Did you know these world-famous landmarks are replicas?

Iconic buildings based on other structures

Architects throughout history have been influenced by earlier works and a surprising number of famous buildings around the world were actually modeled after older gems.

From the White House and Buckingham Palace to the Empire State Building and Burj Khalifa, we've rounded up 22 iconic structures that nod to, draw heavily from, or pretty much duplicate other buildings in some unexpected locations. Click or scroll to get started...

The masterpiece: The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Completed in AD 80, Rome's Colosseum was built by the Flavian emperors Vespasian and Titus. Financed by the spoils of the empire's plunder of Jerusalem, the vast amphitheater – which remains the largest in the world – could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators and was the scene of brutal 'entertainments,' which usually entailed the gruesome killing of gladiators, Christians, criminals, and exotic animals.

The inspiration: the Theater of Marcellus, Rome, Italy

The design of the building borrows significantly from an earlier Roman structure, the Theater of Marcellus. The city's largest theater, it was constructed under Julius Caesar and Augustus, the first Roman emperor, and completed in 13 BC. 

The venue fell out of use in the fourth century AD and a palazzo was built on top of its ruins during the Renaissance era.

The inspiration: the Gur-e Amir, Uzbekistan

They include the 15th-century Gur-e Amir, located in modern-day Uzbekistan, where Timur, the progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, is entombed.

As you can see, the two buildings look alike, with similar onion domes and minarets, though Shah Jahan went for an even more luxurious feel, opting for exquisite white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones rather than red sandstone decorated with tiles.

The masterpiece: the Wren Wing of Hampton Court Palace, London, UK

Hampton Court Palace in south London dates back to the Tudor period, when it was home to Cardinal Wolsey and then King Henry VIII.

More than a century later and it was given a fabulous Baroque makeover in the late 17th century by superstar architect Christopher Wren, who was hired in 1689 by King William III and Queen Mary II to update the tired palace. The glam additions bear more than a passing resemblance to France's most famous palace.

The masterpiece: The White House, Washington DC, USA

One of the most recognizable buildings in the world, America's presidential mansion is the handiwork of Kilkenny-born architect James Hoban, who won a national competition in 1792 to land the prestigious commission.

When figuring out the design, Hoban looked to his native Ireland for ideas.

The masterpiece: the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Though it's a structure rather than a building per se, we just had to include the Eiffel Tower given its iconic status – the 1,083-foot wrought-iron lattice tower is, after all, one of the most famous constructions in the world.

Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel and completed in 1889 as the centerpiece for the World's Fair that same year, the tower went on to inspire the Tokyo Tower, Blackpool Tower and other notable lookalikes.

The masterpiece: the Reichstag, Berlin, Germany

The Reichstag was completed in 1894 to house Germany's Imperial Diet (its parliament, from 1871-1918) and was the scene of the infamous false flag fire in 1933, which helped Adolf Hitler cement his power.

Following the blaze and subsequent bomb damage during the Second World War, the prominent dome was destroyed. It was later rebuilt in a contemporary style by Norman Foster, and the restored building now accommodates the nation's federal parliament.

The inspiration: Memorial Hall, Philadelphia, USA

Frankfurt architect Paul Wallot won the competition to design the building with his neo-Baroque creation.

It was actually modeled after Philadelphia's Memorial Hall, the main building of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, particularly the dome and Baroque-style decorative details. While the original Reichstag dome is, of course, long-gone, Memorial Hall's cupola still stands.

The inspiration: Hampton Court Palace, Richmond, UK

The primary inspiration was Christopher Wren's expansion of Hampton Court Palace, which was of course itself influenced big-time in design by the Palace of Versailles.

McKim, Mead and White mimicked myriad features of Wren's revamp, including the classical columns, rooftop balustrades and contrasting red brickwork and stone.

The masterpiece: the Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary

The seat of Hungary's parliament, this imposing landmark on the River Danube is the country's grandest building and then some.

Designed in an English neo-Gothic style by famed architect Imre Steindl and built between 1885 and 1904, the awe-inspiring structure pays homage to another world-famous parliament building.

The masterpiece: the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, New York, USA

The stunning Met Life Tower looms 700 feet over Manhattan's Flatiron District and is one of New York's most beloved buildings.

Designed by the architectural firm Napoleon LeBrun & Sons, the early skyscraper was completed in 1909 to house the eponymous insurance company's HQ and was the world's tallest building until 1913, when it was surpassed in height by the Woolworth Building.

The inspiration: St Mark's Campanile, Venice, Italy

Interestingly, the Manhattan icon, which is more than twice the height of the Venetian OG, is actually older than its model since the 16th-century Campanile collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt with work completed in 1912.

The masterpiece: the Woolworth Building, New York, USA

Stealing the crown from the Met Life Tower in 1913, the 792-foot Woolworth Building was the world's tallest edifice until 1930, when 40 Wall Street pipped it to the post.

A wonderfully decorative neo-Gothic beauty, the tower is resplendent with ornate details reminiscent of the great medieval buildings of Europe.

The inspiration: the Parthenon, Athens, Greece

The memorial's architect Henry Baker based the design on the Parthenon, the Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, which was completed in 438 BC.

Baker's reasoning for the design stems from his belief that a memorial to such a renowned defender of democracy should be modeled after a structure from the birthplace of democracy, hence why he chose Ancient Greece's most famous building as the prototype.

The inspiration: Chausath Yogini Shiva temple, Morena, India

A number of archaeologists and historians are convinced Parliament House was inspired by the 11th-century Chausath Yogini Shiva temple in Morena, which is remarkably similar in form.

While there's no concrete evidence Lutyens and Baker were influenced by the perfectly round sacred structure, the architects did look to India's heritage when designing the buildings of New Delhi.

The masterpiece: the Empire State Building, New York, USA

While 40 Wall Street lost the title of the world's tallest building to the newly completed Chrysler Building after just several weeks, the beautiful Chrysler only retained it for a year.

In 1931, the 1,250-foot Empire State Building assumed the accolade and held on to it for an impressive 41 years. The Art Deco tower boasted a state-of-the-art newfangled design.

The masterpiece: Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool, UK

Liverpool's Modernist Catholic cathedral is loathed and loved in equal measure by the city's denizens. Its architect Frederick Gibberd won a global competition to design the edifice and the place of worship was completed in 1967.

Gibberd was arguably inspired by a cathedral many miles away.

The masterpiece: Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

Inaugurated in 2010, the incredible Burj Khalifa in Dubai stands 2,717 feet tall, dwarfing every other human-made structure on the planet.

Since its completion, the tower has become one of the world's most recognizable buildings and is now the most searched-for landmark online, acccording to Kuoni, with the Eiffel Tower taking second place.

The inspiration: York Water Tower, London, UK

While Piano's chief inspirations are said to have been the spires of churches by Christopher Wren and masts of sailing ships that feature heavily in Canaletto's depictions of London, the Shard's design was likely influenced by the wooden York Buildings Water Tower, which can be seen in several of Canaletto's paintings of the capital.

Eerily similar in form, the 70-foot landmark, which soared over the city, was erected in Westminster in the late 17th century and is thought to have stood until the construction of the Victoria Embankment in the 1860s.