10 countries with the most UNESCO World Heritage sites
Every year, through a list of nominations adhering to certain established criteria, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declares a number of locations around the world as heritage sites to be protected and preserved. As of 2017, there are 1073 World Heritage sites declared in 167 states.
Here are the 10 countries that house the most UNESCO World Heritage sites:
Italy
Co-protagonist of the Classical era, home to the Roman Empire, plunged into the dark period of the Middle Ages to later flourish in the Renaissance period. With such rich cultural history, it’s no wonder Italy tops the list with 53 sites (and counting) considered worthy of being World Heritage.
The more adventurous travelers can opt to trek the country’s natural landscapes, while history fanatics can go in search of artifacts, braving the endless archeological sites of the Roman Empire and mentally reconstructing scenes of gladiator fights.
- Rock Drawings in Valcamonica
- Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci
- Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
- Historic Centre of Florence
- Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
- Venice and its Lagoon
- Historic Centre of San Gimignano
- The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera
- City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto
- Crespi d'Adda
- Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta14
- Historic Centre of Naples
- Historic Centre of Siena
- Castel del Monte
- Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna
- Historic Centre of the City of Pienza
- The Trulliof Alberobello
- 18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex
- Archaeological Area of Agrigento
- Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata
- Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua
- Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena
- Costiera Amalfitana
- Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
- Residences of the Royal House of Savoy
- Su Nuraxi di Barumini
- Villa Romana del Casale
- Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia
- Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula
- Historic Centre of Urbino
- Villa Adriana (Tivoli)
- Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites
- City of Verona
- Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands)
- Villa d'Este, Tivoli
- Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
- Sacri Montiof Piedmont and Lombardy
- Monte San Giorgio*
- Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia
- Val d'Orcia
- Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
- Genoa: Le Strade Nuoveand the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli
- Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe*
- Mantua and Sabbioneta
- Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes*
- The Dolomites
- Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.)
- Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps*
- Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany
- Mount Etna
- Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato
- Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale
- Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra– Western Stato da Mar
China
Equally rich in culture and history, on the other side of the globe, another top-contender with 52 World Heritage sites sitting on its territory, is China, with more than 4000 years of recorded history in its timeline.
Land of mythological dragons, cruel emperors long-gone and kung fu movies, China’s sites include Imperial palaces and tombs of past dynasties, ancient cities and villages, buildings and monuments, and of course, countless natural parks, rivers, lakes and mountains.
- Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang
- Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
- Mogao Caves
- Mount Taishan
- Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
- The Great Wall
- Mount Huangshan
- Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area
- Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
- Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
- Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
- Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa
- Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde
- Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu
- Lushan National Park
- Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
- Ancient City of Ping Yao
- Classical Gardens of Suzhou
- Old Town of Lijiang
- Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing
- Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
- Dazu Rock Carvings
- Mount Wuyi
- Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun
- Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
- Longmen Grottoes
- Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
- Yungang Grottoes
- Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
- Historic Centre of Macao
- Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains
- Yin Xu
- Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
- South China Karst
- Fujian Tulou
- Mount Sanqingshan National Park
- Mount Wutai
- China Danxia
- Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”
- West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou
- Chengjiang Fossil Site
- Site of Xanadu
- Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
- Xinjiang Tianshan
- Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
- The Grand Canal
- Tusi Sites
- Hubei Shennongjia
- Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
- Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement
- Qinghai Hoh Xil
Spain
With its long warring history and the early cultural domination of the Romans and the Moors, Spain is unsurprising the next country on this list with 46 sites to be protected.
Besides historical caves, preserved Romanic remains and important archaeological sites, old town and national parks, Spain boasts of cathedrals, churches and modernist buildings that are inconceivable masterpieces of art.
- Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada
- Burgos Cathedral
- Historic Centre of Cordoba
- Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid
- Works of Antoni Gaudí
- Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
- Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias
- Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches
- Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct
- Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)
- Garajonay National Park
- Historic City of Toledo
- Mudejar Architecture of Aragon
- Old Town of Cáceres
- Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville
- Old City of Salamanca
- Poblet Monastery
- Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
- Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain
- Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe
- Doñana National Park
- Historic Walled Town of Cuenca
- La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia
- Las Médulas
- Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona
- Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
- San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries
- Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde
- Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula
- University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares
- Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco
- Archaeological Site of Atapuerca
- Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí
- Palmeral of Elche
- Roman Walls of Lugo
- Aranjuez Cultural Landscape
- Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza
- Vizcaya Bridge
- Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
- Teide National Park
- Tower of Hercules
- Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana
- Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija
- Antequera Dolmens Site
France
The world’s most visited country, France is home to 43 preserved sites, one being this year’s new addition located in their overseas territory of the French Polynesia.
Palaces, cathedrals, castles, medieval towns, be transported back in time to when Kings ruled and live your own adventures accompanied by France’s national products, baguettes, cheeses and wine.
- Chartres Cathedral
- Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay
- Palace and Park of Versailles
- Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley
- Vézelay, Church and Hill
- Amiens Cathedral
- Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
- Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay
- Palace and Park of Fontainebleau
- Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange
- From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt
- Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
- Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve
- Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance in Nancy
- Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)
- Strasbourg, Grande-Île and Neustadt
- Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims
- Paris, Banks of the Seine
- Bourges Cathedral
- Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge
- Canal du Midi
- Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
- Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
- Historic Site of Lyon
- Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
- Belfries of Belgium and France
- Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion
- The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes
- Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs
- Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret
- Bordeaux, Port of the Moon
- Fortifications of Vauban
- Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems
- Episcopal City of Albi
- Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island
- Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
- The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape
- Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
- Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche
- Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars
- The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
- Taputapuātea
Germany
Despite its dark historical role, Germany is now one of the most culturally-diverse country and a popular destination for both business people and leisure tourists alike.
Deutschland is not just beer fests and sausages. It boasts of 42 heritage sites that includes mines, factories and a world famous opera house. Immerse yourself in culture of all categories and learn about the industrial history that has made its profound mark on our society today.
- Aachen Cathedral
- Speyer Cathedral
- Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square
- Pilgrimage Church of Wies
- Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl
- St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim
- Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire
- Hanseatic City of Lübeck
- Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin
- Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch
- Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System
- Maulbronn Monastery Complex
- Town of Bamberg
- Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg
- Völklingen Ironworks
- Messel Pit Fossil Site
- Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau
- Cologne Cathedral
- Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg
- Classical Weimar
- Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin
- Wartburg Castle
- Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz
- Monastic Island of Reichenau
- Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen
- Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar
- Upper Middle Rhine Valley
- Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski
- Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen
- Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof
- Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
- Berlin Modernism Housing Estates
- Wadden Sea
- Fagus Factory in Alfeld
- Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
- Margravial Opera House Bayreuth
- Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
- Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey
- Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
- Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura
India
The second most populous country in the world and one of the fastest developing countries, India is home to 36 incredible sites that includes (attention fans of trains)… a fully operational group of 3 mountain railways!
Discover the intense culture and heritage of a society that blends the past and the present, religion and philosophy, while at the same time incorporating globalization. This would be a fascinating trip to be to be included in your bucket list.
- Agra Fort
- Ajanta Caves
- Ellora Caves/li>
- Taj Mahal
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
- Sun Temple, Konârak
- Kaziranga National Park
- Keoladeo National Park
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
- Churches and Convents of Goa
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Group of Monuments at Hampi
- Khajuraho Group of Monuments
- Elephanta Caves
- Great Living Chola Temples
- Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
- Sundarbans National Park
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
- Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
- Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
- Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
- Mountain Railways of India
- Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
- Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
- Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
- Red Fort Complex
- The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
- Western Ghats
- Hill Forts of Rajasthan
- Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
- Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
- Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar
- Khangchendzonga National Park
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
- Historic City of Ahmadabad
Mexico
Latin America’s representative in this list, Mexico proudly hosts 34 sites to preserve (and counting). Party-lovers would be happy to know that one of the sites is an agave landscape and tequila facilities, where you can find out how long it takes for agaves to grow and learn to truly appreciate your bottle of tequila.
