What is the UNESCO World Heritage List ?

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) aims to contribute to peace and safety of people and promotes cooperation among the countries around the world through the channels of education, science and culture. One of the tasks of UNESCO is to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage: it represents the history and identity of each people and the legacy of the past is to be transmitted to future generations. The World Heritage List currently includes more than one thousand sites, and Italy is the country with most sites so far: 50 in total (July 2005). To be included in the list, a site must demonstrate an "outstanding universal value", that is a cultural and / or natural significance so outstanding to overcome national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations.

As a matter of fact the sites chosen as World Heritage are selected for their specific properties, which make them the best possible example of the cultural and/or natural heritage around the world. Joining the list is a global acknowledgment of the extraordinary cultural value of the nominated place, which must be preserved and trasnmitted to the future generations.

For more information, please visit:

• UNESCO World Heritage Centre
•  Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities