History, Places

Top 20 Countries having the most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2019 Update)

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There are a total of 1092 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world (as of January 2019: 845 Cultural, 209 Natural and 38 Mixed). Here are the top 20 countries having the most number of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? According to the Wikipedia, “A World Heritage Site is a place (such as a building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, or mountain) that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as being of special cultural or physical significance.“

The 20th, 19th, and 18th countries, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden all have 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are listed in alphabetical order.

20. Poland

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 15

Natural: 1, Cultural: 14

  1. Historic Centre of Kraków (cultural)
  2. Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (cultural)
  3. Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) (cultural)
  4. Białowieża Forest * (natural)
  5. Historic Centre of Warsaw (cultural)
  6. Old City of Zamość (cultural)
  7. Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (cultural)
  8. Medieval Town of Toruń (cultural)
  9. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park (cultural)
  10. Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica (cultural)
  11. Wooden Churches of Southern Małopolska (cultural)
  12. Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski * (cultural)
  13. Centennial Hall in Wrocław (cultural)
  14. Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine * (cultural)
  15. Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its Underground Water Management System (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Warsaw old town
 The Historic Center of Warsaw (Warsaw Old Town) is the oldest part of the capital city of Poland. It is bounded by the Wybrzeże Gdańskie, along with the bank of Vistula river, Grodzka, Mostowa and Podwale Streets. It is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Warsaw.
The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, rich in restaurants, cafés, and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, the Barbican and St. John’s Cathedral. Photo: Wikipedia

19. Portugal

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 15

Natural: 1, Cultural: 14

  1. Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (cultural)
  2. Convent of Christ in Tomar (cultural)
  3. Monastery of Batalha (cultural)
  4. Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (cultural)
  5. Historic Centre of Évora (cultural)
  6. Monastery of Alcobaça (cultural)
  7. Cultural Landscape of Sintra (cultural)
  8. Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar (cultural)
  9. Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde * (cultural)
  10. Laurisilva of Madeira (natural)
  11. Alto Douro Wine Region (cultural)
  12. Historic Centre of Guimarães (cultural)
  13. Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture (cultural)
  14. Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications (cultural)
  15. University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alcobaca Monastery, Portugal
 The Alcobaça Monastery is a Mediaeval Roman Catholic monastery located in the town of Alcobaça, in Oeste Subregion. It was founded by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, in 1153, and maintained a close association with the Kings of Portugal throughout its history.
The church and monastery were the first Gothic buildings in Portugal, and, together with the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, it was one of the most important of the medieval monasteries in Portugal. Due to its artistic and historical importance, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1989. Photo: Wikipedia

18. Sweden

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 15

Natural: 1, Cultural: 13, Mixed: 1

  1. Royal Domain of Drottningholm (cultural)
  2. Birka and Hovgården (cultural)
  3. Engelsberg Ironworks (cultural)
  4. Rock Carvings in Tanum (cultural)
  5. Skogskyrkogården (cultural)
  6. Hanseatic Town of Visby (cultural)
  7. Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (cultural)
  8. Laponian Area (mixed)
  9. Naval Port of Karlskrona (cultural)
  10. Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland (cultural)
  11. High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago * (natural)
  12. Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (cultural)
  13. Grimeton Radio Station, Varberg (cultural)
  14. Struve Geodetic Arc * (cultural)
  15. Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Drottningholm Palace, Sweden
 The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. It is located in Drottningholm. Built on the island Lovön (in Ekerö Municipality of Stockholm County), it is one of Sweden’s Royal Palaces. It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a regular summer residence of the Swedish royal court for most of the 18th century. Apart from being the private residence of the Swedish royal family, the palace is a popular tourist attraction. Photo: Wikipedia

The 17th and 16th countries, Greece and Turkey both have 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are listed in alphabetical order.

17. Greece

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 18

Cultural: 16, Mixed: 2

  1. Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (cultural)
  2. Acropolis, Athens (cultural)
  3. Archaeological Site of Delphi (cultural)
  4. Medieval City of Rhodes (cultural)
  5. Meteora (mixed)
  6. Mount Athos (mixed)
  7. Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika (cultural)
  8. Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus (cultural)
  9. Archaeological Site of Mystras (cultural)
  10. Archaeological Site of Olympia (cultural)
  11. Delos (cultural)
  12. Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios (cultural)
  13. Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos (cultural)
  14. Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina) (cultural)
  15. Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns (cultural)
  16. The Historic Centre (Chorá) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Pátmos (cultural)
  17. Old Town of Corfu (cultural)
  18. Archaeological Site of Philippi (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Acropolis of Athens
 The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on an extremely rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon (a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron). The word acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). Although there are many other acropolis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as “The Acropolis” without qualification. Photo: Wikipedia

16. Turkey

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 18

Cultural: 16, Mixed: 2

  1. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (mixed)
  2. Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği (cultural)
  3. Historic Areas of Istanbul (cultural)
  4. Hattusha: the Hittite Capital (cultural)
  5. Nemrut Dağ (cultural)
  6. Hierapolis-Pamukkale (mixed)
  7. Xanthos-Letoon (cultural)
  8. City of Safranbolu (cultural)
  9. Archaeological Site of Troy (cultural)
  10. Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (cultural)
  11. Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük (cultural)
  12. Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire (cultural)
  13. Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  14. Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  15. Ephesus (cultural)
  16. Archaeological Site of Ani (cultural)
  17. Aphrodisias (cultural)
  18. Göbekli Tepe (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ephesus Library, Turkey
 Ephesus (Greek: Ἔφεσος Ephesos; Turkish: Efes; ultimately from Hittite Apasa) was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, three kilometers southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of the former Arzawan capital by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era, it was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League. The city flourished after it came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC. According to estimates, Ephesus had a population of 33,600 to 56,000 people in the Roman period, making it the third largest city of Roman Asia Minor after Sardis and Alexandria Troas. The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Photo (The Library of Celsus in Ephesus): Wikipedia

The 15th and 14th countries, Australia and Canada both have 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are listed in alphabetical order.

15. Australia

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 19

Natural: 12, Cultural: 3, Mixed: 4

  1. Great Barrier Reef (natural)
  2. Kakadu National Park (mixed)
  3. Willandra Lakes Region (mixed)
  4. Lord Howe Island Group (natural)
  5. Tasmanian Wilderness (mixed)
  6. Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (natural)
  7. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (mixed)
  8. Wet Tropics of Queensland (natural)
  9. Shark Bay, Western Australia (natural)
  10. Fraser Island (natural)
  11. Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte) (natural)
  12. Heard and McDonald Islands (natural)
  13. Macquarie Island (natural)
  14. Greater Blue Mountains Area (natural)
  15. Purnululu National Park (natural)
  16. Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (cultural)
  17. Sydney Opera House (cultural)
  18. Australian Convict Sites (cultural)
  19. Ningaloo Coast (natural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
 The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 sq mi). Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. CNN labeled it one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Queensland National Trust named it a state icon of Queensland. Photo: haikudeck.com

14. Canada

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 19

Natural: 10, Cultural: 8, Mixed: 1

  1. L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site (cultural)
  2. Nahanni National Park (natural)
  3. Dinosaur Provincial Park (natural)
  4. Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (natural)
  5. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (cultural)
  6. SGang Gwaay (cultural)
  7. Wood Buffalo National Park (natural)
  8. Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (natural)
  9. Historic District of Old Québec (cultural)
  10. Gros Morne National Park (natural)
  11. Old Town Lunenburg (cultural)
  12. Waterton Glacier International Peace Park * (natural)
  13. Miguasha National Park (natural)
  14. Rideau Canal (cultural)
  15. Joggins Fossil Cliffs (natural)
  16. Landscape of Grand Pré (cultural)
  17. Red Bay Basque Whaling Station (cultural)
  18. Mistaken Point (natural)
  19. Pimachiowin Aki (mixed)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Virginia Falls, Canada
 Virginia Falls is a waterfall in Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on the South Nahanni River, at an elevation of 500 m (1,600 ft). It is located 120 kilometers (76 miles) from the Yukon border. It has a total drop of 96 m (315 ft), making it almost twice the height of Niagara Falls (51 m). It consists of a single drop with an average width of 259 m (850 ft). Photo: liardtours.com

