fanzhi.

Changsha
Hunan Provincial Museum
c. 180-160 BCE: Funeral Banner of Lady Dai.  Artist: Unknown.

Dunhuang, Gansu
c. 350-1368 CE (major work: 618-907 CE): Wall Paintings, Mogao Caves (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas). Artists: Unknown.

Hangzhou
Zhejiang Provincial Museum
1348-1350: Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (portion). Artist: Huang Gongwang.

Hong Kong
1983-1985: Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC Main Building). Architect: Norman Foster.
1991-1998: Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok Airport). Architect: Norman Foster.

Hong Kong International Airport was designed by Norman Foster.

Exchange Square
1968-1970: Oval with Points. Artist: Henry Moore.

Lanzhou City
Gansu Provincial Museum
c. 25-220 CE: Flying Horse (Galloping Horse; Flying Horse of Gansu) (East Han Dynasty). Artist: Unknown.

Lhasa, Tibet
1642-1650: Potala Palace. Architect: Unknown.
Potala Palace.

Nanjing
Nanjing Museum
c. 1340-1349: Great Mountains at Fuchun (Fuchun Range). Artist: Huang Gongwang.

Shanghai
1998: Jin Mao Tower. Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai.

Shanghai Museum
c. 1060-1090: Snow Mountain. Artist: Guo Xi.

Shijiazhuang
Hebei Provincial Museum
c. 113 BCE: Boshan Incense Burner (Boshan-lu), Tomb of Liu Sheng.  Artist: Unknown

Xi’an
Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
246-208 BCE: Terracotta Army (Qin Dynasty). Artists: Unknown.

Shaanxi Provincial Museum
c. 650-673 CE: Portraits of Emperor Taizong’s Six Favorite War Steeds (Tang Dynasty) (portion). Artist: Yan Liben.

Northern China
700-200 BCE: The Great Wall. Architects: Unknown. Additional work: 1400-1600.
A portion of the Great Wall of China.

INDIA

Agra
1630-1653: Taj Mahal. Architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (attrib.).
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

Aurangabad District, Maharashtra
c. 200 BCE – 650 CE: Murals, Ajanta Caves. Artists: Unknown.

Chandigarh
1953-1963: Palace of Assembly. Architect: Le Corbusier.
The Le Corbusier-designed Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh, India.

Chennai
Government Museum
c. 200 BCE-300 CE: Relief Sculptures, Great Stupa of Amaravati (Mauryan). Artist: Unknown.

Deogarh
Vishnu Temple (Dashavatara Temple; Gupta Temple)
c. 500 CE: Relief Sculptures (Guptan). Artists: Unknown.

Elephanta Island (Gharapuri), Maharashtra
Cave of Shiva
c. 400-700 CE: Eternal Shiva (Sadashiva). Artist: Unknown.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
950-1150: Khajuraho Temples, including Kandariya Temple. Architects: Unknown.
Khajuraho Temple.

Jaipur
1726-1735: Jantar Mantar. Architect: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, India.

Mahabalipuram
c. 650 CE: Descent of the Ganges (Arjuna’s Penance) (Pallavan). Artist: Unknown.

Mathura
1726-1735: Jantar Mantar. Architect: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

New Delhi
1726-1735: Jantar Mantar. Architect: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

Sanchi Town, Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh
c. 100-1 BCE: Gateways (Toranas), Great Stupa of Sanchi. Artists: Unknown.

Sarnath
Archaeological Museum
c. 250 BCE: Lion Capital of Ashoka (Mauryan). Artist: Unknown.
c. 465-485 CE: Buddha Preaching the Law (Preaching Buddha). Artist: Unknown.

Ujjain
1726-1735: Jantar Mantar. Architect: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

Uttar Pradesh
1571-1585: Fatehpur Sikri (numerous buildings). Architect: Tuhir Das.
A view of Fatehpur Sikri.

Varanasi
1726-1735: Jantar Mantar. Architect: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

INDONESIA

Magelang, Java
750-825 CE: Borobudur Temple. Architect: Gunadharma (attrib.)
An aerial view of Borobdur Temple.

Borobudur Temple
c. 800-825 CE: Relief Sculptures. Artist: Unknown.

IRAN

Ruins of Persepolis, Fars Province
c. 518-465 BCE: Relief Sculptures, Persepolis (Persian). Artists: Unknown.

