The Newest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, In Photos
Every year, UNESCO meets to determine the next round of places that will be added to the organization's coveted list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To qualify, a place or structure must have great cultural, historical, and/or natural significance—say, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, or Machu Picchu in Peru. The most recent list includes nominations from 2020 and 2021 (the committee didn't meet last year due to COVID-19), narrowed down to a whopping 34 new spots, including islands in Japan, frescoes in Italy, and ancient cities from Jordan to China. Below, you’ll find 14 of the places we were most excited about from the list. Each is as beautiful and diverse as the next, so get your passports ready.
GettyFrescoes of Padua, Italy
Italy is filled with beautiful artwork, but UNESCO decided to specifically honor the 14th-century frescoes in the historic city of Padua. The listing is composed of eight religious and secular building complexes, with fresco cycles (a series of frescoes about a particular subject) painted between 1302 and 1397. The collection of cycles represent how fresco art developed as a creative expression during the 14th century.
GettyIvindo National Park, Gabon
Situated on the equator in northern Gabon, the 740,000-acre Ivindo National Park is now Gabon’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site. (The other is Lope Park, inscribed in 2007.) The national park features waterfalls and rapids, rainforests and rivers, and a huge population of diverse animals: think crocodiles, elephants, leopards, and gorillas.
GettyChankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex, Peru
Built more than 2,300 years ago, the Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex of northern Peru is the earliest known astronomical observatory in the Americas. The site includes thirteen towers made from cut stone, flanked by two observation points which were used to track the sun’s movement throughout the year. The construction and placement of the structures are so precise, inhabitants were able to determine the date with an error margin of 1 to 2 days.
GettyChurch of Atlántida, Uruguay
Located about 30 miles east of Montevideo, the Church of Atlántida was designed by Uruguayan engineer Eladio Dieste in 1960. The church complex is a marvel of brick architecture, from the undulating outer walls to the inner spiral staircase. UNESCO notes that the church provides a remarkable example of modern architecture in Latin America during the second part of the 20th century.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
GettyKaeng Krachan Forest Complex, Thailand
The Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex is a massive forest area on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Aside from containing a wide array of tropical vegetation, the site is home to endangered animal species like the Siamese Crocodile, Asian Elephant, Asian Giant Tortoise, and Asiatic Wild Dog. You can also find eight wild cat species here, including several species of leopards and tigers.
GettyNice, France
Probably the most recognizable addition this year is the French Mediterranean city of Nice, which UNESCO has dubbed the “Winter Resort Town of the Riviera.” The city became a popular vacation spot for English and Russian aristocrats at the beginning of the 19th century, offering delightfully warm weather during the winter months. The UNESCO inscription means that urban development will be strictly controlled along the Promenade des Anglais and the old town of Nice, ensuring the city’s heritage will stay well preserved.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
GettySouthern Islands, Japan
Encompassing 165 square miles in southwestern Japan, Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island are among the newest UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The parts of the islands included in the listing are entirely uninhabited by humans, which means its biodiversity value is off the charts. Its collection of endangered mammals, reptiles, and birds—and endemic plants, of course—will certainly benefit from this added layer of global protection.
GettyAs-Salt, Jordan
Thought to be inhabited since the Iron Age, the city of As-Salt was a major trading hub on the East Bank of the Jordan River. The town particularly thrived during the end of the Ottoman period, when craftsmen and farmers from neighboring countries moved here and transformed the rural settlement into a robust town. The site’s urban core includes around 650 significant historic buildings, and farmers still use its fertile soil to harvest grapes and olives to this day.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
GettyRamappa Temple, India
Rudreshwara (more commonly known as Ramappa Temple) is located in the village of Palampet about 124 miles northeast of Hyderabad. Built in the 13th century, the temple ruins feature decorative pillars, carved ceilings, and sculptures of dancers and musicians. But its main claim to fame are the “floating bricks” that make up the roof structure. Composed of clay and wood, these bricks have a density lower than water, which puts less strain on the temple and reduces the chance of collapse.
GettyThe Great Spa Towns of Europe
This listing is comprised of 11 towns, located in seven European countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Františkovy Lázně (Czech Republic); Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic); Mariánské Lázně (Czech Republic); Vichy (France); Bad Ems (Germany); Baden-Baden (Germany); Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and the City of Bath (United Kingdom). All of these cities developed around natural mineral water springs and are indicative of the European spa culture that developed from the early 18th century to the 1930s.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
GettyQuanzhou, China
Encompassing 22 historical sites and monuments, Quanzhou was one of the most important Chinese ports along the Maritime Silk Roads from the 10th to 14th centuries AD. Merchants and explorers (including Marco Polo) flocked here from all over the world, and evidence of the coexistence among religions and cultures can be seen throughout the city. Notable landmarks include Islamic tombs, Taoist statues, and Buddhist temples.
GettyCordouan Lighthouse, France
The Lighthouse of Cordouan is hard to miss. Jutting out of the Gironde estuary in southwest France, the white limestone structure (complete with gargoyles) was built at the end of the 16th century—and it’s amazingly still active today. Organized boat trips are available from the commune of Royan, allowing visitors to see the architectural details up close. When there’s a low tide, you can even walk up to the lighthouse via a sandbar.
- Readers' Choice Awards2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey
- Style & CultureThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
GettyThe works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana, Slovenia
It's hard to turn a corner in Ljubljana without running into a structure designed by architect Jože Plečnik. (His influence is similar to that of Gaudí’s in Barcelona.) In the years between World War I and World War II, Plečnik contributed to the new, proudly Slovenian identity of the city with a series of new public spaces, buildings, and green areas. Notable examples of his work include the Triple Bridge, Žale Cemetery, National and University Library, and covered market buildings along the Ljubljanica River.
GettySítio Roberto Burle Marx, Brazil
Located in western Rio de Janeiro, Sítio Roberto Burle Marx is a botanical garden that boasts more than 3,500 species of plants. Developed over the course of 40 years by landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx, the site is the first modern tropical garden to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.