13. Brazil

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 21

Natural: 7, Cultural: 14

  1. Historic Town of Ouro Preto (cultural)
  2. Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda (cultural)
  3. Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) * (cultural)
  4. Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia (cultural)
  5. Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (cultural)
  6. Iguaçu National Park (natural)
  7. Brasilia (cultural)
  8. Serra da Capivara National Park (cultural)
  9. Historic Centre of São Luís (cultural)
  10. Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (natural)
  11. Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (natural)
  12. Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina (cultural)
  13. Central Amazon Conservation Complex (natural)
  14. Pantanal Conservation Area (natural)
  15. Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (natural)
  16. Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (natural)
  17. Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (cultural)
  18. São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (cultural)
  19. Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (cultural)
  20. Pampulha Modern Ensemble (cultural)
  21. Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ouro Preto, Brazil
 Ouro Preto (English: Black Gold) is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its outstanding Baroque architecture. Photo: freewords.com.br

12. Japan

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 22

Natural: 4, Cultural: 18

  1. Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (cultural)
  2. Himeji-jo (cultural)
  3. Shirakami-Sanchi (natural)
  4. Yakushima (natural)
  5. Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (cultural)
  6. Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (cultural)
  7. Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (cultural)
  8. Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (cultural)
  9. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (cultural)
  10. Shrines and Temples of Nikko (cultural)
  11. Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (cultural)
  12. Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (cultural)
  13. Shiretoko (natural)
  14. Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  15. Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (cultural)
  16. Ogasawara Islands (natural)
  17. Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration (cultural)
  18. Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites (cultural)
  19. Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining (cultural)
  20. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement * (cultural)
  21. Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (cultural)
  22. Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Himeji Castle, Japan
 Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site and five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures. Photo: mcha-jp.com

The 11th and 10th countries, Iran and the United States both have 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are listed in alphabetical order.

11. Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 23

Natural: 1, Cultural: 22

  1. Meidan Emam, Esfahan (cultural)
  2. Persepolis (cultural)
  3. Tchogha Zanbil (cultural)
  4. Takht-e Soleyman (cultural)
  5. Bam and its Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  6. Pasargadae (cultural)
  7. Soltaniyeh (cultural)
  8. Bisotun (cultural)
  9. Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran (cultural)
  10. Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (cultural)
  11. Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil (cultural)
  12. Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (cultural)
  13. The Persian Garden (cultural)
  14. Gonbad-e Qābus (cultural)
  15. Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan (cultural)
  16. Golestan Palace (cultural)
  17. Shahr-i Sokhta (cultural)
  18. Cultural Landscape of Maymand (cultural)
  19. Susa (cultural)
  20. Lut Desert (natural)
  21. The Persian Qanat (cultural)
  22. Historic City of Yazd (cultural)
  23. Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ruins of Persepolis, Iran
 Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC). It is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979. Photo: searchmap.eu

10. United States of America

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 23

Natural: 12, Cultural: 10, Mixed: 1, In Danger: 1

  1. Mesa Verde National Park (cultural)
  2. Yellowstone National Park (natural)
  3. Everglades National Park (natural) (IN DANGER)
  4. Grand Canyon National Park (natural)
  5. Independence Hall (cultural)
  6. Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (natural)
  7. Redwood National and State Parks (natural)
  8. Mammoth Cave National Park (natural)
  9. Olympic National Park (natural)
  10. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (cultural)
  11. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (natural)
  12. La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (cultural)
  13. Statue of Liberty (cultural)
  14. Yosemite National Park (natural)
  15. Chaco Culture (cultural)
  16. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (natural)
  17. Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (cultural)
  18. Taos Pueblo (cultural)
  19. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (natural)
  20. Waterton Glacier International Peace Park * (natural)
  21. Papahānaumokuākea (mixed)
  22. Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (cultural)
  23. San Antonio Missions (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: U-shaped valley, Yosemite National Park
 Yosemite National Park covers an area of 747,956 acres (1,168.681 sq mi; 302,687 ha; 3,026.87 km2) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. About 3.8 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend the majority of their time in the seven square miles (18 km2) of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, beautiful lakes, spectacular mountains, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Photo: wikipedia

