Aleppo
The Ancient City of Aleppo comprises a trading city influenced by many subsequent rulers such as Romans, Byzantines, Ayyubids, Ummayads, Mamluks and Ottomans.
Aleppo is one of the oldest inhabited cities in history, as the earliest remains of human settlement date to the eleventh millennium BCE. The old city is centered around the Citadel, which is a major work of Arab military architecture. The historic buildings include several madrassahs dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, and numerous mansions, palaces, churches and mosques that were added until the 19th century.
Community Perspective: “Aleppo is an amazing city. It was the souq at the end of the Silk Road, and historically almost anything could be bought there.” Squiffy describes a visit to its Citadel and souqs in 2009.
Caceres
The Old Town of Cáceres is renowned for its well-preserved 12th-century Almohad city walls and its diverse townscape.
Cáceres was a historic battleground of the Moors and Christians, which resulted in Almohad fortifications such as the Torre Mochada and Torre del Bujaco. It was recaptured from the Moors in 1229. New groups of settlers were attracted, which led to rivalling factions constructing their houses, palaces and towers in their own styles. The city's architecture now is a blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance styles.
Community Perspective: The Old Town is compact and a pleasure to navigate on foot. The Torre del Bujaco can be climbed and is worth it for its views.
Chan Chan
The Chan Chan Archaeological Zone covers the remains of the largest earthen city of pre-Columbian America and bears testimony to the Chimú Empire.
The extensive city, reaching its zenith in the 15th century, was skilfully planned with an independent unit for each of the nine Chimú chieftains. Each unit held structures such as temples and houses; their walls were often decorated with mud friezes. There were also industrial and agricultural sectors and a water management system.
Community Perspective: Most of the vast site is in complete ruins, and what you may find standing upright is likely a reconstruction of dubious authenticity. You can only visit Palacio Nik An, one of the nine units. Solivagant has deep-dived into its archeological value and conservation issues.
Churches and Convents of Goa
The Churches and Convents of Goa are a group of Catholic religious buildings that have been influential in spreading both the faith and their Portuguese style of art and architecture around Asia.
They are located in Old Goa, which from 1565 was the capital of the Portuguese Indies. The seven monuments illustrate the work of missionaries in Asia. They also introduced Manueline, Mannerist, and Baroque art and architecture to Asia. The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, an influential early missionary across Asia (India, Japan, China), and is a site of pilgrimage.
Community Perspective: Due to a lack of available documentation (no AB evaluation, a scanned map), the scope of the site is somewhat confusing, but at least it covers the 7 named locations. What you’ll find is an archaeological site that can easily take up half a day to explore.
Durham Castle and Cathedral
Durham Castle and Cathedral are the largest and most impressive examples of Norman architecture in England.
The Cathedral was built to house the relics of St. Cuthbert, the evangelist of Northumbria, and the Venerable Bede, and is still an active place of worship. Its architecture was ahead of its time, with elements foreshadowing the Gothic style. Durham Castle is an ancient Norman fortress that was the residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham, who protected the northern boundaries of England.
Community Perspective: located on a bend in the river, this complex delivers one of England's finest urban views. The Cathedral has received better reviews than the Castle.
Evora
The Historic Centre of Évora is exemplary for the Golden Age of Portugal and strongly influenced Portuguese architecture in Brazil.
The historic town evolved from the 15th century when Evora became the seat of the Portuguese royals. Many new churches, convents and palaces were built in the Manueline style. Some buildings of earlier periods, such as the Roman Temple of Diana and the medieval Cathedral, also remain.
Community Perspective: Évora gets very mixed reviews – from “the most neglected WHS in Portugal” and “overrated”, to people who love it. Read Ilya’s review for an overview of its highlights.
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri comprises the remains of a city that has influenced the evolution of Mughal town planning.
This short-lived capital was planned as a dream city for the Mughals in the late 16th century. The city held administrative, residential, and religious buildings, showing a variety of Indo-Islamic styles. The buildings are made of red sandstone. Among its architectural highlights are the Jama Masjid and the Victory Gate Buland Darwaza.
