UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) has designated numerous places around the world as important to preserve because of their cultural or ecological significance. Right now, there are a total of 851 places on the list, with new places nominated and eligible for inclusion each year. The commitment by both the country of origin and the United Nations will hopefully assist in the maintenance of these locations and properties ad infinitum. On the other hand, inclusion on the list usually results in increased tourism which may, in turn, jeopardize the sustainability of the site. This new feature on my blog will list some of these sites (by country) and will illustrate their appearance via photos.
Italy has the most World Heritage Sites (41), a reward for its cultural importance throughout the history of world civilization. My favorites are as follows: (Sites are listed chronologically by the year of inclusion)
1. Historic Center of Rome (1980)
2. Santa Maria della Grazie Church, Milan (which contains DaVinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper) (1980)
3. Historic Center of Florence (1982)
4. Venice and its Lagoon (1987)
5. Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (which contains the Leaning Tower, the Duomo, and the Baptistry) (1987)
6. Historic Center of San Gimignano (1990)
7. Historic Center of Siena (1995)
8. Historic Center of Naples (1995)
9. Historic Center of Pienza (1996)
10. Royal Palace at Caserta (1997)
11. Cinqueterra (1997)
12. Pompeii (1997)
13. Amalfi Coast (1997)
14. Agrigento (an archaeological site on the island of Sicily) (1997)
15. Historic Center of Urbino (1998)
16. Villa Adriana at Tivoli (1999)
17. City of Verona (2000)
18. Assisi & its Basilica of San Francesco (2000)
19. Villa d’Este at Tivoli (2001)
20. Syracuse (2006)
21. Genoa (2007)