9. Russian Federation

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 28

Natural: 11, Cultural: 17

  1. Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments (cultural)
  2. Kizhi Pogost (cultural)
  3. Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (cultural)
  4. Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands (cultural)
  5. Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings (cultural)
  6. White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal (cultural)
  7. Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad (cultural)
  8. Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye (cultural)
  9. Virgin Komi Forests (natural)
  10. Lake Baikal (natural)
  11. Volcanoes of Kamchatka (natural)
  12. Golden Mountains of Altai (natural)
  13. Western Caucasus (natural)
  14. Curonian Spit * (cultural)
  15. Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery (cultural)
  16. Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin (cultural)
  17. Central Sikhote-Alin (natural)
  18. Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent (cultural)
  19. Uvs Nuur Basin * (natural)
  20. Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent (cultural)
  21. Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve (natural)
  22. Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl (cultural)
  23. Struve Geodetic Arc * (cultural)
  24. Putorana Plateau (natural)
  25. Lena Pillars Nature Park (natural)
  26. Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (cultural)
  27. Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (cultural)
  28. Landscapes of Dauria * (natural)
Saint Isaac's Cathedral
 Saint Isaac’s Cathedral or Isaakievskiy Sobor in Saint Petersburg, Russia is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral (sobor) in the city. It is the largest orthodox basilica and the fourth largest (by the volume under the cupola) cathedral in the world. It is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great, who had been born on the feast day of that saint. The cathedral’s main dome rises 101.5 meters (333 ft) and is plated with pure gold. I took this photo in the summer of 2012.

8. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 31

Natural: 4, Cultural: 26, Mixed: 1, In Danger: 1

  1. Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (cultural)
  2. Durham Castle and Cathedral (cultural)
  3. Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast (natural)
  4. Ironbridge Gorge (cultural)
  5. St Kilda (mixed)
  6. Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (cultural)
  7. Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey (cultural)
  8. Blenheim Palace (cultural)
  9. City of Bath (cultural)
  10. Frontiers of the Roman Empire * (cultural)
  11. Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church (cultural)
  12. Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church (cultural)
  13. Henderson Island (natural)
  14. Tower of London (cultural)
  15. Gough and Inaccessible Islands (natural)
  16. Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (cultural)
  17. Maritime Greenwich (cultural)
  18. Heart of Neolithic Orkney (cultural)
  19. Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (cultural)
  20. Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda (cultural)
  21. Derwent Valley Mills (cultural)
  22. Dorset and East Devon Coast (natural)
  23. New Lanark (cultural)
  24. Saltaire (cultural)
  25. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (cultural)
  26. Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (cultural) (IN DANGER)
  27. Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (cultural)
  28. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal (cultural)
  29. The Forth Bridge (cultural)
  30. Gorham’s Cave Complex (cultural)
  31. The English Lake District (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Durham Castle
 Built in the 11th century, Durham Castle (seen here in front of Durham Cathedral) is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been wholly occupied since 1840 by University College, Durham. It is open to the general public to visit, but only through guided tours, since it is in use as a working building and is home to over 100 students. The castle stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham’s peninsula, opposite Durham Cathedral. Photo: Wikipedia

7. Mexico

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 35

Natural: 6, Cultural: 27, Mixed: 2

  1. Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco (cultural)
  2. Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán (cultural)
  3. Historic Centre of Puebla (cultural)
  4. Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque (cultural)
  5. Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan (cultural)
  6. Sian Ka’an (natural)
  7. Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines (cultural)
  8. Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza (cultural)
  9. Historic Centre of Morelia (cultural)
  10. El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City (cultural)
  11. Historic Centre of Zacatecas (cultural)
  12. Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco (cultural)
  13. Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino (natural)
  14. Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl (cultural)
  15. Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro (cultural)
  16. Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal (cultural)
  17. Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara (cultural)
  18. Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes (cultural)
  19. Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan (cultural)
  20. Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco (cultural)
  21. Historic Fortified Town of Campeche (cultural)
  22. Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche (mixed)
  23. Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro (cultural)
  24. Luis Barragán House and Studio (cultural)
  25. Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (natural)
  26. Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila (cultural)
  27. Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (cultural)
  28. Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (natural)
  29. Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco (cultural)
  30. Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (cultural)
  31. Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca (cultural)
  32. El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve (natural)
  33. Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System (cultural)
  34. Archipiélago de Revillagigedo (natural)
  35. Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: originary habitat of Mesoamerica (mixed)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: El Castillo, Chichen Itza
 El Castillo (Spanish for “the castle”), also known as the Temple of Kukulcan, is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the center of the Chichen Itza archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán. Photo: Wikipedia

