All unesco world heritage sites in italy. UNESCO Heritage in Italy How many UNESCO sites are there in Italy

Many historical, cultural, architectural and religious monuments are located in this country. Italian culture has enriched our world due to its amazing originality and uniqueness. Thus, in the famous city of Venice in the north of the country there are no separate architectural attractions; it itself is a unique monument to urban planning. Situated on one hundred and eighteen islands, one of the most beautiful cities in the world has a long history. It has existed since the 5th century. The Venetians sought salvation from the barbarians and ours on the islands. This was followed by centuries of development and formation of Venice. Today it is a cultural center and attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year.

The UNESCO list in Italy also includes the historical center of Rome and the famous Vatican. This separate state inside the Italian capital is not only the center of the Catholic world, but also a place where amazing historical and architectural monuments are concentrated. These are beautiful gardens and cathedrals. Among them, it is worth noting St. Peter's Cathedral, in the creation of which Michelangelo, Raphael and other masters of Italian painting took part. As for the Italian capital, Rome, of course, is famous for its ancient architectural monuments. This includes the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and other objects.

The monastery of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan is one of the architectural monuments protected by UNESCO in Italy. Outwardly, this is an unremarkable monastery, but if you look inside, you can find a fresco of the “Last Supper” by the great Leonardo da Vinci. It was commissioned from the painter by Duke Lodovico Sforza. It took several years to create the canvas. Due to the technique used for applying paint to a dry wall, the fresco began to crumble during Leonardo’s lifetime. This was followed by wars and bombings during the last world conflict, which did not have the best effect on the safety of the masterpiece. But in the end it was possible to restore it. Today both the 15th-century church and the fresco are included in the World Heritage Site.

Tuscany's glorious past is a daily source of inspiration and creativity for new generations. It is loved by artists and intellectuals; many people dream of visiting here at least once in their lives.

Chapel di Vitaleta in Val d'Orcia © CICERUACCHIO / Flickr.com

Historical center of Florence

The city arose on the site of a Roman fortification. Its center is a real treasury of priceless works of art, humanistic culture and architecture.

In Cathedral Square you can admire the main monuments of the Renaissance: the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore (the structure of the church is an example of Italian Gothic), near which is Giotto's bell tower. But the basilica is crowned with a majestic dome by Filippo Brunelleschi. This dome became a real symbol of the Renaissance. Opposite the cathedral stands the Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in Florence, combining elements of early Christian and Romanesque architecture, with the Gates of Heaven by Lorenzo Ghiberti.

Panoramic view of the city and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore © Shutterstock.com

Then we move to the Palazzo Medici Riccardi: this palace, one of the first examples of Renaissance architecture, was designed by the architect Michelozzo. Nearby is the Basilica of San Lorenzo, created by Brunelleschi at the request of the Medici family. In its interior there are two sacristies (sacristies), Old and New, decorated with works by Donatello and Michelangelo. By the way, if you want to see one of Buonarroti's greatest works, David, it is worth visiting the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts. Just nearby, in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, is another superb example of Renaissance architecture, the Ospedale degli Innocenti (lit. "Shelter of the Innocents", Europe's first orphanage), with its famous vaulted loggia. Among other monuments, do not forget to visit the Palazzo Strozzi and the Church of Santa Maria Novella.

Basilica and Piazza Santa Croce © GTS Productions / Shutterstock.com

Walking along Via dei Calzaiuoli you will find yourself in Piazza della Signoria, the cultural and political center of the city, overlooked by the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery with a unique collection of Renaissance paintings. The Basilica of Santa Croce is located nearby.

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio © Shutterstock.com

Behind the Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, is the Oltrarno quarter, where you can still find ancient artisan shops that still work using traditional technologies. Florence is not only about architecture, but also about the special spirit of a community of artisans that evokes handcraft and the highest quality of production.

Florence is the heir to a glorious past, carefully preserved for future generations, a unique place with a unique atmosphere.

Historic center of Siena

In the historic center of Siena, each building was designed and built taking into account the overall plan of the city, resulting in an architectural masterpiece that has no analogues in the world. Gothic medieval buildings are surviving evidence of the high technical and artistic level of the architects who worked on the appearance of Siena in the past.

Panoramic view of the city and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta © Botond Horvath / Shutterstock.com

Architectural masterpieces of the Renaissance are literally everywhere here and within walking distance, awaiting the next visitors and researchers who want to join the history of this city. You can stroll through popular places and feel like a Sienese of those times. It's worth starting with the most famous architectural monument - Palazzo Publico in Piazza del Campo. In the palace, among other things, there is the lavishly decorated Conchistoro Hall, on the ceiling of which the artist Domenico Beccafumi created an allegorical cycle of frescoes on the theme “Political Virtues” in 1529-1535. This is one of the most enchanting fresco cycles of that era.

Street of a medieval city © Shutterstock.com

On the nearby Via dei Pellegrini leading to the Baptistery, the same Beccafumi, commissioned by the homeowner Sarcello Agostini, completed a series of frescoes on mythological subjects. These frescoes are one of the pinnacles of Italian Cinquecento painting. Almost opposite is the Palazzo del Magnifico, once the residence of Pandolfo Petrucci, the ruler of Siena. All that remained of it were the walls, and the furniture and interiors were divided between city and foreign museums. Of its rich fresco decoration, only the composition “The Flight of Aeneas from Troy” by Girolamo Genga has survived, which is now kept in the Siena National Pinacoteca, one of the richest Tuscan collections of medieval and Renaissance art.

View of Piazza del Campo © Ventura / Shutterstock.com

Nearby is the Palazzo Piccolomini, commissioned by the heirs of Pope Pius II. It is a classic example of Renaissance architecture, probably designed by Bernardo Rossellino, a papal architect. Today it houses the Siena Archives and the Museo delle Biccherne, dedicated to the painted covers of the accounting books of the financial department of the municipality of Siena, the work of which was commissioned by famous artists.

Having formed a general idea of ​​​​Sienese painting, it is worth moving to the walls of the Palazzo Chigi Saracini on Via di Città, where the most significant works of artists such as Sano di Pietro, Girolamo del Pacchia, Sodoma and Beccafumi are kept.

Pienza, the "ideal city"

From a medieval town to a monumental masterpiece: by the will of Pope Pius II, Pienza became a symbol and example of perfect Renaissance architecture. The Ideal City, with beautiful buildings and squares designed by Alberti in collaboration with Rossellino, is the first attempt to apply the ideas of the philosophy of humanism to urban planning.

Historic center of Chicks, Piazza Pius II: in the center - the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, on the left - the Episcopal Palace, on the right - Palazzo Piccolomini © Shutterstock.com

Pienza is located in the magnificent Val d'Orcia. The city appeared in 1405 at the behest of Pope Pius II (before that there was a small borgo of Corsignano), who wanted to create an ideal city, contrasting with another city that also belonged to his family, Siena. He assembled a team of the best artists and architects and asked them to create a project that took into account the philosophy of a new, promising era - the Italian Renaissance. In just three years, from 1459 to 1462, Pienza - the Ideal City, the Utopian City, was built. The city appeared as the fruit of “a thought of love and a dream of beauty,” as Giovanni Pascoli wrote.

Towers of San Gimignano

The towers of San Gimignano still tower proudly above its palaces and churches. This city is an exceptional embodiment of medieval culture, where art, architecture and history are fused into an elegant and solemn image, preserving for us many masterpieces of Italian art from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Panoramic view of the city of San Gimignano © Shutterstock.com

This is a real pearl of the Val d'Elsa: here, wherever you are, you will see ancient towers reaching into the sky, giving San Gimignano a unique flavor. Only in this place has the appearance of the Tuscan city of the 13th-14th centuries been preserved. While walking along these streets, you get the impression that you really are in the Middle Ages.

The streets of the city are located on the green slopes of the hill. Everything here breathes with the traditions of the past. Walking through the historical center, you will see 13 preserved tower houses. At their peak, there were 72 of them. Towers were a symbol of power, and wealthy families sought to surpass the height of their rivals' towers.

Cathedral Square of San Gimignano © Shutterstock.com

San Gimignano is also famous for its white vernaccia wine, one of the most prestigious in Italy. It has been produced here since the 13th century. Another traditional and ancient product is saffron, which made a significant contribution to the economy of San Gimignano during the Middle Ages.

"Piazza of Miracles" in Pisa

Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles, is one of the most perfect examples of the Romanesque architectural style, which organically combines classical, early Christian, Lombard and oriental motifs. The ensemble of the square includes the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Campo Santo cemetery and, of course, the famous Leaning Tower.

