All UNESCO sites in Italy by region

We will take you on a fantastic journey through the wonders of Italy's 61 Unesco sites: 55 Cultural Sites and 6 Natural Sites. In addition, there are 20 Intangible Cultural Heritage Sites. Moreover, the number of UNESCO sites is constantly growing: just think that by 2020 there were 55 in total!

It is therefore an interminable journey that continually has great surprises and emotions in store, especially for those who are passionate about history, archaeology, special natural sites and, of course, UNESCO sites, which we will discover region by region following the alphabetical order!

Basilicata preserves one of Italy’s most iconic landscapes, where nature and history merge in a millennia-old continuum. Its UNESCO-listed site, the Sassi of Matera, stands as a masterpiece of rock-hewn architecture and one of the oldest examples of human settlement in the world.

The Sassi of Matera are a city carved into the rock, an ancient testimony to continuous settlement. The Sassi tell the story of a millennia-old dialogue between man and stone. A unique urban and landscape complex of extraordinary beauty, they became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Campania boasts an extraordinary concentration of UNESCO sites recognized for their universal value. Among them are Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, unique testimonies of Roman civilization; the Amalfi Coast, a harmonious blend of natural beauty and human culture; the Royal Palace of Caserta with the Caroline Aqueduct and the San Leucio Complex, symbols of Enlightenment urban planning.

The historic center of Naples, one of Europe’s oldest cities; and the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with Paestum, Velia and the Certosa di Padula, where art, nature and history coexist in perfect balance.

The Church of Santa Sofia in Benevento is a testimony of the Lombards presence in Italy, it was built in 758 AD by the Lombard Duke Arechi II. It has the same plan as the Church of Constantinople and fragments of two frescoes painted by pupils of the Benevento School of Miniatures.

The Royal Palace of Caserta was commissioned in 1751 by the King of Naples, Charles of Bourbon. It is the largest royal residence in the world, with a total area of about 47,000 square metres.

The village of San Leucio, commissioned by Ferdinand IV, King of Naples, housed a self-managed community of workers employed in the silk factory. The aim was to create a happy society.

The Acquedotto Carolino, also known as the Vanvitelli Aqueduct, is imposing and majestic and was built to supply both the village of San Leucio and the Royal Palace of Caserta.

Cilento is located between the Gulf of Salerno and the Gulf of Policastro, south of Naples, and includes the National Park and the Vallo di Diano, the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and the Certosa di Padula.

The spectacular nature of this area is due above all to the variety of its landscape, which is characterised by cliffs, villages, beaches and mountains, the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and the baroque Certosa di Padula. This is why Cilento became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and the first Italian UNESCO Geopark in 2010. 

Who hasn't heard of it? The Amalfi Coast is famous for its beautiful seascape and wonderful historical charm. The 16 municipalities that are part of it are: Amalfi, Atrani, Cava de' Tirreni, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Positano, Praiano, Raito, Ravello, Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, Scala, Tramonti, Vietri sul Mare. 

It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, and it would have been impossible not to include it, given the number of things to see.

Among the Italian UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1995 is the historic centre of Naples. The historical events that have taken place in Naples make it a city full of artistic resources. There are more than 200 churches.

The Gigli of Nola are finely decorated obelisks made of papier-mâché realised by craftsmen specialised in this art. Their beauty, originality and the tradition and culture they carry have made them a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site in 2013.

The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, described in great detail by Pliny the Elder, was frightening and devastating. But the lava that covered the towns at the foot of the Vulcano and the people has allowed us to find the remains almost intact after centuries.

Touring the archaeological sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata is like taking a dip into the past, and they could not fail to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Emilia-Romagna preserves a UNESCO heritage that weaves together art, spirituality and landscape. Highlights include the Historic Centre of Ferrara and the Po Delta, a harmonious example of Renaissance urban planning and human-shaped territory; Ravenna, famed for its breathtaking Early Christian and Byzantine mosaics; Modena, with its Cathedral, Civic Tower and Piazza Grande, a masterpiece of European Romanesque art.

Lastly the vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, recognized for their centuries-old wine culture reaching the region’s borders. Each site reflects the encounter between beauty and knowledge, roots and innovation.

The Cathedral, the Torre Civica and Piazza Grande in Modena have been a UNESCO site since 1997. They are testimonies of the European Romanesque style, featuring fantastic designs and finely crafted statues and capitals.

Ferrara and the Po Delta have been UNESCO sites since 1995 and 1999. Ferrara, a symbol of the Renaissance, is an example of architectural harmony and beauty.

The Po Delta, which the Este dukes transformed from a marshy area into a valuable agricultural estate, is famous for the palaces and villas of aristocratic families.