Isfahan
1611-1629: Imam Mosque (Masjed-e Imam; formerly Shah Mosque). Architect: Shaykh Bahai.

Imam Mosque (Shah Mosque) in Isfahan, Iran.

Imam Mosque
1611-1629: Mosaics. Artists: Unknown.

IRAQ

Baghdad
National Museum of Iraq
c. 2900-2550 BCE: Tell Asmar Horde. Artists: Unknown.
c. 2400-2200 BCE: Head of an Akkadian Ruler (Head of Sargon) (Akkadian). Artist: Unknown.

Samarra
847-851 CE: Great Mosque of Samarra, including minaret (malwiya) (Mosque of al-Mutawakkil). Architect: Unknown. A majority of the mosque was destroyed, but the minaret survived.

The minaret (malwiya) of the Great Mosque of Samarra.

ISRAEL & PALESTINE

Jerusalem
685-691 CE: Dome of the Rock (Islamic). Architect: Unknown.
2005-2008: Bridge of Strings (Chords Bridge). Architect: Santiago Calatrava.
The Bridge of Strings in Jerusalem was designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Dome of the Rock
685-691 CE: Mosaics. Artist: Unknown. Exterior mosaics added 1520-1566. Renovations in 16th Century, 1817, 1917, 1965, 1993.

Hasassah University Medical Center
1962: Stained Glass Windows, Abbell Synagogue. Artist: Marc Chagall.

The Israel Museum
1917: Fountain (1964 replica). Artist: Marcel Duchamp.
1997: Cuentos Patrioticos (video). Artists: Francis Alÿs with Rafael Ortega.
1999: Ecce Homo. Artist: Mark Wallinger.

Jewish National and University Library
1957-1958: Draped Seated Woman. Artist: Henry Moore.

Ramat-Gan
Bar-Ilan University
2000-2004: Wohl Centre. Architect: Daniel Libeskind.
The Wohl Center at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel, was designed by Daniel Libeskind.

JAPAN

Fukuoka
1991: Nexus World Housing. Architect: Rem Koolhaas.
Nexus World Housing, designed by Rem Koolhaas, in Fukuoka, Japan.

Fukuoka Art Museum
1903-1908: The Peasants’ War. Artist: Käthe Kollwitz.

Hakone
Pola Museum of Art
1892-1894: Rouen Cathedral, Façade, Evening Harmony in Brown. Artist: Claude Monet.

Himeji
1333: Himeji Castle. Architects: Unknown. Additional work: 1346; 1581; 1601-1609; 1617-1618.

Himeji Castle in Himeji, Japan.

Kagawa, Naoshima Island
1994: Pumpkin (sculpture). Artist: Yayoi Kusama.
Pumpkin, by Yayoi Kusama.

Benesse House Museum (Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum)
1984: One Hundred Live and Die (neon). Artist: Bruce Nauman.

Ikaruga
711 CE: Hōryū-ji Temple (Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law). Architect: Unknown. Original 607 CE temple destroyed. Additional work: early 12th Century; 1374; 1603.
Hōryū-ji Temple in Ikaruga, Japan.

Inuyama
Meiji Mura Museum
1915-1923: Imperial Hotel (Façade and Reflecting Pool). Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright.

Kyoto
Ryoan-ji Temple
1450-1499: Zen Garden. Artists: Unknown.
The Zen Garden at the Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

Rokuharamitsu-ji
c. 1185-1206: Kuya Preaching (The Sage Kuya, Saint Kuya). Artist: Kosho.

National Museum of Modern Art
1917: Fountain (1964 replica). Artist: Marcel Duchamp.

Miyajima
c. 1525-1575: Itsukushima Shrine (Torii of Itsukushima; Gateway of Itsukushima). Architect(s): Unknown. Additional work: 1875.

Nagano
Matsumoto City Museum of Art
2002: The Visionary Flowers. Artist: Yayoi Kusama.
The Visionary Flowers, by Yayoi Kusama.

Nagaoka
Nagaoka Municipal Science Museum
c. 3000-1500 BCE: Flame-Style Vessels (Jomon Culture). Artists: Unknown.

Nagoya
Tokugawa Art Museum
1120-1140: The Tale of Genji Scroll (Genji Monogatari Emaki) (portion). Artist: Fujiwara no Takayoshi (attrib.).

Nagoya City Museum
1918: Girl with Braids. Artist: Amedeo Modigliani.

Nara
Kasuga Shrine
c. 1184: Bugaku Mask (Sanju). Artist: Jōkei.

Horyu-ji Temple
623 CE: Shaka Triad. Artist: Kuratsukuri Tori (also known as Tori Busshi). 

Kofuku-ji Temple
c. 1196: Statue of Yuima. Artist: Jōkei.
c. 1196: Seated Monju Bosatsu. Artist: Jōkei.
c. 1190-1199: Nio Guardians (Kongo Rikishi). Artist: Jōkei.
c. 1202: Bonten (Brahma). Artist: Jōkei.

Seated Monju Bosatsu by Jokei at Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara, Japan.

Osaka
1991-1994: Kansai International Airport. Architect: Renzo Piano.
The fourth floor ticketing hall of the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.

Osaka City Museum of Modern Art
1964: Homage to 6,000,000 I. Artist: Louise Nevelson.

Shiga
1997: Miho Museum. Architect: I.M. Pei.
A view of the Miho Museum in Shiga, Japan.

Tokyo
1974-1976: U.S. Embassy. Architects: César Pelli & Norma Merrick Sklarek.
The U.S. Embassy building in Tokyo, Japan. AP Photo.

Tokyo National Museum
c. 1190-1224: Angler on a Wintry Lake (Solitary Fisherman on the River in Cold Weather). Artist: Ma Yuan.
c. 1250-1300: Heiji Monogatari Emaki (The Tale of Heiji Scroll) (portion). Artist: Unknown.
c. 1580: Pine Trees (Pine Forest). Artist: Hasegawa Tohaku.

Gotoh Museum
1120-1140: The Tale of Genji Scroll (Genji Monogatari Emaki) (portion). Artist: Fujiwara no Takayoshi (attrib.).

Sompo Japan Museum of Art
1888: Sunflowers. Artist: Vincent van Gogh.

National Museum of Western Art
1889: The Burghers of Calais (bronze cast, 1953). Artist: Auguste Rodin.
1927-1928: Petrified Forest. Artist: Max Ernst.

Mori Art Museum
1999: Maman (bronze cast). Artist: Louise Bourgeois.
Maman by Louise Bourgeois at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan.

Tomio Koyama Gallery
1991: The Girl with the Knife in Her Hand. Artist: Yoshitomo Nara.

Seikadō Bunko Art Museum
c. 1250-1300: Heiji Monogatari Emaki (The Tale of Heiji Scroll) (portion). Artist: Unknown. 

Yokohama
1987-2002: Yokohama International Passenger Terminal (Ōsanbashi Pier). Architect: Foreign Office Architects.

Yokohama International Passenger Terminal on Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama, Japan.

JORDAN

Amman
Jordan Archaeological Museum
c. 7000-6000 BCE: Plastered Human Skulls, Jericho. Artists: Unknown.

Ma’an Governorate
200 BCE–300 CE: Petra (numerous buildings) (Greek/Roman). Architect: Unknown.
The Treasury Building at Petra in Jordan.

KUWAIT

Kuwait City
1972–1984: National Assembly of Kuwait. Architects: Jørn Utzon & Jan Utzon.
The National Assembly building in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur
1993-1999: Petronas Towers. Architect: César Pelli.
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

QATAR

Doha
2008: Museum of Islamic Art. Architect: I.M. Pei.
The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.

SAUDI ARABIA

Jeddah
1972: Hajj Terminal, King Abdul Aziz International Airport. Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Hajj Terminal, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul
PLATEAU (formerly Rodin Gallery)
1889: The Burghers of Calais (bronze cast, 1995). Artist: Auguste Rodin.

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art
1999: Maman (bronze cast). Artist: Louise Bourgeois.

SRI LANKA

Polonnaruwa
Gal Vihara Temple
c. 1153-1186: Reclining Buddha. Artist: Unknown.
The Reclining Buddha at the Gal Vihara Temple in Polunarwa, Sri Lanka.

SYRIA

Damascus
Great Mosque of Damascus (Umayyad Mosque)
705-715 CE: Mosaics. Artist: Unknown.