Community Perspective: It’s an easy day trip from Agra. Bernard and Frederik have well-described what you may expect from a visit.
Garajonay
Garajonay National Park preserves one of the best examples of laurisilva, a humid subtropical forest that in the Tertiary covered almost all of Europe.
The park on the island of La Gomera comprises forests made up of laurel-leaved evergreen hardwood trees, reaching up to 40 meters in height. Many of its species are endemic to the islands, and harbor a rich biota of understory plants, invertebrates, and birds and bats. It is one of the best places to observe the two Canarian endemic pigeon species.
Community Perspective: La Gomera can be done as a day trip from Tenerife (like Shandos did). Els did a day hike to the top of Garajonay arriving on public transport, while Solivagant and Clyde have provided interesting itineraries if you have a (rental) car. You can take a car with you from Tenerife as well, but the ferry crossings are expensive.
Ghadames
The Old Town of Ghadamès is one of the oldest oasis towns just north of the Sahara.
It has played an important role in the trans-Saharan trade network for over 2,000 years. The old part of the town has a circular shape and is surrounded by a wall. It has its own unique architecture adapted to the local arid climate.
Community Perspective: Thomas has been the only reviewer so far, and enjoyed the renovated and beautifully decorated buildings.
Giant's Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast is an important area of study of basaltic volcanism.
The Giant's Causeway is a unique example of columnar jointing with some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns resulting from a volcanic eruption. The tops of the mostly hexagonal columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Along the coast, a succession of lava flows from the Tertiary era can be distinguished.
Community Perspective: Northern Ireland's most popular attraction and a natural playground for visitors. The area with the ‘steps’ is compact but you can spend hours hiking along the coast. The fairly recent visitor centre can set you up with an audio guide.
Gondwana Rainforests
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are renowned for their geological features and unique record of the evolutionary history of Australian rainforests.
The 41 different parks in Queensland and New South Wales are located on volcanic shields that were created after the breakup of Gondwana. They hold the major remaining areas of rainforest, where many songbird species are present as well as further rare and threatened flora and fauna species.
Community Perspective: Dorrigo National Park (Michael) is an accessible choice among the parks to visit, while Lamington National Park (Clyde) proved to be good for birders.
Great Zimbabwe
The Great Zimbabwe National Monument is the archaeological site of the greatest city of the Shona civilization.
Great Zimbabwe ("stone houses") was a main regional trading center from the Middle Ages onward, and its wealth was associated with Arab gold trading. There were also trade links with East Africa (Kilwa), and fragments of Persian and Chinese pottery have been found at the site. Arab and European travellers in the 16th century sent marvelling reports home about this place and its impressive stone walls.
Community Perspective: the site has mainly attracted the views of Zimbabweans and former residents, who nostalgically reflect on their visits from the 1930s on. More recent visitors report that it is a hot site to visit, but well-restored and with knowledgeable local guides.
Gwynedd Castles
The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd are the well-preserved remains of late 13th-century and early 14th-century military fortifications.
They were built or rebuilt on the orders of the English King Edward I when in 1283 he expanded his domain into north-west Wales. He set out on an ambitious project, to build an “Iron Ring” of castles and new towns to house English settlers. The castles are stylistically similar, all being double-walled concentric structures, and were designed by the same military architect.
Community Perspective: The site lies in a beautiful part of North Wales and includes the castles of Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon, and Harlech. Along the way, you can take a look at the historic Menai Bridge. Nan has provided tips on visiting the castles by public transport.
Hampi
The Group of Monuments at Hampi represents the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara empire.
This South Indian Hindu kingdom existed here from 1336 til the city’s destruction in 1565. The extensive group of buildings in a spectacular natural setting shows the importance and wealth of the city; they include some 1600 surviving structures varying from forts to palaces. They are mostly constructed in the original native traditions of southern India. Some of them show a certain amount of Islamic influence due to interaction with Indo-Islamic kingdoms.