As you go back in time on your visits to ancient Mayan sites and natural biosphere reserves, be prepared to experience the Mexican concept of real time. Let’s just say that you should just relax and never be in a hurry in Mexico.
- Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco
- Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán
- Historic Centre of Puebla
- Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque
- Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan
- Sian Ka'an
- Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines
- Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza
- Historic Centre of Morelia
- El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City
- Historic Centre of Zacatecas
- Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco
- Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino
- Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl
- Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
- Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal
- Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara
- Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes
- Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan
- Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco
- Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
- Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche
- Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro
- Luis Barragán House and Studio
- Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California
- Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
- Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
- Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
- Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
- Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
- Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca
- El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
- Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System
- Archipiélago de Revillagigedo
United Kingdom
An all-time Great Power of the world, United Kingdom’s great history earned it a place in this list with 31 sites that naturally includes castles, palaces, towers, bridges and royal parks and gardens.
If all that walking is tiring you out, Great Britain also has a great musical history… The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Cure, The Clash, The Who, The Spice Girls… rest your legs and chill out in a musical pub to replenish your energy, for tomorrow is going to be another long day!
- Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
- Durham Castle and Cathedral
- Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast
- Ironbridge Gorge
- St Kilda
- Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
- Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey
- Blenheim Palace
- City of Bath
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire
- Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church
- Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
- Henderson Island
- Tower of London
- Gough and Inaccessible Islands
- Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
- Maritime Greenwich
- Heart of Neolithic Orkney
- Blaenavon Industrial Landscape
- Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda
- Derwent Valley Mills
- Dorset and East Devon Coast
- New Lanark
- Saltaire
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City
- Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
- The Forth Bridge
- Gorham's Cave Complex
- The English Lake District
Russia
Being the largest country in the world, Russia has so much more to offer, other than astronauts, spies, Matryoshka dolls and vodka, you can visit its 28 amazing world heritage sites, with more in the nomination list to be evaluated.
Its vast lands contains countless natural sceneries and its long-standing history gave rise to many majestic buildings that are well worth the visit.
- Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments
- Kizhi Pogost
- Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow
- Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands
- Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings
- White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal
- Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad
- Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye
- Virgin Komi Forests
- Lake Baikal
- Volcanoes of Kamchatka
- Golden Mountains of Altai
- Western Caucasus
- Curonian Spit
- Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery
- Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin
- Central Sikhote-Alin
- Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent
- Uvs Nuur Basin
- Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent
- Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve
- Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl
- Struve Geodetic Arc
- Putorana Plateau
- Lena Pillars Nature Park
- Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex
- Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk
- Landscapes of Dauria
United States
A land so well-known there is no need for any kind of introduction, the United States of America is home to an impressive number of breathtaking natural landscapes and formations, which is no wonder why around half of its current 23 protected sites are National Parks. The other half include Native American and Latin American historical towns, as well as Aztec ruins and monuments and sites from American History.
That trip to the USA is going to be a long one if you try to include all these UNESCO sites to your itinerary!
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Independence Hall
- Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
- Redwood National and State Parks
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- Olympic National Park
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
- Statue of Liberty
- Yosemite National Park
- Chaco Culture
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville
- Taos Pueblo
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
- Papahānaumokuākea
- Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point
- San Antonio Missions
(*) World Heritage Lists source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
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The POTALA PALACE belongs to Tibet, NOT CHINA. Please remove this photo! The Chinese government continues to perpetrate a brutal regime of oppression & genocide in Tibet that the rest of the world has officially ignored for decades. AGE should not lend support to this gross violation of justice & human rights! China invaded Tibet by overpowering that peaceful kingdom with their military might, in order to strengthen their geographic leverage. China slaughtered tens of thousands of men, women, and children in the process of “modernizing” Tibet, and continues to beat & imprison hundreds of Tibetan protesters and Buddhist monks or nuns each year.
Dont know Tibetan separatist will appear at here http://www…Potala Palace is definitely belongs to the great Tibetans, as well as Tibet is definitely belongs to China.