6. India

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 37

Natural: 7, Cultural: 29, Mixed: 1

  1. Agra Fort (cultural)
  2. Ajanta Caves (cultural)
  3. Ellora Caves (cultural)
  4. Taj Mahal (cultural)
  5. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (cultural)
  6. Sun Temple, Konârak (cultural)
  7. Kaziranga National Park (natural)
  8. Keoladeo National Park (natural)
  9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (natural)
  10. Churches and Convents of Goa (cultural)
  11. Fatehpur Sikri (cultural)
  12. Group of Monuments at Hampi (cultural)
  13. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (cultural)
  14. Elephanta Caves (cultural)
  15. Great Living Chola Temples (cultural)
  16. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (cultural)
  17. Sundarbans National Park (natural)
  18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (natural)
  19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (cultural)
  20. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (cultural)
  21. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (cultural)
  22. Mountain Railways of India (cultural)
  23. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (cultural)
  24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (cultural)
  25. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (cultural)
  26. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (cultural)
  27. Red Fort Complex (cultural)
  28. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (cultural)
  29. Western Ghats (natural)
  30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (cultural)
  31. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (natural)
  32. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (cultural)
  33. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (cultural)
  34. Khangchendzonga National Park (mixed)
  35. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement * (cultural)
  36. Historic City of Ahmadabad (cultural)
  37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Taj Mahal, India
 Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”, the Taj Mahal (Persian for Crown of Palaces) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The 5th and 4th countries, France and Germany both have 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are listed in alphabetical order.

5. France

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 44

Natural: 4, Cultural: 39, Mixed: 1

  1. Chartres Cathedral (cultural)
  2. Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (cultural)
  3. Palace and Park of Versailles (cultural)
  4. Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley (cultural)
  5. Vézelay, Church and Hill (cultural)
  6. Amiens Cathedral (cultural)
  7. Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments (cultural)
  8. Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (cultural)
  9. Palace and Park of Fontainebleau (cultural)
  10. Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the “Triumphal Arch” of Orange (cultural)
  11. From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt (cultural)
  12. Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe (cultural)
  13. Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve (natural)
  14. Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance in Nancy (cultural)
  15. Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (cultural)
  16. Strasbourg, Grande-Île and Neustadt (cultural)
  17. Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims (cultural)
  18. Paris, Banks of the Seine (cultural)
  19. Bourges Cathedral (cultural)
  20. Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge (cultural)
  21. Canal du Midi (cultural)
  22. Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (cultural)
  23. Pyrénées – Mont Perdu * (mixed)
  24. Historic Site of Lyon (cultural)
  25. Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (cultural)
  26. Belfries of Belgium and France * (cultural)
  27. Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion (cultural)
  28. The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (cultural)
  29. Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs (cultural)
  30. Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret (cultural)
  31. Bordeaux, Port of the Moon (cultural)
  32. Fortifications of Vauban (cultural)
  33. Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (natural)
  34. Episcopal City of Albi (cultural)
  35. Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island (natural)
  36. Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps * (cultural)
  37. The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  38. Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin (cultural)
  39. Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche (cultural)
  40. Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars (cultural)
  41. The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy (cultural)
  42. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement * (cultural)
  43. Taputapuātea (cultural)
  44. Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault tectonic arena (natural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Amiens Cathedral, France
 The Amiens cathedral is the tallest complete cathedral in France, its stone-vaulted nave reaching an internal height of 42.30 meters (138.8 ft) (surpassed only by the incomplete Beauvais Cathedral). It also has the greatest interior volume of any French cathedral, estimated at 200,000 cubic meters (260,000 cu yd). The cathedral was built between 1220 and c.1270 and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Although it has lost most of its original stained glass, Amiens Cathedral is renowned for the quality and quantity of early 13th-century Gothic sculpture in the main west façade and the south transept portal, and a large quantity of polychrome sculpture from later periods inside the building. Photo: Wikipedia