Community Perspective: these are the ruins of a complete city, and one can easily spend more than a day here. “What makes the site “special” is its location within a striking boulder-strewn landscape and a very relaxed uncrowded atmosphere.”
Hattusha
Hattusha: the Hittite Capital is the archaeological site of the political and religious metropolis of the Hittites, bearing a unique testimony to the now-extinct Hittite civilization.
The heydays of this well-preserved fortified city were from 1375 to 1200 BCE. It is renowned for its urban organization, the types of construction that have been preserved (temples, royal residences, fortifications), the sculptured friezes of the Lions Gate and the Royal Gate, and the ensemble of rock art of Yazilikaya.
Community Perspective: It’s a really big site, you’ll need a car; be sure to visit at least Yazilikaya (impressive reliefs) and the Hattusha main location (“a fully blown razed city”).
Iguacu
Iguaçu National Park covers the Brazilian side of one of the largest waterfalls in the world.
The waterfalls on both sides of the border together span over 2700 m., with numerous cascades and rapids. The park also contains major remnants of the interior Atlantic Forest with a high degree of diversity and endemism. Endangered mammals found here include Jaguar, Ocelot, Puma, Tapir, and Bush dog.
Community Perspective: the general opinion is that the Falls have to be seen from both the Brazilian and the Argentinian sides. A free bus will ferry you along the viewpoints; be aware that the whole area is very commercialized. GabLabCebu explored it by helicopter and boat as well.
Ironbridge Gorge
Ironbridge Gorge was the innovative center for iron making during the First Industrial Revolution.
The Coalbrookdale blast furnace represents the breakthrough development of smelting iron using coke instead of charcoal in 1709. Subsequently, iron, tiles and porcelain were made here on an industrial scale. Iron Bridge was built as the first known metal bridge. Remains of the industrial era are spread out over 3.6 kilometers in the Severn Valley. They include mines, factories, warehouses, canals, railroads, housing and public buildings. The area was rich in raw materials, and the river made transport easy.
Community Perspective: The area, centered around a picturesque little town, is littered with small museums which add up in cost if you want to visit a number of them. Coalbrookedale Iron Museum, Blists Hill open-air museum and Coalport China Museum are recommended. Fortunately, the Bridge is still free to enter.
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments comprises Brahman and Jain temples with highly original architecture and decoration.
They date from around 1000 CE when the Chandella Dynasty ruled this area. Originally there were 85 temples, of which only 22 still exist. The surfaces of these sandstone temples are beautifully decorated with motifs and sculptures. These depict religious and social life in the time of the Chandellas. Some of the sculptures are remarkable because of their erotic displays.
Community Perspective: The temples are exquisite and very well-kept.
Khami Ruins
Khami Ruins National Monument comprises the archaeological site of the second largest stone-built monument in Zimbabwe.
The dry-stone structures were enhanced by decorative friezes. It was created during the Torwa dynasty and became the region’s next capital after the abandonment of Great Zimbabwe. Imported goods like Ming porcelain and Spanish silverware were found, which hint at a wide range of trading contacts.
Community Perspective: An easy site to visit with your own transport from the city of Bulawayo, but it cannot stand comparison to Great Zimbabwe. Nearby Naletale (a TWHS) reportedly has the most interesting patterned stonework of all the Zimbabwes.
Mudejar Architecture of Aragon
The Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon represents the most outstanding examples of Mudéjar construction techniques and art forms.
Mudéjar is the style of Iberian Christian architecture and decoration strongly influenced by Moorish taste and workmanship. The ten included buildings cover the whole period, from the 12th to the 16th century. The architecture is characterized by bell towers shaped like the Islamic minaret, the use of bricks, glazed tiles and wooden ceilings.
Community Perspective: Teruel is an easy place to start as it holds 4 of the 10 inscribed components, as is Zaragoza which has 3 of which the Aljafería palace is the best.
Sana'a
The Old City of Sana'a is renowned for the unique skyline of a densely packed ensemble of multi-storey traditional houses and minarets.
Surrounded by ancient clay walls, the old city boasts over 100 mosques, 12 hammams, and 6,500 houses. Many of the houses reach several stories high and are decorated with geometric patterns, elaborate friezes, intricately carved frames and stained glass windows. Sana’a is also connected to the spread of Islam in its early years - the majestic seventh-century Jami' al-Kabir (Great Mosque) is known as the first mosque built outside Mecca and Medina.
Community Perspective: As a site that has been off-limits for a decade, the only review so far stems from Solivagant who characterizes it as “a city to wander round without a map”.
Skocjan Caves
The Škocjan Caves comprise a karst landscape with an array of exceptional karst features.
The cave system was shaped by the Reka river, which has sought its way underground. Specific features include dripstone as well as underground gorges, lakes and waterfalls. Škocjan also is an important scientific site for the study of karstic phenomena since the 19th century. The geological terms "karst" and "dolina" originated there.
Community Perspective: this is a very busy site in pretty natural surroundings; to see the spectacular underground canyon (“with a footbridge 40 metres above the water that makes your knees shudder”) you have to take part in the 2-hour tour.
St. Kilda
St. Kilda is a remote and uninhabited archipelago in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, renowned as a seabird breeding station and for its past human occupation in extreme conditions.
The volcanic origins produced a dramatic landscape of exceptional cliffs and underwater scenery. The islands were occupied by humans for some 2,000 years, relying on bird products and the keeping of sheep. The remains of 4 settlements are left, the structures dating mostly to the 19th century. The last remaining people asked to be evacuated in 1930 due to a lack of resources to survive. Over 1 million sea birds use the islands, especially gannets, puffins and fulmars.
Community Perspective: It takes good planning beforehand and suitable weather on the day of departure, as it takes at least 2.5 hours across the sea to reach. The best point of departure is Harris, but you can also take it in as part of a longer Expedition Cruise like Solivagant did. Avoid departing from Skye, for reasons described by Nan.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites comprise one of the most important groups of prehistoric megalithic and earthen monuments in the world.
They were constructed between c. 3700 and 1600 BCE and provide insight into the funerary and ceremonial practices in Britain in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Stonehenge (ca. 2600-2400 BCE) holds the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, using stones unique in size and how far they had to be transported from. Avebury (ca. 2600 BCE) is a Neolithic henge monument containing three prehistoric stone circles, one of which is the largest in the world. In its vicinity lie the sites of Silbury Hill, The Sanctuary, Windmill Hill, and West Kennet Long Barrow.
Community Perspective: Stonehenge can be underwhelming for a number of reasons (fenced off, crowds, obligatory shuttle bus), although the new visitor centre seems to be an improvement. Avebury is a better place to come up-close with these monuments, and you can explore its associated sites on foot.
Studenica Monastery
Studenica Monastery is one of the largest and richest Serbian Orthodox monasteries, best known for its collection of 13th- and 14th-century Byzantine-style frescoes.
Its typical Rascian architectural style has a mix of Romanesque and Byzantine elements. Its fortified walls encompass three churches, made out of marble. The monastery was the cultural and spiritual centre of medieval Serbia and holds the remains of its earliest rulers. It produced the Studenica Typicon, the first book of literature in Serbian.
Community Perspective: “The best Serbia has to offer with beautiful highlights both on its exterior and inside with its great collection of frescoes”. It can be reached by public transport, as described by Nan.
Studley Royal Park
Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey is a human-made landscape around the combination of a medieval monastery and an 18th-century water garden.
They were brought together by William Aislabie in 1767 when he added the neighbouring ruins to his family estate. Fountains Abbey had been the largest and wealthiest in England until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Landscape features such as Studley Royal Water Garden (an outstanding example of the ‘English’ garden style), the deer park and the Victorian Gothic St. Mary's Church were added later.