Cathedral and Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles in Pisa © ELEPHOTOS / Shutterstock.com

Construction of the Baptistery began in 1152 and took 200 years to complete. The pulpit of the baptistery was made by the great sculptor Nicola Pisano. It is noteworthy that the echo inside the baptistery changes tone if you make sounds while standing on one side of the baptismal font. Also on the square is the Campo Santo cemetery, which is 130 meters long. It faces the square with a side with 43 blind arches. To the right of Campo Santo stands the Pisa Cathedral, a perfect example of Romanesque architecture. Its construction began in 1063. The huge building is completely covered with marble. Behind the cathedral is the famous Leaning Tower, which is 56 meters high.

Cultural landscape of the Val d'Orcia: art and landscapes

The edge of the hills where harmony reigns - this is exactly what Val d’Orcia looks like if you leisurely ride along it on a bicycle. These views, with soaring cypress trees and roads winding along unpredictable paths, have traditionally inspired poets, writers and artists. At dawn and dusk, the tops of the cypress trees seem like tassels that paint the horizon.

Sunrise in the San Quirico d'Orcia Valley © Shaiith / Shutterstock.com

Clay, ravines, white limestone, hillside vineyards, olive groves and fields balance the urban beauty of Pienza and Montalcino. Architectural masterpieces such as the Abbey of Sant'Antimo, the collegiate church of San Quirico, the fortresses of Radicofani and d'Orcia, the medieval baths of Bagno Vignoli and the Ospedaletto farm form a complete image of rare beauty.

Medici Villas and Gardens

We are talking about 14 villas and gardens belonging to the Medici family, monuments of secular architecture, designed by the best architects in the 15th-18th centuries.

Villa Medici in Poggio a Caiano © Shutterstock.com

The first two villas are in Trebbio and Cafagiolo al Mugello, where the Medici family came from. In Poggio a Caiano is the Villa Medici, built by Giuliano da Sangallo at the end of the 15th century on the site of an earlier villa of the Strozzi family. It belonged to Lorenzo the Magnificent and hosted many historical figures, including King Victor Emmanuel II. This villa is distinguished by a simple and noble architecture, with accents including a strict portico on the terrace on the ground floor: a two-flight staircase leads to a harmonious central loggia, located on this terrace, built according to classical canons. Inside, the villa is like a small museum: its walls are decorated with frescoes from the 16th century, and outside it is surrounded by a magnificent park.

Villa Artimino, also known as “La Ferdinanda” or the Villa of a Hundred Fireplaces, and the surrounding park. Top view © immaginefoto.com

Not far from Comeana is La Ferdinanda, also known as Villa Artimino, built by the architect Bernardo Buontalenti for Ferdinando I de' Medici at the end of the 16th century.

Villa Medicea di Castella, built in the style of Renaissance architecture, is located in the village of the same name. Its restoration was carried out by Vasari, and the surrounding garden was designed by Tribolo. Today this villa is the seat of the Accademia della Crusca, an expert council in the field of linguistics and philology of the Italian language.

Villa Medici in Petraia is considered one of the most beautiful residences in the area. It received its current appearance as a result of reconstruction according to the Buontalenti project (in the second half of the 16th century), carried out on behalf of Ferdinando I. Another Medici villa is located near Fiesole. It is called "Bel Canto", or "Palagio di Fiesole". Its construction was ordered by Cosimo the Elder, and the design was developed by Michelozzo (1458-1461).

Villa Medici in Petraia. Top view of the villa and surrounding garden © footage.framepool.com

Villa Medicea di Carreggi is located on the outskirts of Florence. It was acquired by the Medici family in the first half of the 15th century and rebuilt according to Michelozzi's design. The customer was Cosimo the Elder. The villa is surrounded by a magnificent park and became Cosimo's favorite residence, where he died in 1464.

Villa Medici in Fiesole. Parterre on the lower terrace of the garden © Cecil Pinset / Wikimedia Commons

The "Lorraine" Villa Medici is located in Poggio Imperiale, a kilometer from Porta Romana. On one side it rises above the Ema Valley, and on the other - above the whole of Florence. It was built in 1427 and belonged to the Baroncelli, Pondolfini and Salviati families until it was purchased by the Medici family. Its reconstruction was carried out in 1622 - 1625 under the leadership of the architect Giulio Parigi, and then again at the end of the 18th century by the architect Gaspare Maria Paoletti, who remodeled the summer residence. It acquired its current neoclassical appearance in the 19th century, the author of the project was Pasquale Poccianti. In 1864, King Victor Emmanuel opened the Collegio Santissima Annunziata, a women's boarding house, in the villa.

Villa Medici "La Maggia di Quarrata" © viaggiointorno.it

Villa Medici "La Maggia di Quarrata" is located on the northern slopes of the Montalbano mountain range. A massive square-shaped fortification rises above the gentle hills of the foothills. The villa was purchased in 1583 by Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici, who also began its reconstruction. Probably, the architect Bernardo Buontalenti took part in the project of relaying utility lines.

The glory of Italy as a country famous throughout the world for its cultural works, artistic and architectural masterpieces, and unique natural beauties also imposes some responsibilities: many of the material and intangible assets require constant attention and special, careful treatment - so that the heritage of the past can serve to future generations.

It is no coincidence that Italy is the country with the largest number of sites under the protection of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). In total, the UNESCO World Heritage List includes 936 sites in 153 countries, of which Italy alone accounts for 47 sites, followed by Spain (43 sites) and China (41 sites)

So, 47 additional reasons to visit Italy, by region, from north to south.

Piedmont

Palaces of the House of Savoy in Turin and surrounding areas. The site was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1997 as a striking and complete example of monumental European architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries. The complex of palaces includes Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Carignano, Valentino, Racconigi castles, Stupinigi hunting castle, Moncalieri castle and others.


Holy Mountains in Piedmont and Lombardy are an ensemble of nine chapels, chapels and other architectural structures built in the 16th-17th centuries and surrounded by a picturesque landscape of forests, lakes and hills. The Holy Mountains were included in the World Heritage List in 2003.

Liguria

Portovenere, the islands of Palmaria, Tino, Tinetto and the Cinque Terre National Park (Five Lands)- a rugged section of the Ligurian coast in the province of La Spezia, on which five towns are located: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, founded here in the Middle Ages. This natural and cultural complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.


Via Le Strade Nuove and the Rolli Palaces (Genoa). In 2006, 42 Rolli palaces were included in the UNESCO list, which belonged to the rich and noble families of the city, which during the time of the Genoese Republic were included in special lists (rolli), thus competing for the right to host guests of Genoa.
Lombardy
Rock art in the Val Camonica valley. This is one of the world's largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs, which are over 8 thousand years old. This site became the first to be recognized by UNESCO in Italy in 1979. More than 140 thousand rock carvings are officially listed in UNESCO catalogues, but the ongoing discoveries of new petroglyphs have now almost doubled their actual number.

Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie with Leonardo da Vinci's fresco "The Last Supper" (1980). The church and its refectory are part of a Dominican monastery built in Milan in 1463. The northern side of the refectory is decorated with Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece - the fresco “The Last Supper”, completed in 1495-1497.

Crespi d'Adda (1995) is a working village located in Capriate San Gervasio in the province of Bergamo. The factory village of Crespi was included in the UNESCO list as the best example of an industrial village that has survived to this day. Its houses were built by enlightened entrepreneurs in the 19th and early 20th centuries and remained inhabited until 2003.

Rhaetian Railway. Part of this railway, passing through the territory of Albula and Bernina, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. The railway was built in 1904 and is an outstanding technical and architectural complex, including tunnels, covered galleries, viaducts and bridges.

Mount Monte San Giorgio(jointly with Switzerland) was included in the World Heritage List in 2003 for its unique paleontological finds from the Triassic period. About 240 million years ago there was a sea here, and the fossilized remains of its inhabitants, abundantly preserved in this area, became the subject of close study by researchers.

Mantua and Sabbioneta– these two cities in the Po Valley became part of the World Heritage Site in 2009 as striking examples of urban development, architecture and art of the Renaissance in Italy

Veneto

Verona (2000) is a brilliant example of a city that, starting from the 1st century BC, developed continuously and consistently over two thousand years, adding new artistic elements to each period of history. Thus, a large number of monuments from antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance have been preserved in Verona.

Venice and the Venetian Lagoon (1987)- a unique architectural and natural ensemble. The city, founded in the 5th century, is built on 118 islands and appears to float on the surface of the bay. The significant influence of Venice on the development of world art and architecture is undeniable.


Botanical Garden of Padua (1997)- the most unique botanical garden in the world, reflecting the development of science and the connection between science and culture. This is the world's first botanical garden, founded in Padua in 1545, which still retains its original layout and continues to be a center for scientific research.

