My new Goal: 101 UNESCO world Heritage sites By 2014

Adventurous Kate includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase with these links, I will make a compensation at no additional expense to you. Thanks!

Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Share on Email

A few months ago, I chose to tally up the UNESCO world Heritage sites I’ve visited.  The total?  51. You can see the full listing here.

A extremely respectable number, as well as one that I ought to be happy of.  But not as great as it might be, thinking about exactly how much I travel.  I’ve never actively sought out UNESCO sites before; I’ve always just fallen into them by chance.

I requirement to go to much more — for two reasons.  The very first is that UNESCO sites are a few of the biggest treasures the world has to offer.  And the second, less apparent reason is that going to great deals of sites can make a difference for me career-wise.  The unseen work of a full-time travel blog writer is that I am continuously pitching myself to business as well as publications.  The much more countries as well as UNESCO sites I’ve been to, the much more I can brand myself as a travel expert, as well as that plays directly into my future profession opportunities.

So I’ve taken on an ambitious mission: I will go to 50 much more UNESCO world Heritage sites by the end of this year, bringing my overall to 101.

What are UNESCO world Heritage Sites?

UNESCO world Heritage sites are special areas selected by UNESCO’s world Heritage committee to be designated by their natural or cultural heritage.  getting world Heritage condition can make an huge difference for the countries holding them, as they get great deals of funding as well as great deals of visitors as a result.

There are currently 962 sites in total: 188 natural, 745 cultural, as well as 29 mixed.  Italy has the most (47), complied with by Spain (44) as well as China (43).  You can see the full listing here.

A great deal of my buddies are UNESCO aficionados — none much more so than Gary of Everything Everywhere.  He’s currently on a road trip in Germany going to all the German UNESCO sites he hasn’t yet seen.

My preferred sites So Far

In terms of natural sites, it’s difficult to beat the majestic, vibrant desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan.  Cappadocia in Turkey was likewise spectacular.

As for cultural, two instantly stand out: the Alhambra in Spain, for its architectural magnificence.  It’s one of the few monuments that almost brought me to tears.  That as well as the Old Bridge area of Mostar, Bosnia.  After discovering the history of Mostar as well as exactly how the dispute reverberates to today, I don’t see exactly how anybody couldn’t put it at the top of their list.

Lots of “historic centers” of cities that I have went to are on the listing — Florence, Dubrovnik, Prague, Quebec City.  A few of my favorites: Evora, Portugal, as well as the Old as well as new towns of Edinburgh.

How I will Do It

I’ve scoped out the destinations where I will be traveling with the end of the year — as well as I believe there’s a extremely great possibility that I can boost my overall count to 101.  Here’s where I’ll start:

I. England

I’m going to take advantage of living in London as well as seeing the UNESCO sites that I haven’t yet visited.  I believe a few day trips to Canterbury (for Canterbury Cathedral as well as its other churches) as well as Oxford (for Blenhelm Palace) are in order.  I likewise haven’t seen a few sites within London: Maritime Greenwich as well as Kew gardens (which I’ll put off up until later this spring, when the flowers begin blooming).

II. Benelux Sites

This May, I’ll be going to the Benelux region — Belgium, the Netherlands, as well as Luxembourg — as well as I plan to see much more sites there.  I’ve already seen La Grand Place of Brussels as well as the historic center of Brugge, however I certainly plan to add the Old Quarter of Luxembourg City, the 17th-century Canal sound of Amsterdam, the Defence Line of Amsterdam, as well as ideally I’ll have time to return to Brussels as well as add sites like Stoclet home as well as the Townhouses of Victor Horta.

III. Emilia-Romagna as well as Vicinity

I adore the region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, as well as I plan to spend a few weeks there this year.  Emilia-Romagna is rich with UNESCO sites: the city of Ferrara, the early Christian sites of Ravenna, as well as the cathedral in Modena.  Sandwiched in is the small nation of San Marino.

If I prolong my stay, I may inspect out the sites just outside Emilia-Romagna as well: the cities of Mantova (Mantua), Verona, as well anull