What are the most beautiful places in the world? What are the wonders that most make us dream? In this new article we talk about the most beautiful places in the world. The idea of defining a list of UNESCO heritage sites was conceived in 1972 and has the aim of identifying the most beautiful places from a cultural and naturalistic point of view, which deserve to be protected for their characteristics. The criteria used for the classification of the most significant places in this special classification are many and we show you the main ones.
The most important criteria for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List are:
(i)
Representing a masterpiece of man’s creative genius.
(ii)
Show an important interchange of human values over a long time span or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture, technology, monumental arts, urban planning and landscape design.
(iii)
Be a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or a living or vanishing civilization.
(iv)
To constitute an extraordinary example of a building typology, an architectural or technological ensemble or a landscape that illustrates one or more important phases in human history.
(v)
Be an exceptional example of a traditional human settlement, of the use of territorial or marine resources, representative of a culture (or more cultures) or of the interaction of man with the environment, especially when the same has become for effect of irreversible transformations.
(vi)
Being directly or materially associated with living events or traditions, ideas or beliefs, artistic or literary works of outstanding universal significance.
(vii)
Present exceptional natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty or aesthetic importance.
(viii)
Constitute an extraordinary testimony of the main periods of the earth’s evolution, including evidence of life, of geological processes taking place in the development of the physical characteristics of the earth’s surface or of significant geomorphic or physiographic characteristics.
(ix)
To constitute significant examples of important ecological and biological processes taking place in the evolution and development of ecosystems and terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and environments.
(x)
Present the most important and significant natural habitats suitable for the in situ conservation of biological diversity, including those in which survive threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
For now, there are more than 1000 places that have become the heritage of humanity, and Italy is at the top of the ranking, with many places that have become the icon of our country.
In this article we want to provide a series of information on the many Unesco heritage sites, choosing from known places of inestimable appeal, associated with equally beautiful places, but less known by the average tourist.
Now we present some of the most beautiful places in our opinion around the world.
Archaeological area of Pompeii and Herculaneum
We cannot fail to start from a place in our home: the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum. An archaeological area of great value and which attracts millions of tourists every year, fascinated by Roman cities, almost perfectly preserved by the volcano Vesuvius, which covers the two cities during the eruption of 79 AD, whose remains were found in the Bourbon period. Thanks to these findings we have also been able to establish the Roman habits of about 2,000 years ago. It became a Unesco heritage site in 1997.
Ephesus, Turkey
Ephesus (Greek: φεσος , Ephesus ; Latin: Ephesus)It is an extraordinary city located in present day Turkey, the birthplace of the writer Androne of Ephesus. This city was an important commercial center and capital of the Roman province. Today there are ruins of incomparable beauty, among the best known archaeological sites in the Mediterranean Sea. Ephesus was one of the most powerful cities in the world after Rome and Alexandria in Egypt. Notable are the Roman theater which had a capacity of approximately 24,000 seats, the agora, and the Celsus library. Defined as one of the 7 wonders of the world. Furthermore, in the same city it is possible to find, in addition to the remains of the ancient city, the cave of the seven sleepers, at the center of both Christian and Muslim tradition.
Historic city of Meknes-Morocco
Meknes is the most recent of the four imperial cities and was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif in 600, before this honor was given to Fes until 1912, and then under French rule in Rabat.
This city is one of the oldest and most fascinating in Morocco, as well as the best known Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat and that’s why we decided to talk about it. It has become a Unesco heritage site (the historic center Medina) every year attracts many tourists dazzled by its beauty.
Sidney Opera-Australia
After three very ancient places of our civilization, we are talking about a more modern place, but at the same time, full of charm: The Sidney Opera House, that is the Opera house located on the bay of the Australian city. Built in the twentieth century from a project by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, supported for structural calculations by the London engineering company Arup, and composed of an outdoor amusement park, a large parking lot near the Sidney Harbor Bridge and the mythical theater (1500 seats), inaugurated in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth with the performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. It became part of the Unesco heritage in 2007.
