Unesco World Heritage Site

Venice comment

The IPCC’s predictions of sea-level rise are why Italy should beg Unesco to put Venice on its at risk list

It would support the difficult measures the government will have to enact to save Venice from certain death. But Unesco is toothless

Unesco warns that Stonehenge will go on its danger list unless plans to build tunnel beneath it are modified

World Heritage Site status may also be removed from Liverpool's waterfront after excessive development

Venice comment

The damnation of Venice: locals are being systematically driven out by officials who are selling off sites for tourism

Venetians are leaving the city in thousands because rents are unaffordable, while more than 11% of social housing stands empty

Mexican authorities halt illegal development near Teotihuacán

It is unclear who is behind the construction of the ecotourism park, which resulted in the destruction of at least three unexplored archaeological mounds

Acropolis renovation plans spark accusations that it’s ‘just another way to fit in more tourists’

Archaeologists fear the structural changes aimed to improve access to the Unesco site will “dramatically” change its form

Ethiopian heritage under attack as reports of massacre emerge

Eyewitnesses say Eritrean military stormed an Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, killing hundreds

Angkornews

Proposed resort and water park threaten ancient heritage of Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Unesco has expressed alarm that the development will encroach onto the protected zone of the World Heritage site

Podcastspodcast

Stonehenge: could a road tunnel ruin the ancient site?

Plus, French museums revolt against lockdown closures and artist Crystal Fischetti on Karla Black

New heritage body aims to keep Unesco in check by calling on public to report sites in danger

Our World Heritage says it is stepping in to save at-risk locations as “safeguarding has become a secondary concern” for Unesco

Turkish government on collision course with Unesco over turning Hagia Sophia into mosque

President Erdogan’s plans to convert the museum have drawn fire from Greece and the US

Religious sites in Russia and Ukraine hit hard by coronavirus thanks to pilgrims and poor social distancing

Many Unesco World Heritage sites that are also working monasteries have been accused of reacting slowly to the pandemic

Desert X AlUla—the inaugural art biennial in a historic Saudi Arabian valley—announces participants

Wael Shawky, Superflex and eL Seed are among the artists who will base works on the ancient history of the region

The biennial refurbishing a Unesco World Heritage city one building at a time

The third edition of Anozero in Coimbra includes works by Steve McQueen, Anna Boghiguian, and the Portuguese duo João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva

Petra's rich heritage goes on show for all to see in new museum

Nearly a decade after the Arab Spring scared off tourists, the Petra Museum is poised to welcome back visitors—and open up access for locals

French senate says Notre Dame must be restored 'in the same way as before'

Wim Delvoye, one of the artists who submitted a proposal, says he is confident the government will pivot to his solution

Opposition flares as Peru’s government makes way for airport near Machu Picchu

A petition has been launched to prevent the Peruvian government from continuing the project

The government of Saudi Arabia to spend $1.7bn on building 230 museums

Thirty international archaeology teams have been invited to the desert land.

Cambodiaarchive

Demilitarised zone established to protect shelled temple on border between Cambodia and Thailand

Thai army cedes ground but future of Cambodian World Heritage site remains unresolved

Draft Unesco Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage would extend controls 200 miles out from the coast

If the draft is approved by two-thirds of member countries at the General Conference next month it will be sent out for ratification. US and Russian support unlikely.

Unescoarchive

Samarra shrine must be rebuilt: Unesco says reconstruction will help unite warring factions

The site is considered one of the holiest in Iraq, containing the remains of two of the Prophet's descendants

Unescoarchive

Samarra mosque at risk from new police barracks

There are fears that the new station will be a target for insurgents; Unesco powerless to protect the World Heritage site

Unescoarchive

Places categorised as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites are subject to immense tourism: what is the effect?

As Unesco celebrates the 30th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, this book analyses the effects of its policies in developing countries

Unescoarchive

Ten out of forty-six new World Heritage sites confirmed in Italy alone due to the Piedmont’s latest emphasis on culture and tourism

Out of the ten newly designated Unesco sites, the biggest includes eighteen royal Savoy properties

Harnessing the tourist industry to help Mediterranean historical sites

The Getty's floating conference on the conservation of archaeological sites.

Unescoarchive

Interview with Khamliène Nhouyvanisvong, UNESCO's new Special Representative to Cambodia

He plans to develop learning centres, nominate new World Heritage sites, preservation of monuments, and protection of Angkor