UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) “seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity” (UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1992-2013). They encourage countries all over the world to nominate sites within their country for the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. When a site makes the World Heritage List UNESCO encourages these sites to establish a management plan for the site and provides training and assistance on preserving the site.

The current UNESCO World Heritage List includes 1,157 properties spanning 167 countries. Unfortunately, 55 of these sites are in danger, which is one reason why I wanted to write this article. Some of these sites are in danger due to overdevelopment, poaching, not being adequately maintained, and sometimes over-tourism.

There are ways that we can help while we still visit these beautiful sites. When you are touring any World Heritage Site, ruins, or natural habitats be mindful of where you are. When we visit certain sites there are often roped-off areas that they ask for people not to walk on. This is helping to preserve ancient structures, plants, and habitats for animals.

Redwood National and State Parks – California, USA

The Redwood Forests of California are some of the most amazing trees I have ever seen in my life. Redwood trees are one of the tallest trees on planet earth reaching up to 360 feet tall. If the height didn’t shock you, then the width of them might. One of the largest redwood trees found has reached 74 feet wide, it would take 13.5 people of my size to circle that tree!

There are so many ways to enjoy the redwood trees. If you are less mobile there are scenic rides through beautiful, wooded areas. But if you know Astonished Abroad well enough, you know we’d recommend going for a hike! There is a plethora of hiking trails, kayaking opportunities, and even places where you can bike. I highly recommend checking out the National Park Service website where they give you tips on things to do based on how much time you have.

If you happen to be traveling any further south near Santa Cruz, California there is a place called Roaring Camp that is great for any age! Roaring Camp uses a narrow-gauge steam locomotive to take visitors through the winding forest under the towering redwoods. Roaring Camp celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and offers activities for kids, a spot for food or you can bring your own picnic.

It’s so important that we continue to protect these beautiful Redwood trees. Many of the redwood trees are located in state parks which protect these trees, but we should still be cautious of what we leave behind when we visit. Remember that some of these trees are thousands of years old and are also home to many animals in the area.

Pre-Hispanic City of Chichén Itzá – Yucatan State, Mexico

If you haven’t already, go read my previous post: Chichén Itzá: A New Wonder of the World. In this post, you’ll learn all about the exciting site that is Chichén Itzá. I cannot stress enough how amazing this World Heritage Site is, I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Chichén Itzá is an archaeological site built between 550 and 800 AD. It is the location of the famous pyramid known as The Temple of Kukulkan or El Castillo. The pyramid built for the Maya people’s feathered serpent deity towers over the buildings on the outskirts of the city. There are so many fascinating features and stories of this World Heritage Site. I highly suggest booking a tour so your guide can show you some of the phenomenal acoustic feats that the Maya people were able to incorporate into their city.

In 2008, it was prohibited to climb The Temple of Kukulkan to preserve the structure. Unfortunately, there are people who have disregarded these restrictions and have been arrested after climbing the temple.

Pitons Management Area of Saint Lucia – Soufrière District and Choiseul District, St. Lucia

Gros Piton and Petit Piton make up the Pitons Management Area on the island of St. Lucia. St. Lucia is located in the Eastern Caribbean just south of Martinique. It is believed that St. Lucia was formed by volcanic activity 9-19 million years ago. This volcanic activity is what makes the Pitons so significant. Instead of mountains, they are considered volcanic plugs. These volcanic plugs were formed about one million years ago by volcanic activity just like that which created the island.

Gros Piton had amazing views of the Caribbean Sea from lookout points throughout the hike, the top gave a breathtaking view of the landscape of St. Lucia. What struck me was how amazingly pristine everything looked along the way. During any hike you take you should always make sure you aren’t leaving behind any water bottles or wrappers from snacks to help preserve these sites for future generations.

If you would like detailed hiking information in St. Lucia you should check out my previous post: A Complete Guide to Hiking in St. Lucia.

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias – Seville, Spain

In the heart of Seville, Spain you will find the Seville Cathedral, the Alcázar, and the General Archive of the Indies. These three buildings make up this World Heritage Site. The World Heritage website says it best, “they perfectly epitomize the Spanish “Golden Age”, incorporating vestiges of Islamic culture, centuries of ecclesiastical power, royal sovereignty and the trading power that Spain acquired through its colonies in the New World” (UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1992-2013).

These three buildings share a courtyard-style area which means they are within an easy walk of each other. This makes for a great day to explore the beautiful architecture and history. The Seville Cathedral is a Gothic-style cathedral with a bell tower that stands on what once was a mosque. Both the interior and the exterior of the cathedral have marvelous statues and carvings, it’s amazing what they were able to create without our modern technologies.

The Alcázar was once an Islamic palace, though most of the design you see today is not original, it does give homage to what it once was. The palace now has many different styles including Gothic and Renaissance inspirations. There are carvings in stone, vibrant tiles, and gorgeous gardens that you could explore for hours. If you want to learn a bit more about the Alcázar check out Andrea’s post: Planning a Destination Wedding where she details her beautiful wedding in Seville.

Though we didn’t explore the General Archives we do know that it houses documents that date back to 1785 and even holds journals from Christopher Columbus. The building’s architecture is definitely more subdued than that of the cathedral and the palace stands out against the backdrop of the archive.

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín – Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain is a pretty modern city, with lots of shopping and fun bars to hang out in. The Albaicín Quarter also known as Albayzín and the Alhambra fortress really takes you back in time.

With intricate detailing of wooden doors, tiles, and stairs as far as the eye can see, the Albaicín makes you feel like you’ve walked into another world. Then you get to the Alhambra which made me feel like I was part of a fairytale. The incredible Moorish architecture has details carved into stone on the floors, walls, and ceilings. Almost every surface in the Alhambra is covered in stone, tile, or wood which shows exactly why this beautiful structure has made the World Heritage List.

Adjacent to the Alhambra is the Generalife estate with outstanding gardens and views of the fortress. There are topiaries and greenery that you can spend hours walking through and exploring.

How can you help?

Simply by visiting these incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you can help! Most of the sites require entrance fees or tickets that continue to help preserve and protect this incredible world history. By respecting these sites while you are visiting will also help us protect these sites for future visitors.

You can also donate to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and aid in the preservation of sites like these and others all over the world.