4. Germany

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 44

Natural: 3, Cultural: 41

  1. Aachen Cathedral (cultural)
  2. Speyer Cathedral (cultural)
  3. Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (cultural)
  4. Pilgrimage Church of Wies (cultural)
  5. Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl (cultural)
  6. St Mary’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church at Hildesheim (cultural)
  7. Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier (cultural)
  8. Frontiers of the Roman Empire * (cultural)
  9. Hanseatic City of Lübeck (cultural)
  10. Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (cultural)
  11. Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch (cultural)
  12. Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System (cultural)
  13. Maulbronn Monastery Complex (cultural)
  14. Town of Bamberg (cultural)
  15. Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg (cultural)
  16. Völklingen Ironworks (cultural)
  17. Messel Pit Fossil Site (natural)
  18. Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau (cultural)
  19. Cologne Cathedral (cultural)
  20. Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg (cultural)
  21. Classical Weimar (cultural)
  22. Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (cultural)
  23. Wartburg Castle (cultural)
  24. Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz (cultural)
  25. Monastic Island of Reichenau (cultural)
  26. Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen (cultural)
  27. Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar (cultural)
  28. Upper Middle Rhine Valley (cultural)
  29. Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski * (cultural)
  30. Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen (cultural)
  31. Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof (cultural)
  32. Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe * (natural)
  33. Berlin Modernism Housing Estates (cultural)
  34. Wadden Sea * (natural)
  35. Fagus Factory in Alfeld (cultural)
  36. Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps * (cultural)
  37. Margravial Opera House Bayreuth (cultural)
  38. Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe (cultural)
  39. Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey (cultural)
  40. Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus (cultural)
  41. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement * (cultural)
  42. Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (cultural)
  43. Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke (cultural)
  44. Naumburg Cathedral (cultural)

Delisted

  1. Dresden Elbe Valley (cultural) Delisted in 2009
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Cologne Cathedral at night
 Cologne Cathedral (English: High Cathedral of Saint Peter) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. It is Germany’s most visited landmark, attracting an average of 20,000 people a day, currently the tallest twin-spired church at 157 m (515 ft) tall. Photo: Wikipedia

3. Spain

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 47

Natural: 4, Cultural: 41, Mixed: 2

  1. Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada (cultural)
  2. Burgos Cathedral (cultural)
  3. Historic Centre of Cordoba (cultural)
  4. Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid (cultural)
  5. Works of Antoni Gaudí (cultural)
  6. Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (cultural)
  7. Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias (cultural)
  8. Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches (cultural)
  9. Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (cultural)
  10. Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (cultural)
  11. Garajonay National Park (natural)
  12. Historic City of Toledo (cultural)
  13. Mudejar Architecture of Aragon (cultural)
  14. Old Town of Cáceres (cultural)
  15. Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville (cultural)
  16. Old City of Salamanca (cultural)
  17. Poblet Monastery (cultural)
  18. Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (cultural)
  19. Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain (cultural)
  20. Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (cultural)
  21. Doñana National Park (natural)
  22. Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (cultural)
  23. La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (cultural)
  24. Las Médulas (cultural)
  25. Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona (cultural)
  26. Pyrénées – Mont Perdu * (mixed)
  27. San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries (cultural)
  28. Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde * (cultural)
  29. Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula (cultural)
  30. University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares (cultural)
  31. Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture (mixed)
  32. San Cristóbal de La Laguna (cultural)
  33. Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco (cultural)
  34. Archaeological Site of Atapuerca (cultural)
  35. Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí (cultural)
  36. Palmeral of Elche (cultural)
  37. Roman Walls of Lugo (cultural)
  38. Aranjuez Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  39. Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza (cultural)
  40. Vizcaya Bridge (cultural)
  41. Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe * (natural)
  42. Teide National Park (natural)
  43. Tower of Hercules (cultural)
  44. Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana (cultural)
  45. Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija * (cultural)
  46. Antequera Dolmens Site (cultural)
  47. Caliphate City of Medina Azahara (cultural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alhambra, Spain
 The Alhambra is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country’s most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the inspiration for many songs and stories. Photo: Wikipedia

2. China

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 53

Natural: 13, Cultural: 36, Mixed: 4

  1. Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang (cultural)
  2. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (cultural)
  3. Mogao Caves (cultural)
  4. Mount Taishan (mixed)
  5. Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (cultural)
  6. The Great Wall (cultural)
  7. Mount Huangshan (mixed)
  8. Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (natural)
  9. Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (natural)
  10. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (natural)
  11. Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (cultural)
  12. Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (cultural)
  13. Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (cultural)
  14. Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (cultural)
  15. Lushan National Park (cultural)
  16. Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (mixed)
  17. Ancient City of Ping Yao (cultural)
  18. Classical Gardens of Suzhou (cultural)
  19. Old Town of Lijiang (cultural)
  20. Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (cultural)
  21. Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (cultural)
  22. Dazu Rock Carvings (cultural)
  23. Mount Wuyi (mixed)
  24. Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (cultural)
  25. Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (cultural)
  26. Longmen Grottoes (cultural)
  27. Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (cultural)
  28. Yungang Grottoes (cultural)
  29. Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (natural)
  30. Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (cultural)
  31. Historic Centre of Macao (cultural)
  32. Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries – Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains (natural)
  33. Yin Xu (cultural)
  34. Kaiping Diaolou and Villages (cultural)
  35. South China Karst (natural)
  36. Fujian Tulou (cultural)
  37. Mount Sanqingshan National Park (natural)
  38. Mount Wutai (cultural)
  39. China Danxia (natural)
  40. Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (cultural)
  41. West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (cultural)
  42. Chengjiang Fossil Site (natural)
  43. Site of Xanadu (cultural)
  44. Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces (cultural)
  45. Xinjiang Tianshan (natural)
  46. Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor * (cultural)
  47. The Grand Canal (cultural)
  48. Tusi Sites (cultural)
  49. Hubei Shennongjia (natural)
  50. Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (cultural)
  51. Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement (cultural)
  52. Qinghai Hoh Xil (natural)
  53. Fanjingshan (natural)
Countries having most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Great Wall of China
 The Great Wall stretches from Dandong in the east, to Lop Lake in the west, along with an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. A comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has concluded that the Ming walls measure 8,850 km (5,500 mi). This is made up of 6,259 km (3,889 mi) sections of actual wall, 359 km (223 mi) of trenches and 2,232 km (1,387 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers. Another archaeological survey found that the entire wall with all of its branches measure out to be 21,196 km (13,171 mi). Photo: Wikipedia

1. Italy

Total number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 54

Natural: 5, Cultural: 49

  1. Rock Drawings in Valcamonica (cultural)
  2. Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (cultural)
  3. Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura * (cultural)
  4. Historic Centre of Florence (cultural)
  5. Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (cultural)
  6. Venice and its Lagoon (cultural)
  7. Historic Centre of San Gimignano (cultural)
  8. The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera (cultural)
  9. City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto (cultural)
  10. Crespi d’Adda (cultural)
  11. Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta (cultural)
  12. Historic Centre of Naples (cultural)
  13. Historic Centre of Siena (cultural)
  14. Castel del Monte (cultural)
  15. Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (cultural)
  16. Historic Centre of the City of Pienza (cultural)
  17. The Trulli of Alberobello (cultural)
  18. 18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex (cultural)
  19. Archaeological Area of Agrigento (cultural)
  20. Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (cultural)
  21. Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua (cultural)
  22. Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena (cultural)
  23. Costiera Amalfitana (cultural)
  24. Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) (cultural)
  25. Residences of the Royal House of Savoy (cultural)
  26. Su Nuraxi di Barumini (cultural)
  27. Villa Romana del Casale (cultural)
  28. Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (cultural)
  29. Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula (cultural)
  30. Historic Centre of Urbino (cultural)
  31. Villa Adriana (Tivoli) (cultural)
  32. Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites (cultural)
  33. City of Verona (cultural)
  34. Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (natural)
  35. Villa d’Este, Tivoli (cultural)
  36. Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) (cultural)
  37. Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy (cultural)
  38. Monte San Giorgio * (natural)
  39. Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia (cultural)
  40. Val d’Orcia (cultural)
  41. Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (cultural)
  42. Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli (cultural)
  43. Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe * (natural)
  44. Mantua and Sabbioneta (cultural)
  45. Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes * (cultural)
  46. The Dolomites (natural)
  47. Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.) (cultural)
  48. Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps * (cultural)
  49. Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany (cultural)
  50. Mount Etna (natural)
  51. Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato (cultural)
  52. Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale (cultural)
  53. Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar * (cultural)
  54. Ivrea, industrial city of the 20th century (cultural)
Venice, Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge
 The Grand Canal (Italian: Canal grande) is a canal in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses (Italian: vaporetti) and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola.
One end of the canal leads into the lagoon near the Santa Lucia railway station and the other end leads into Saint Mark Basin; in between, it makes a large reverse-S shape through the central districts (sestieri) of Venice. It is 3.8 km long, and 30 to 90 m wide, with an average depth of five meters (16.5 ft). I took this photo from the Rialto Bridge (Ponte Rialto) in March 2009.

*: transboundary property

UNESCO World Heritage Sites Selection criteria

Nominated sites must be of “outstanding universal value” and meet at least one of the ten criteria:

Cultural

  1. Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance
  2. Exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time, or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design
  3. To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.
  4. Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.
  5. Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture, or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
  6. Is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

Natural

  1. Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
  2. Is an outstanding example representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.
  3. Is an outstanding example representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals.
  4. Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

Sources

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