Zoe:
Anyone know why Filitosa is often referred to as a word heritage site on Corsica?
Such claims are not uncommon – usually by T List sites apparently claiming UNESCO status on that basis. Other reasons include the muddling of other "types" of UNESCO recognition such as "Biosphere Reserves" with that if WHS. We have a Forum Topic titled "
It ain't necessarily so" (unused since Oct 2014) where we used to report such things!
The claim for Filitosa is notable for the fact that it isn't even on the French T List (nor has ever been so??) – and hasn't even figured in our "Aspiring" topic as a place trying to gain inscription! Nor, as far as I can make out is it in an area recognised by UNESCO for any other reason
A Google search on "Filitosa" AND "UNESCO" returns an amazing 18200 hits. Many of these are general Web sites on Corsica which cover both Filitosa and genuine UNESCO matters. But many others clearly state that Filitosa IS "
listed as a World Heritage Site"
The viral nature of the Web means of course that something only has to be stated once in order to be repeated "n" times and thus become virtual "fact". But where could this claim have started?
The most apparently "reputable" source I have found is that of the guide book "
Petit Futé" (which one might have hoped would have got it correct!)
One possible wrinkle is the frequent use of the phrase "
classé par l'UNESCO comme l'un des sites culturels et artistiques les plus importants du monde pour la préhistoire" rather than "
classé par l'UNESCO au Patrimoine Mondial de l'Humanité" – but I can't discover any other "List" under the UNESCO banner which could be the source of this distinction.
Interestingly the
Official Web site for Filatosa doesn't itself claim WHS status – only that it is on the list of the "
cents sites historiques d'intérêts communs aux pays de la Méditerranée." But this list can't be that significant - I haven't so far been able to access it in full!