Vicenza and Andrea Palladio's villas in Veneto (1994, 1996). Vicenza is a city of unique architecture thanks to the numerous works of the architect Andrea Palladio, built in the mid-16th century for noble families. This style (Palladianism) influenced the further development of architecture in Europe and throughout the world.

Dolomites (2009)- some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. 18 rocky peaks with a height of more than 3000 meters are distinguished by a variety of picturesque vertical forms and at the same time are of interest for their geomorphology, since the best examples of the platform of the Mesozoic era have been preserved here.

Friuli – Venezia Giulia

Patriarchal Basilica and Archaeological Reserve of Aquileia (1998)- a valuable archaeological monument, since Aquileia was one of the largest and richest cities in the early period of the Roman Empire, most of it remains to be excavated. In addition, the Patriarchal Basilica complex with its unique mosaic floors played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in central medieval Europe.

Emilia-Romagna

Early Christian monuments in the city of Ravenna (1996) are of great cultural interest thanks to the unique early Christian mosaics that have been preserved in eight Ravenna monuments of the 5th-6th centuries. These are the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Baptistery of the Orthodox and Arians, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, the Archbishop's Chapel, the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Basilica of San Vitale.

Ferrara– the Renaissance city and the Po Delta were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 and 1999, respectively, primarily thanks to the magnificent palaces of the Dukes of Este and the city quarters of the late 15th century, which marked the beginning of a new stage of urban planning.

Modena: Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande (1997). This 12th-century architectural complex is a striking example of early Romanesque art.

Marche

Historic center of Urbino (1998). Urbino experienced its greatest prosperity in the 15th century, when the most outstanding scientists and artists from all over Italy and beyond worked there. To this day, the historical center of Urbino retains many of the features of the Renaissance.

Tuscany

Historic Center of Florence (1982) contains the most important cultural treasures of Florence, which reached its economic and cultural heyday in the 15th-16th centuries. This is Duomo Square with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce, the Uffizi and Pitti palaces, works by such masters as Giotto, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Botticelli.

Piazza Duomo in Pisa (or Square of Miracles, 1987) famous for its masterpieces of medieval architecture, which had a serious influence on the monumental art of the 11th-14th centuries. The architectural complex includes a cathedral, a baptistery, a bell tower (leaning tower) and a monumental cemetery.

Historic Center of San Gimignano (1990)- a monument of medieval culture that preserved in a small space the typical structures of urban life of the Middle Ages: streets and squares, palaces and houses, wells and fountains. The city is famous for its towers, which were built by noble families to emphasize their wealth and power.

Historic Center of Siena (1985) is a striking example of a medieval city that has preserved its appearance for centuries, which was formed in the 12th-15th centuries and then influenced all European art. Piazza del Campo, the city hall, the Torre del Mangia became the center around which Siena developed, all of which are works of art, and the Siena Cathedral (Duomo) is an example of Italian Gothic architecture.

Historical center of Pienza (1996)- this town in the province of Siena was decided to be included in the UNESCO list as representing the first embodiment of the concept of urban planning of the Renaissance, when in the 15th century Pope Pius II decided to rebuild a small village (the place of his birth) into an ideal city in the Renaissance style. The new urban planning scheme - a group of buildings around a city square - was subsequently adopted by other European architects.

Val d'Orcia (2004)is an agricultural landscape near Siena, which was inhabited and formed in the 14th-15th centuries. The landscapes of the valley are depicted in many works by Renaissance artists, who were inspired by the beauty of the landscape - flat plains and hills with fortified settlements on the tops, farms, monasteries, roads.

Umbria

Assisi: Basilica of St. Francis and Other Franciscan Shrines (2000). Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis and the birthplace of the entire Franciscan order, is famous for such masterpieces of medieval art, like the Basilica of San Francisco with frescoes by Giotto, the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the Church of Santa Chiara who influenced the development of Italian and European art and architecture.

Lazio

The historical center of Rome and the Vatican domain, including the church of San Paolo fuori le Mura. Inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1980 and then expanded in 1990, this World Heritage Site includes important monuments from the ancient period such as the forums, the Pantheon, the mausoleums of Augustus and Hadrian, the columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius, and many religious and public buildings of the papal Rome.

Villa Adriana at Tivoli near Rome (1999)- the best preserved example of an imperial villa. The villa is a complex of classical buildings (originally there were about 30), built in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian.

