Heritage

Medieval Carcassonne laid bare in spectacular restoration

Visitors gain panoramic view of historic French city from upper ramparts after €5m restoration makes full circuit walkable

Constantine Arch and Colosseum hit by 'incredible water bomb'

Lightning strike breaks fragments off ancient military monument in Rome

‘This is a farce’: heritage activists react as historic minaret in Iraq covered in white plaster

The Zumurrud Khatun Mosque and Mausoleum have undergone a heavy-handed restoration—and there is a risk of further damage to come

Heritageanalysis

Three years on: how the Taliban has impacted Afghanistan's culture

The government is increasing support for desperately needed restoration projects, but repressive new laws erase women and girls from public life

Cultural sector must do more to protect heritage, say campaigners, as Unesco sites most at risk from climate change revealed

A study by the climate risk firm Climate X has shown how drought, extreme heat and flooding has put historic locations across the world at risk

‘It destroys the image Dickens tried to create’: unpublished letters give voice to writer’s beleaguered wife

Meanwhile, a screen that Charles Dickens decorated with the actor William Macready has returned to its historic home in Dorset, UK

Israeli settlement on Unesco heritage site an ‘imminent threat’ to area, campaigners say

The Nahal Heletz settlement—which is due to be established within the protected Land of Olives and Vines—puts heritage in danger and risks cutting Palestinians off from their land, warn groups and residents

Appeal to save Brighton Pavilion dome after ‘devastating’ damage discovery

Brighton and Hove Museums hopes to raise at least £10,000 to conserve the Grade I listed building

Mysterious Stonehenge altar rock was transported 500 miles, finds study

Researchers have found that the six-tonne feature of the neolithic monument likely came from the Orcadian Basin in north-east Scotland, rather than Wales

The ship that broke Wordsworth’s heart: UK government grants protection to wreck with connections to poet

The remains of the Earl of Abergavenny, once captained by the Wordsworth’s brother John, will be made safe from treasure hunters

Heritageanalysis

Venice rocked by corruption allegations involving city’s mayor and council over sale of land and two palazzos

Mayor Brugnaro insists that he is innocent but calls for his resignation are mounting

Temple of love: €7,000 for a wedding at Paestum

New pricelist gives well-heeled couples exclusive access to the ancient archaeological site. But some Italian politicians are not impressed

Historic Gaza monastery added to Unesco’s world heritage in danger list

The “situation” around the fourth-century Monastery of Saint Hilarion has "deteriorated rapidly" due to the war, an expert says

Politicsanalysis

How Indian PM Narendra Modi’s weaponising of heritage backfired in Ayodhya

The politician lost the Faizabad constituency in which he built the controversial Ram temple

Castle in war-torn Yemen partially reopens

Emergency repairs at 11th-century fortress offer a ray of hope in country where dozens of historic sites are damaged or destroyed

Booksreview

Take a romp through Ancient Rome’s great buildings with this handy (almost) pocket-sized book

Ostensibly a guide to the city's top 50 sites, a new publication by Paul Roberts offers far more

Rare ancient rock art found in Saudi Arabian lava tube

Sixteen panels, thought to have been created 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, include rare depictions of sheep

Qatar Museums and Venice's new protocol of co-operation includes aim of restoring 'symbolic parts of the city’

Renewable five-year agreement, announced during Art for Tomorrow conference, covers collaboration on regeneration of cultural heritage, art publications and connections between Venetian and Islamic architecture

Buckingham Palace opens newly restored wing with Gainsborough and Winterhalter works

Building’s East Wing, displaying 30 paintings and examples of Chinese porcelain, will be open to visitors from July

Jewish community raises funds to rescue Siena’s earthquake-damaged 18th-century synagogue

At least ninety percent of €368,000 target to repair vault and ceiling has been met

Two eco-activists arrested after Stonehenge sprayed with orange powder

The ancient site remains open as curators investigate the damage

Fire that damaged Israel Museum being investigated as arson

The fire is believed to have been set at three different sites near the museum building

Icom names Medea Ekner as director general

Ekner, who was appointed interim director general last year, has 25 years of museum experience in Sweden and New Zealand

Newly discovered drawings in Pompeii indicate children saw gladiators in bloody action

Charcoal sketches highlight they ‘witnessed battles in the amphitheatre’, says park director

Letterscomment

Letter to the Editor | 'Your review of a Mumbai show is written through a Kiplinguesque East meets West lens'

Two academics analyse our review of 'Ancient Sculptures' at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, which brought together sculptures from India with those from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Assyria

Turkey reopens former Byzantine Chora church as a mosque amid muted objections

Most of the Istanbul monument’s ancient frescoes and mosaics remain on view after restoration

Mavisbank House: abandoned Scottish 18th-century mansion to be rescued at last

The the house near Edinburgh is considered one of Britain’s most important buildings—but also its most derelict

Portrait of Charles I's children revealed to be by inventor of tri-colour printing

The print by Jacob Christoph le Blon, which hung under a staircase of a Norfolk mansion, was thought to be a copy of a work by Anthony Van Dyck

Newly unveiled statue of Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis splits opinion

The memorial by Hywel Brân Pratley is situated in the town of Oakham, UK

St Mark’s architect warns that Venice’s historic houses are falling down

In an interview, Maria Piana, the architect responsible for the famous basilica, says urgent action is needed to save the city’s houses from rising water levels