The Tiber will become a Unesco World Heritage Site in the stretch of river that runs through the historic center of Rome. The candidacy of the Tiber as a Unesco World Heritage Site had been launched four years ago, in 2020. And, having cashed in a first important result, the goal now is to make the entire Tiber a Unesco heritage property with the a...

The mosaics of a mediaeval cathedral in Sicily, built by the island's last Norman king, are set to regain their golden lustre thanks to careful restoration work and new lighting. The Monreale Cathedral, erected in 1174–89 near Palermo on the orders of King William II, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that combines Western, Islamic and Byzantine styl...

The Alta Murgia National Park has been officially declared a UNESCO Geopark, becoming the 12th Italian Geopark, joining other protected areas of great value in Italy. The official announcement was made by the president of the nature authority, Francesco Tarantini, who emphasised that this recognition represents an important step forward for the val...

I had the opportunity to meet two Tucson, AZ chefs, Matthew Cable and Devon Sanner of restaurant Zio Peppe, during their recent visit to Parma. The two Americans were touring the city of Parma for a very specific reason: Tucson and Parma, over a decade ago, were awarded the international distinction of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, making the...

Mantua, located in the heart of the Po Valley, nestled between the calm waters of the lakes formed by the Mincio River that embrace it like a precious jewel, is a city that seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale. Known for its rich history, featuring such illustrious dynasties as the Gonzaga, Mantua is a city where every corner tells a story of...

Italy has been successful in its bid to have the Via Appia Antica included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the United Nations' cultural body announced on Saturday. The “Via Appia. Regina viarum” candidacy of the ancient Roman road, approved during the UNESCO summer session in New Dehli, was the first such bid promoted directly by the Italian cul...

The Swiss get all the credit for the Alps, which is a shame, because the Italian Alps are ridiculously pretty. They’re particularly spectacular in the Dolomites, a range of 18 peaks in the northeast of Italy that UNESCO says “are widely regarded as being among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world.” That seemed like reason enough to...

The Board of Directors of the Italian Commission for UNESCO, chaired by Franco Bernabè, has approved the candidacy of the "Landscape of the Chianti Classico Villa-Farm System" for preliminary verification, with a view to being listed as a World Heritage Site. The candidacy, which covers seven municipalities between Florence and Siena over an area o...

The Euganean Hills in Veneto have been inscribed on the List of World Biodiversity Reserves: exemplary places where economic, social and cultural development is sustainable and benefits from respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity.  The Unesco Mab World Reserves network consists of 748 sites around the world, 20 of which are in Italy. They are l...

In a colorful and joyous evening sponsored by the Italian Language Department on June 7, Italian Night at West Orange High School celebrated not only Italian UNESCO sites, but the retirement of beloved Italian teacher Vincenza Amabile. “This year’s Italian Night showcased Italy’s rich cultural heritage by featuring its UNESCO World Heritage sites,”...