Villa d'Este at Tivoli (2001)- one of the most striking and significant examples of Renaissance culture in its heyday. The design of the villa's park in an innovative solution (fountains, swimming pools, small architectural forms) became a model for the subsequent development of gardens and parks throughout Europe.

Etruscan necropolises in Cerveteri and Tarquinia (2004) are unique evidence of the ancient Etruscan civilization and reflect burial methods in the 9th-1st centuries BC. The wall paintings of excellent quality that decorate many of the tombs tell of various aspects of Etruscan life.

Campaign

Historical center of Naples, which preserves traces of successive Mediterranean cultures over the centuries, was included in the World Heritage List in 1995. One of the most ancient cities in Europe, Naples is famous for such outstanding monuments as Castel Nuovo castle, Castel dell'Ovo fortress, Santa Chiara church and many others.

Amalfi Coast (1997)- an example of a Mediterranean landscape of exceptional beauty and natural diversity. Coastal cities such as Amalfi and Ravello contain many architectural and artistic treasures.

Archaeological zones - Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (1997). The ruins of the two ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and their surroundings, which perished after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79, were excavated and put on display in the 18th century, giving a comprehensive picture of the society and daily life of the period.

Royal Palace of Caserta with park, Vanvitelli aqueduct and factory village of San Leucio (1997)– this palace complex was created in the 18th century according to the design of Vanvitelli in an attempt to surpass Versailles and the royal palace in Madrid. A magnificent palace surrounded by parks and natural landscape, a silk-spinning factory with houses for workers well reflect the Age of Enlightenment

Cultural landscape of the Cilento area, Vallo di Diano National Park, archaeological sites of Paestum and Elea, Certosa di Padula monastery (1998). Since ancient times, the Cilento region has served as a crossroads important for cultural, political, and trade communications, as reflected in the clusters of settlements and sanctuaries located along three mountain ranges.

Apulia

Castle of Castel del Monte (1996), Built by Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century near Bari, it is a structure of an absolutely regular octagonal shape - a masterpiece of medieval military architecture, combining eastern, classical and northern European elements.

Trulli– traditional residential buildings in the city of Alberobello (1996). These are unique houses with a conical roof, built using ancient dry masonry technology, which is still used in this region.

Basilicata

"I Sassi di Matera"- rock settlements near the city of Matera (1993) - an outstanding and well-preserved example of a cave city. Having managed to perfectly adapt to the conditions of the local landscape, people lived here already during the Paleolithic period.

Sicily
Ancient Roman Villa Del Casale (1997) is located near the city of Piazza Armerina and is one of the most luxurious buildings of the 4th century. The rich, well-preserved mosaics that decorate almost every room are the main attraction of the villa.

Archaeological sites in the city of Agrigento (1997). Founded in 580 BC As a Greek colony, Agrigento reached its peak in the 5th century BC, becoming one of the largest cities of the ancient Mediterranean. The remains of temples and other buildings tell about its former greatness and periods of development, although much remains to be discovered during excavations.

Aeolian (Aeolian) Islands (2000) provide insight into modern volcanic processes, having been the object of observation by scientists since at least the 18th century and significantly enriching geology and volcanology, in particular with examples of two different types of eruption.

Late Baroque Cities in the Noto Valley (2002). Eight cities in the south-east of Sicily - Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, Scicli, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 in the same late Baroque style, are characterized by innovative, at times, development methods.

Ancient Syracuse and the rock necropolis of Pantalica (2005). The historical part of Syracuse represents a unique evidence of the development of the Mediterranean over more than three millennia - from Byzantium to the Bourbons. In the Pantalika necropolis you can see more than 5,000 rock tombs, most of which date back to the 13th-7th centuries. BC

Sardinia

Prehistoric towers of Su-Nuraxi at Barumini (1997)- an archaeological complex consisting of nurag towers in the form of truncated cones, which were built as defensive fortifications at the end of the 2nd millennium BC. The Su-Nuraksi complex is the most complete example of Nuragic architecture.

In 2011, two new sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, covering several regions:

Longobards in Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Umbria, Campania, Apulia)– this UNESCO site covers seven groups of buildings (fortresses, churches, monasteries) in Italy, telling about the stay of the Longobards on the Apennine Peninsula in the 6th-8th centuries.

Prehistoric pile dwellings in the vicinity of the Alps (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino - Alto Adige) - this UNESCO site includes the surviving remains of prehistoric pile settlements that were built in the Alps from approximately 5000 to 500 BC. e. on the banks of lakes, rivers or in marshy areas.

In addition to the above sites, there are two more sites on the Apennine Peninsula that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - This is the Vatican State (1984) And State of San Marino (historic center of San Marino and Monte Titano, 2008).

Intangible UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Sicilian puppet theater "Opera dei Pupi" (2001, 2008)- a puppet theater that appeared in Sicily at the beginning of the 19th century. In their performances, puppeteers, improvising, told sagas and legends about knights, saints and robbers. The two schools of Sicilian puppet theater (Catania and Palermo) differ from each other both in the technique of puppet movements and in the plots of the performances. The secrets of this art were passed strictly from father to son.

Rural songs of Sardinia “Canto a Tenore” (2005, 2008)- a special type of traditional shepherd choral singing, the only one of its kind, which was born in the pre-Christian era as an imitation of the sounds of nature and animals.

Mediterranean diet (2010, jointly with Spain, Greece and Morocco)- a nutritional pattern characteristic of the countries of the Mediterranean basin, interest in which has increased in recent years far beyond Europe.

Italy is famous for the richest cultural traditions in the world. The achievements of Italians in art, architecture, literature, music and science had a great influence on the development of culture in many other countries.

Long before the emergence of the civilization of Ancient Rome, the cultures of the Etruscans in Tuscany and the Greeks in southern Italy developed. After the fall of the Roman Empire in Italy, culture fell into decline, and only in the 11th century. the first signs of its revival appeared. It reached its new peak in the 14th century. During the Renaissance, Italians played a leading role in European science and art. At that time such outstanding artists and sculptors as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo, writers Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio worked.

The culture of Italy is, first of all, artists and paintings. It’s not scary to say again that if you live in Italy, then you live in an “art gallery”; Italy has concentrated more cultural heritage than you can imagine. In fact, it is fair to say that if something was painted, acted, eaten, sung, molded or written, then it was done in an uplifting mood, and the result is presented in the highest artistic form. The world has a lot to thank the Italians for.

Writers ranging from Virgil, Ovid, Horak, Livy and Cicero, and ending with Dante and Petrarch. Boccaccio, Ficino, Mirandolo and Vasari were all Italians and all born in this blessed land. Italy's modern literature emerged in the 13th and 14th centuries, developing from its Latin heritage written in the country's many dialects and the works of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, who wrote mostly in the Florentine dialect.

Italian cuisine has absorbed the traditions and tastes of many regions of Italy, while maintaining the distinctive characteristics of each area even after being subjected to pan-Italian influence in the hands of chefs and evolving into a unique cuisine that is known throughout the world. Changes in cuisine can be traced from the rich and creamy dishes of the north to the hot and spicy dishes of the south. Northern Emilia - Romagna, produced the best known dishes - spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and tortellini, as well as homemade prosciutto and mortadella. Liguria is the home of pesto, the stronghold of all cafes in the world, not counting Hochzeitsauto Dortmund in Germany. Exciting vegetable and pasta dishes are served with seafood and exotic frog rissotto, donkey steak or pudding. Desserts - cassata, cannoli, zabaglione, granita and marzipan - originate from the diet of Sicily, while Sardinia is famous for its mouth-watering roast suckling pig. Coffee, beer and wine taste great throughout the country without exception.

Italian culture greatly influences world culture. Cinema would not be what it is today if it were not for that same Italian Marcello Mastroianni, Anna Magnani, Gina Lolobrigida, Sophia Loren and producers Lucino Visconti, Roberto Rossellini, Frederico Fellini, Michelangelo Anthony and Bernardo Bertolucci.

The Italians also contributed much to the musical culture of Italy, they invented the piano and the modern system of musical notation, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Bellini and Rossini also contributed.