Ravenna has been a UNESCO site since 1996. Here you can visit the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Sant'Apollinare in Classe, the Baptistery of the Arians, the Neonian Baptistery and the Chapel of Sant'Andrea. Furthermore, Dante Alighieri is buried in Ravenna.

The Sasso Fratino Forest consists of approximately 800 hectares of woods. The beech forests here are among the oldest in Europe, almost 600 years old.

The Malatestiana Library of Cesena has been included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register since 2005, as the only humanist monastic library that has remained intact and accessible to citizens.

The Abbey of Santa Cecilia della Croara has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. It is a short distance from Bologna, in San Lazzaro di Savena, and was part of an ancient monastery. 

A continuous network of over 60 km that blends architecture and everyday life: the porticoes are public spaces, shelter, and urban identity.

A symbol of Bolognese hospitality and sociality, the Porticoes of Bologna have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.

Bologna has been a UNESCO Creative City of Music since 2006 for being home to great musicians such as Mozart, Rossini and Liszt.

The Chiusa in Casalecchio di Reno has been a UNESCO site since 2010. It is a medieval hydraulic work, the oldest in Europe still operating.  

Parma has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015, both for its gastronomic tradition and for the presence of EFSA and Alma, an international cooking school.

The Po Delta Park Reserve has been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (MAB) of the Po Delta since 2015.

If you want to admire the spectacle offered by 10,000 pink flamingos, you can't miss visiting this place inhabited by around 360 bird species.

The course of the River Po has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. It is an area of great value because it is a mixture of villages, beaches and riverine forests. 

Friuli Venezia Giulia embraces UNESCO sites that embody the meeting of cultures, peoples and landscapes. Among them are Aquileia, an ancient Roman city and cradle of early Christianity, renowned for its magnificent Early Christian mosaics; Cividale del Friuli, where Lombard heritage tells the story of Europe’s early identity.

Lastly the Friulian Dolomites, a natural wonder of striking beauty and primal power. A land where history, nature and spirituality coexist in perfect harmony.

Cividale del Friuli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it was founded by Julius Caesar and became the first Longobard duchy.

Aquileia has been a World Heritage Site since 1998 because it used to be a seat of the Roman Empire and a centre of Christianity. Today you can visit the evocative archaeological areas and the Basilica, rich in frescoes and mosaics dating back to different periods.

Palmanova has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017. It is famous for its nine-pointed star plan and is thus known as "the Starry City". 

The Friulian Dolomites are ideal for those who love hiking because they have paths that lead from one refuge to another, creating suggestive itineraries. 

Palù di Livenza is one of the oldest pile-dwelling sites in northern Italy and is located in the province of Pordenone.

Lazio preserves an extraordinary heritage that reflects the deep connection between civilization, art, and nature. Among its UNESCO-recognized sites are Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este in Tivoli, masterpieces of Roman and Renaissance genius, and the Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, which reveal the life and beliefs of an ancient civilization.

To these is added Vatican City, the heart of Christianity and a treasure chest of universal masterpieces. A mosaic of cultures and eras that continues to inspire the world.

The "Queen of Roads," a great Roman route that unites regions and centuries, through urban areas and rural landscapes. A route that tells the story of infrastructure, power, and trade in the ancient Mediterranean. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2024.

The historic centre of Rome is one of the most important UNESCO sites in Italy. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, and it couldn't have been otherwise, given the presence of countless works of art such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere and so on.

Villa Adriana has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It is a complex of majestic monuments perfectly designed to form a perfect architectural structure.

Villa d'Este has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.It represents the perfect combination of architecture and hydraulic engineering: its fountains make it stunning and absolutely unmissable.

The Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 and bear witness to the presence of the Etruscans in Lazio.

La Macchina di Santa Rosa is the symbol of the festival held every year on 3 September in Viterbo. It is a 5-ton illuminated tower about 30 metres high, carried in procession on the shoulders of the Facchini di Santa Rosa, about a hundred men who move through very narrow streets.

Liguria enchants visitors with its landscape suspended between sea and mountains, and with sites that UNESCO has recognized for their unique character. Among them are the Cinque Terre, Portovenere, and the islands of Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto, where nature intertwines with centuries of human craftsmanship to create a harmony of extraordinary beauty.

Added to these is the Historic Centre of Genoa, the largest in Europe, with its Palazzi dei Rolli, symbols of the city’s elegance and maritime power. A land that celebrates the art of harmony between earth, water, and light.

Portovenere and the Cinque Terre have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1996. These small villages overlooking the sea are an example of history and nature mixed together to create a breathtaking landscape.

The Palazzi dei Rolli are highly prestigious aristocratic palaces located in the narrow streets of Genoa. 

Mount Beigua Natural Park is the largest natural area in Liguria, where the sea meet and the mountains. It has been a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2015.

Lombardy preserves a heritage that bridges innovation and memory, nature and spirituality. Among its UNESCO-listed sites are Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper, and the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, sanctuaries where faith and art blend with the landscape.

Also noteworthy are The Longobards in Italy: Places of Power, including the monastic complex of San Salvatore – Santa Giulia in Brescia, and the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps, remarkable traces of ancient life. A journey through time that tells of Lombardy’s enduring talent for creating beauty.

Mantua and Sabbioneta have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2008 for being symbols of the Italian and European Renaissance.

The Rock Engravings National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and is made up of complexes of rocks with prehistoric and protohistoric engravings in the Val Camonica. 

The Dominican Church and Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie and The Last Supper have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.

The architectural structure, built in two stages, has survived several restorations and bombings and houses one of the most famous paintings by the most brilliant artist of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. 

The village of Crespi d'Adda has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, a perfectly preserved workers' village built between the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. As well as being spiritual places and symbols of the Christian faith, they represent the integration of nature and architecture.

The Bernina Express is the little train that connects northern and southern Europe across the Alps: a spectacular journey and therefore a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Monte San Giorgio, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, bears witness to the marine life present here some 240 million years ago. 

The Places of Power have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. The site consists of a series of locations that witness the presence of the Lombards in Italy.

There are 111 pile-dwelling sites, and 19 of them are in Italy. In Lombardy there are 10, and they represent a prehistoric period ranging from the Neolithic to the Iron Age.

The city walls of Bergamo are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, they are part of Venetian fortifications dating back to the 17th century. 

The Marche region reveals a heritage where nature, art, and spirituality coexist in authentic balance. Its UNESCO-listed site is Urbino, with its Renaissance historic centre — a sublime example of the ideal city and cradle of Italian humanism. The Ducal Palace, with its harmonious architecture and the collections of the Montefeltro Dukes, embodies the encounter between culture, power, and beauty.

Completing the picture, the surrounding landscapes of the Marche, with their soft hills and clear light, reflect the same harmony that inspired the great masters of the Renaissance.

The Historic Centre of Urbino became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. It still feels like walking through the city's streets as it used to be in the 15th century.

Piedmont preserves a heritage that tells of centuries of creativity, art, and spirituality. Among its UNESCO World Heritage Sites are the Savoy Residences, which surround Turin like a crown of Baroque elegance; the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, devotional routes set amidst nature; and the Vineyard Landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, where winemaking culture and rolling hills blend in perfect harmony.

Added to these are the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps, evidence of some of the earliest forms of human settlement. A region that seamlessly unites tradition and innovation, shaped by the grace of its hills.

The Savoy Residences have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. They represent the Savoy power, with the fortifications built by Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy.

Landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014 for their viticulture, the landscape they offer and the history handed down by the vine pollen found there in the 5th century BC.

Ivrea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site SINCE 2018, and it's an ideal representation of a modern industrial city. It was built in the 20th century by great Italian architects and town planners to house Olivetti employees.

Puglia holds a heritage of rare authenticity, where history meets the light of the Mediterranean. Its UNESCO-listed sites include the famous Trulli of Alberobello, extraordinary dry-stone constructions symbolizing rural ingenuity, and the majestic Castel del Monte, Frederick II’s masterpiece — a perfect fusion of geometric harmony and mystery.

Also part of the list is the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo, a place of ancient worship and deep spirituality. Three faces of a region that unites earth and sky, reason and faith, stone and light.

Trulli of Alberobello has been a UNESCO site in Italy since 1996. They are drystone cottages with conical roofs built to house landowners and workers. 

Castel del Monte has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was commissioned by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia and is a symbol of geometric and architectural perfection. It is considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture.

Sardinia preserves an ancient heritage that speaks of stone, sea, and primordial civilizations. Its UNESCO-listed site, Su Nuraxi di Barumini, is an extraordinary nuragic complex and the highest expression of the island’s prehistoric culture.

The massive dry-stone towers reveal the mastery and spirituality of a people able to converse with nature and stand resilient through time. A symbolic place of authentic Sardinia, where the strength of origins meets the poetry of the landscape.

Prehistoric necropolises carved into the rock, scattered throughout the island and rich in symbols. An archaeological heritage that illuminates the rites, art, and spirituality of the Nuragic and pre-Nuragic communities. This is the most recent addition to the UNESCO World Heritage list, having been inscribed only since 2025.

The village of Barumini has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. It is the most important archaeological site in Sardinia, bearing witness to an ancient prehistoric village dating back to the Bronze Age. The nuraghi, cone-shaped defence towers, are still visible.

Sicily is a mosaic of cultures, art, and landscapes that tell stories spanning thousands of years. Among its UNESCO-recognized sites are the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, an icon of the classical world; Syracuse and the Rock Necropolis of Pantalica, witnesses of Greek and prehistoric civilizations; and the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, masterpieces of artistic rebirth after the 1693 earthquake.