Community Perspective: You have to pay to enter the formal gardens and abbey, however, all are free to walk through the Deer Park and visit the impressive neo-Gothic St Mary's church. The Abbey ruins are still in good shape and at their most picturesque from the view from Anne Boleyn’s Seat.
Te Wahipounamu
Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand consists of four national parks renowned for the scenic beauty of their wild mountain landscapes.
The area was shaped by tectonic, climatic, and glacial processes, resulting in fjords, glacial lakes, glaciers and moraines. It contains some of the best modern representations of the original flora and fauna present in Gondwanaland, such as kiwis, ‘bush’ moas, carnivorous Powelliphanta land snails and the endangered takahe.
Community Perspective: Comprising Aoraki/Mt Cook, Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, and Westland NP’s, “it could easily be split into a few different World Heritage Sites, because each area has such unique aspects”. Among the highlights, Squiffy has described Doubtful Sound, GabLabCebu and Nan the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, and Carlo Milford Sound and the Kepler and Routeburn hikes.
Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae
The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae comprises the remains of a rural temple with outstanding architectural features.
The classical Greek columned temple was built from 420 to 400 BCE and was dedicated to the god of healing. It survived largely intact. Its originality lies in the use of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian elements, including the earliest surviving Corinthian column capital. A 31-meter-long frieze (now in the British Museum) covered the interior on all four sides.
Community Perspective: The temple has been covered by some kind of tent since 1987, which “both help and hinder your ability to appreciate it” as explained by Michael. Solivagant shines a light on its Architectural significance. Those on public transport will need a taxi ride from the closest town, Andritsaina.
Toledo
The Historic City of Toledo holds a cultural and monumental heritage of several historic civilizations.
The Romans left a circus and an aqueduct, the Visigoths its city walls, the Emirate of Cordoba the Puerta Vieja de Bisagra, there are Jewish monuments and some outstanding 15-16th century constructions (Cathedral, San Juan de los Reyes, Santa Cruz hospital). The city is also known for the emergence of a hybrid Mudéjar style, as can be seen in the Santiago del Arrabal and the Puerta del Sol.
Community Perspective: It’s a lovely city for an overnight stay or a weekend break. The Gothic Cathedral could have made it to the List on its own merits alone. Also, check out works by El Greco (see Hubert’s review for a listing), visit the Mudejar Synagogue of El Tránsito and wander the streets of its medina-style city centre.
Trier
The Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier are the testimonies of a Roman colony and its recognition of Christianity.
Trier became a Roman colony in the first century CE and until now holds the best remaining collection of Roman monuments north of the Alps, such as the Porta Nigra. It was a large city, at the trading crossroads between major towns in France and along the Rhine, and the seat of prefects and during the reign of Constantine even the vice-emperor (Caesar) of the Western Empire. He also introduced Christianity. The Cathedral of St. Peter and the Church of Our Lady are both early church buildings.
Community Perspective: It’s a magnificent place and it can keep you occupied for a day as there is so much to see. This site is a bit under-reviewed, although the regional museum (Rheinische Landesmuseum Trier) and the birthplace of Karl Marx are recommended in addition to the Roman monuments.
Extended Sites in 1986
Kerkuane
The Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis show the urban planning and architecture of the Phoenician-Punic Empire.
The city was never rebuilt after its destruction in 255 BCE and therefore (unlike Carthage) has no mixing with later Roman construction. The harbor, the street plan, residential areas, squares, temples and the remains of the large cemetery have been uncovered. The houses were built to a standard plan in accordance with a sophisticated notion of town planning.
Community Perspective: located in a very nice coastal setting, only the foundations of the town are left and it needs about an hour to explore. Els has provided directions to the less-obvious second location.
Ian Cade UK - 01-May-05
This is a really nice site to visit, it is out of the way and situated on a great piece of coastline. There is not much left (everything is less that a metre in height!) but it provides a great example of Punic towns especially good if you have seen other sites in the country which did not fair so well under the Romans! The site is right next to the sea and contains some features which you would not see at other archaeological sites such as the minimalist mosaics and almost fully intact bathrooms in every house.
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