1. Rock paintings in Val Camonica - Incisioni rupestri della Val Camonica (1979)

2. Fresco “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan - Chiesa e convento domenicano di Santa Maria delle Grazie con L"ultima price di Leonardo da Vinci, Milano (1980)

3. The historical center of Rome and the Vatican domain, including the church of San Paolo fuori le Mura - Centro storico di Roma (1980-1990)

4. Historical center of Florence - Centro storico di Firenze (1982)

5. Venice and its Laguna - Venezia e la sua Laguna (1987)

6. Cathedral Square in Pisa - Piazza del Duomo di Pisa (1987)

7. Historic center of San Gimignano - Centro storico di San Gimignano (1990)

8. “I-Sassi di Matera” - rock settlements near the city of Matera - Sassi di Matera (1993)

9. The city of Vicenza and the Palladian villas in Veneto - Città di Vicenza e le Ville palladiane del Veneto (1994-1996)

10. Historical center of Siena - Centro storico di Siena (1995)

11. Historical center of Naples - Centro storico di Napoli (1995)

12. City of Crespi d'Adda - Crespi d'Adda (1995)

13. Ferrara of the Renaissance and the Po Delta - Ferrara città del Rinascimento e delta del Po con le delizie estensi (1995-1999)

14. Castle of Castel del Monte - Castel del Monte (1996)

15. Trulli in Alberobello - Trulli di Alberobello (1996)

16. Early Christian monuments in Ravenna - Monumenti paleocristiani di Ravenna (1996)

17. Historical center of Pienza - Centro storico della città di Pienza (1996)

18. Royal Palace of the 18th century in Caserta - Palazzo Reale del XVIII secolo di Caserta, con il Parco, l "Acquedotto Carolino e il complesso di San Leucio (1997)

19. Residences of the Savoyard monarchs in Turin and the surrounding area - Residenze sabaude di Torino e dintorni (1997)

20. Botanical Garden in Padua - Orto botanico di Padova (1997)

21. Cathedral, City Tower and Great Square in Modena - Duomo, Torre Civica e Piazza Grande di Modena (1997)

22. Archaeological zone of Pompei, Ercolano and Torre Annunziata - Aree archeologiche di Pompei, Ercolano e Torre Annunziata (1997)

23. Roman villa in Casale - Villa romana del Casale, presso Piazza Armerina (1997)

24. Su Nuraxi di Barumini (1997)

25. Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto (1997)

26. Amalfi Coast - Costiera amalfitana (1997)

27. Archaeological sites in the city of Agrigento - Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento (1997)

28. Archaeological zone and Patriarchal Basilica in Aquileia - Area archeologica e Basilica patriarcale di Aquileia (1997)

29. Historic center of Urbino - Centro storico di Urbino (1998)

30. Cultural landscape of the Cilento area, Vallo di Diano National Park, archaeological sites of Paestum and Elea, Certosa di Padula monastery - Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano con il sito archeologico di Paestum, Velia e la Certosa di Padula ( 1998)

31. Villa Adriana a Tivoli (1998)

32. Verona - Città di Verona (2000)

33. Aeolian Islands - Isole Eolie (2000)

34. Basilica of St. Francis and other Franciscan shrines in Assisi - Assisi, la Basilica di San Francesco e altri siti francescani (2000)

35. Villa d'Este in Tivoli - Villa d'Este a Tivoli (2001)

36. Late Baroque cities in the Noto Valley - Città tardo barocche del Val di Noto (Sicilia sud-orientale) (2002)

37. Ensembles of the Sacri Monti (Holy Mountains) in Piedmont and Bardia - Sacri Monti del Piemonte e della Lombardia (2003)

38. Mount San Giorgio - Monte San Giorgio (2003)

39. Etruscan necropolises in Cerveteri and Tarquinia - Necropoli etrusche di Cerveteri e Tarquinia (2004)

40. Cultural landscape of Val d'Orcia - Val d'Orcia (Siena) (2004)

41. The city of Syracuse and the necropolis of Pantalica - Città di Siracusa e la necropoli di Pantalica (2005)

42. Genoa: Le Strade Nuove street and the Palazzi dei Rolli palace complex - Genova: Le Strade Nuove e il sistema dei Palazzi dei Rolli (2006)

43. Mantua and Sabbioneta - Mantova e Sabbioneta (2008)

44. Rhaetian Railway - Ferrovia retica nel paesaggio dell "Albula e del Bernina (2008)

45. Dolomites - Dolomiti (2009)

46. ​​Longobards in Italy - Longobardi in Italy: i luoghi del potere (2011)

47. Prehistoric pile dwellings in the vicinity of the Alps - Antichi insediamenti sulle Alpi (2011)

48. Volcano Etna - Monte Etna (2013)

49. Palaces, gardens and country villas of the Medici family in Tuscany - Ville e giardini medicei in Toscana (2013)

50. Natural landscape of Italian vineyards: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato - Paesaggio vitivinicolo del Piemonte: Langhe-Roero e Monferrato (2014)