Old Havana-Cuba
When it comes to breathtaking beauties, one cannot fail to mention Havana, Cuba, one of the most fascinating places in the world with its historic center, which has become a world heritage site since 1982. The city was founded in 1514 by Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, with the name of Villa of San Cristobal de La Habana. Among its most representative monuments are the Cathedral of Havana, Plaza de Armas, the Morro Castle, the Museum of the Revolution, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Great Theater of Havana, the Capitolio, the Revolution Square and the Malecon, perhaps the most internationally recognized symbol of the city.
Taj Mahal
One of the 7 wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal is perhaps the most mystical place in the world, where history, spirituality and magic meet. Located in Agra, Northern India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, this place is represented by the mausoleum built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife Arjumand Banu Begum.
The architectural complex of the Taj Mahal consists of five most important areas which are:
- The darwaza entrance door to the structure
- The bageecha, that is the garden;
- The masjid , mosque, place of worship;
- The guest house called mihman khana;
- The mausoleum;
An amazing place:
Machu Picchu-Peru
And here after India we stop in South America, and more specifically in Machu Picchu, Peru, which literally means Old Peak. Became a World Heritage Site in 2007, this archaeological site is considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. The area was populated in previous years by populations who settled along the Picchu gorge, dedicating themselves to agricultural work. Later it is assumed that the city was built by the Inca emperor Pachacutec around the year 1440 and remained inhabited until the Spanish conquest of 1532. At its best it welcomed about 1000 inhabitants. The discovery of this ancient Inca city was by Hiram Bingham, a scholar of Yale, who in his numerous trips to Peru in search of the Inca remains, comes across this ancient city, which he believes to be the ruin of the city of Vilcabamba. An incredible place to visit at least once in a lifetime.
Los Glaciares National Park -Argentina
Los Glaciares National Park is located in the extreme south of Argentina, and more specifically in Patagonia and established in 1937. Obviously, due to its extreme position, the Park is in an extremely cold climate (very close to the South Pole). This place offers incredible views, bordering on the primordial. Its name refers to the ice cap made up of 47 large glaciers that flow towards the Pacific Ocean. 30% of the surface of Los Glaciares is covered by ice: the whole region can be divided into two parts and made up of two lakes: Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma, from South to North. Both lakes end up in the Santa Cruz River which in turn flows into the Atlantic Ocean. A suggestive scenario in which to get lost, hoping not to die of cold! 🙂
Citta sacra in Kandy-Sri Lanka
Kandy: a city that says nothing to most people, but which is of extreme importance to the people of Buddhist faith. In fact this city, located in Sri Lanka and deputy as the nerve center of the whole Buddhist religion, with millions of faithful who visit it every year. The temple where the relic of the sacred tooth ( Sri Dalada Maligawa) is located in the city, within the complex of the Royal Palace of Kandy. It represents one of the major Buddhist pilgrimage centers. Legend has it that after his death, Buddha’s canine was recovered by a man, who personally gave it to King Brahmadatte. Every year to celebrate this event, in the months of July and August, celebrations are organized in memory of him, with pilgrims who come from all over the world to attend the dances in honor of Buddha. A show not to be missed:
Khajuraho-India complex
Here we are at another stage in the wonderful and magical India. With a touch of eroticism: who knows that the so famous book of sexual positions, which takes the name of Kamasutra, is an Indian book? Then you will not be too surprised to admire the Khajuraho complex. The city has the largest number of Hindu and Jain medieval temples in India, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. The name of Khajuraho derives from the Hindi word khajur., which means date palm. This complex houses the famous works dedicated to eros. Erected between 950 and 1050, at the time of the Chandela dynasty, these icons are represented by gods, warriors, artists, real and mythological animals, women and couples of lovers who portray moments of “fun” in a sexual key. Obviously not all the sculptures are taken up in this capacity, but obviously for the subject of some of them they have become famous above all for this. When temples were erected, the tantric tradition was probably accepted, according to which the satisfaction of earthly desires is a step towards nirvana. If you are looking for history and a pinch of eroticism, then your destination is here:
