Top UNESCO sites in Italy
- francescaqvisionfa
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Author: Francesca Quadri
Italy is the country that has the greatest number of UNESCO sites in the world. The country hosts 55 sites recognized as World Heritage Sites and 12 sites belonging to the intangible cultural heritage.
In this article, you’ll find some of the best UNESCO sites that you can see in Italy, from North to South, perfect if you are planning a holiday in this country and want to enjoy its heritage.
Natural Sites: from the Dolomites to Mount Etna
In the North of Italy, there are the Dolomites. This mountain range offers excellent trekking during summer, while in winter it is populated with ski slopes. It is definitely a place not to be missed for mountain lovers.
If you’re in Tuscany, you can’t miss the Val d’Orcia. With its wide green valleys with traditional tree-lined avenues, this site has stunning views. The Val d'Orcia is also rich in characteristic villages, such as San Quirico d’Orcia and Castiglione d’Orcia, where you can taste typical wines.
In Sicily, there’s Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano. It attracts many visitors every year, for its eruptions, easy to see. Furthermore, in winter it also has ski facilities.
Don’t miss the cities
In addition to its natural heritage, Italy has several cities declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Verona, the provincial capital of Veneto, became a UNESCO Site in 2000. It is a splendid example of a city that has developed over two thousand years, and today it is the model par excellence of a fortified city. Its architecture is rich in Roman monuments, and the most famous of all is the Verona Arena, today home to concerts and live shows.
An extraordinary example of a medieval city is San Gimignano, in Tuscany. Its historic center is a cultural site of high value, with its 14 noble towers still intact, which today have given it the nickname of "New York of the Middle Ages".
The centre of Rome, the capital of Italy, is an open-air museum. In the ancient capital of the Roman Empire, you cannot miss a visit to the Colosseum, the site of gladiator fights. Furthermore, between the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia, you can walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali, the ancient center of the city's political life. Rome's cultural heritage is also expressed in its religious buildings, first and foremost St. Peter's Basilica.
Naples is another important UNESCO site in the south of the peninsula. Its historic center was included on the UNESCO heritage list in 1995. It was one of the most important port cities in the Mediterranean. In the streets of the center, you can admire the architectural richness of the city, with its 200 churches and artistic masterpieces. Particularly noteworthy are Piazza del Plebiscito and Castel dell'Ovo. In the UNESCO List, Naples is also registered for its intangible heritage: the Mediterranean diet and the art of Neapolitan pizza making are world-famous heritages.
Traces of antiquity in Italy
In addition to its natural heritage and cities, Italy preserves traces of the ancient peoples who inhabited it. Near Rome, you can visit the Etruscan necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia. This vast archaeological site includes thousands of tombs, some of which still retain paintings. Another example is the necropolis of Pantalica, near Siracusa in Sicily. Pantalica was an ancient indigenous state, preceding the Greek colonization of the island. The area features 5000 tombs carved into the rock.
Also in Sicily is one of the main examples of Greek art and culture: the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO heritage site since 1997. It is the largest archaeological park in Europe and the Mediterranean. On the site there are extraordinary Doric temples that testify to the importance of Agrigento at the time of Greek domination.
Conclusion
Italy establishes itself as a jewel of cultural heritage at a global level. This article aims to be an invitation to explore its riches, both landscape and architectural.
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