Added to these are Mount Etna, a symbol of the Mediterranean’s natural power, and the Arab-Norman Monuments of Palermo, Cefalù, and Monreale, where East and West merge into a single vision of beauty. An island that never ceases to amaze — where every stone tells a story.

The late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Don't miss the area that includes Noto, Caltagirone, Catania, Militello Val di Catania, Modica, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli.

Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, Syracuse, given its enviable location, has been dominated by the Byzantines, Bourbons, Arabs, Normans and Aragonese.

The Aeolian Islands have a distinctive morphology, shaped over the centuries by volcanoes, wind and sea. This is why they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

The Arab-Norman route in Palermo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The monuments that exemplify the result of these two styles in Palermo are: 

the Royal Palace or Norman Palace; the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral; the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti; Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio or della Martorana; Church of San Cataldo; the Zisa Castle; the Admiral's Bridge.

The site also includes the Cathedral and Cloister of Monreale and the Cathedral and Cloister of Cefalù.

A late Roman residence renowned for the world's best-preserved mosaics, the Villa Romana del Casale is a masterpiece revealing the luxury, taste, and technique of the Imperial Age. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Tuscany embodies the perfect harmony between art, landscape, and the human spirit. Its UNESCO World Heritage Sites bear witness to a legacy of universal value: Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and symbol of Italian creativity; Pisa, with its celebrated Piazza del Duomo and Leaning Tower; Siena, a masterpiece of medieval urban design; and San Gimignano, whose towers rise like a dream in stone.

Added to these are Pienza, the ideal city envisioned by Pope Pius II, the Val d’Orcia, a landscape shaped by human hands and light, and the Medici Villas and Gardens, sublime examples of harmony between nature and architecture. A region where beauty itself becomes a universal language.

The Val d'Orcia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 because of its enchanting landscapes, delightful Renaissance villages and world-famous wines.

The city of Pisa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 due to the value of its artistic and architectural heritage dating back to the Middle Age.

The historic centre of Florence has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. It could not have been otherwise, given the urban and architectural layout of the city, which seems to have stopped in time at the Renaissance period.

Siena has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987: its historic centre is an ensemble of artistic and architectural works from the 13th century and the Renaissance.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, Pienza is the ideal Renaissance town in terms of urban planning.

The Medici villas and gardens represent the artistic and cultural splendor of the Medici family. There are 14 villas and gardens in all, and they have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

Umbria, the green heart of Italy, preserves a heritage that blends spirituality, art, and nature. Its UNESCO World Heritage Site is Assisi, with the Basilica of Saint Francis and the other Franciscan sites — an extraordinary ensemble celebrating the universal message of peace and harmony between humanity and creation.

The frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue, and Simone Martini tell, through color and light, the birth of modern art and the strength of faith made visible. A place that is not only a pilgrimage destination but also an inner journey into beauty and silence.

Assisi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its direct connection with the Franciscan cult based on values of peace and tolerance.

Veneto holds an extraordinary heritage that reflects centuries of art, ingenuity, and a unique relationship with water. Among its UNESCO-listed sites stand Venice and its Lagoon, an unparalleled masterpiece of balance between nature and civilization; Verona, the city of love and stone, where Roman and medieval heritage coexist in perfect harmony; and Vicenza and the Palladian Villas, timeless symbols of Renaissance architectural perfection.

Added to these are Padua Urbs Picta, with its 14th-century fresco cycles by Giotto and his school, and the Dolomites, one of the world’s most breathtaking natural landscapes. A region where humanity and nature speak the same language of eternal beauty.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Venice and its lagoon certainly need no introduction. It began to be populated during the Middle Ages and represents the possibility of man's coexistence with water.

A unique cultural landscape, shaped by hillside vineyards and small villages. The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are a place where agricultural tradition and winemaking expertise create a mosaic of beauty and wisdom. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.

Padua Botanical Garden, built in 1545 to cultivate medicinal plants, is an example of medical science and garden architecture advancement. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

In 2021, the city of Padua gained another recognition. In fact, the 14th-century fresco cycles by Giotto in several of the city's buildings (Scrovegni Chapel, Chiesa degli Eremitani, Palazzo della Ragione, Loggia dei Carraresi, and Duomo Baptistery) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

A World Heritage Site since 2000, Verona has always been a military stronghold rich in remains from the Roman, Lombard and Carolingian dominions. 

Also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List are Montecatini, a place already appreciated by the ancient Romans for the properties of its waters, which has become one of the Great SpaTowns of Europe (UNESCO sites), and the Italian beech forests in several locations, including Potenza, Cosenza and Viterbo.