Near Homs
1142-1170: Krak des Chevaliers. Architects: Unknown. Original Kurdish castle built 1030. Additional work: early 13th Century.

An aerial view of the Krak des Chevaliers near Homs, Syria.

TAIWAN

Taipei
2003-2004: Taipei 101 (formerly Taipei World Financial Center). Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners.

Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan.

National Palace Museum
c. 990-1020: Travellers among Mountains and Streams (Travelers By Streams and Mountains). Artist: Fan Kuan.
c. 990-1020: Cold Woods in Snow. Artist: Fan Kuan.
c. 1072: Early Spring. Artist: Guo Xi.
c. 1190-1224: Walking on a Mountain Path in Spring . Artist: Ma Yuan.
c. 1190-1224: Banquet by Lantern Light. Artist: Ma Yuan.
c. 1340-1349: Nine Pearl Peaks in Green. Artist: Huang Gongwang.
c. 1340-1349: Nine Peaks Clearing After Snow. Artist: Huang Gongwang.
1348-1350: Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (portion). Artist: Huang Gongwang.
1372: The Rongxi Studio. Artist: Ni Zan.

The National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.

TURKEY

Ankara
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
c. 6000 BCE: Seated Woman of Çatal Hüyük. Artist: Unknown.

Boğazkale, Çorum Province
c. 1400 BCE: Lion Gate, Hattusa. Artist: Unknown.

Edirne
1568-1574: Selimiye Mosque. Architect: Minar Sinan
Selimye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey.

Istanbul
532-537 CE: Hagia Sophia. Architects: Isidore of Miletus & Anthemius of Tralles; Tirdat. Additional work: 989-994 CE.
1609-1616: Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque). Architect: Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa.
The Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, Turkey.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Dubai
1994-1999: Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs). Architect: Tom Wright/Atkins.
2004-2010: Burj Khalifa (Burj Dubai; Dubai Tower). Architect: Adrian Smith/Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Burj al-Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

AUSTRALIA

Adelaide
Art Gallery of South Australia
1907: Mornington Crescent Nudes (series). Artist: Walter Richard Sickert.

Brisbane
Queensland Art Gallery
1994: Three Comrades (three women) (from Bloodlines: The Big Family series). Artist: Zhang Xiaogang.

Canberra
National Gallery of Australia
1899: Water Lily Pond (Green Harmony). Artist: Claude Monet.
1923: Bird in Space (two casts: white marble and black marble, c. 1931-1936). Artist: Constantin Brâncusi.
1923: Illustrations for ‘About This’, by Vladimir Mayakovsky. Artist: Alexander Rodchenko.
1936: Lobster Telephone (black version). Artist: Salvador Dalí.
1952: Number 11, 1952 (Blue Poles). Artist: Jackson Pollock.
1952-1953: Woman V. Artist: Willem de Kooning.
1958: Elegy to the Spanish Republic. Artist: Robert Motherwell.
1963: Twentysix Gasoline Stations (book with 26 photographs). Artist: Ed Ruscha.
1967: The True Artist Helps the World by Revealing Mystic Truths (Window or Wall Sign) (neon). Artist: Bruce Nauman.
1976: Nine Squares (print). Artist: Ellsworth Kelly.
1976: Colored Paper Image III (Blue Black Curves) (print). Artist: Ellsworth Kelly.
1998: A Bigger Grand Canyon. Artist: David Hockney.
1999-2000: After Cezanne. Artist: Lucian Freud.

Melbourne
National Gallery of Victoria
1797-1799: Los Caprichos (1st edition, prints). Artist: Francisco Goya.
1880-1881: The Thinker (bronze cast, 1884). Artist: Auguste Rodin.
1898: Kneeling Youth (plaster cast). Artist: George Minne.
1957-1958: Draped Seated Woman. Artist: Henry Moore.
Draped Seated Woman by Henry Moore, at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.

Perth
Art Gallery of Western Australia
1977-1978: Naked Man with Rat. Artist: Lucian Freud.

Sydney
1959-1973: Sydney Opera House. Architect: Jørn Utzon.
A night view of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

Art Gallery of New South Wales
1834: Rue Transnonain, le 15 de Avril 1834 (print). Artist: Honoré Daumier.
1974: Cube 4/5 (from Variations of Incomplete Open Cubes). Artist: Sol LeWitt.