TagUNESCO World Heritage Site

On the northern island of Luzon, the living cultural landscape of the Ifugao Rice Terraces stretches across the face of the Philippine Cordillera mountains. For over 2,000 years, the Ifugao people have passed the terraces down from generation to generation, alongside intricate irrigation and farming systems and ritual practices that remain virtually unchanged—an enduring representation

La Grand-Place, in Brussels, Belgium, showcases the “architectural jewel” that blends styles of Western art and architecture. While the earliest written reference of the spectacular market square dates to the 12th century, the plaza was destroyed in 1695 by the troops of Louis XIV. Under the supervision of the city magistrate, a rebuilding campaign restored

Latte stones are an example of ancient CHamoru architecture. The monoliths usually consist of two parallel rows of pillars comprising two stones: the haligi, the supporting stone erected vertically from the ground, and the tasa, a hemispherical capstone. These structures, unique to Guam and other neighboring islands in the Marianas, were used by the CHamorus

The port city of Cartagena de Indias—found on the northern coast of Colombia facing the Caribbean Sea—is home to the most extensive military fortification in South America. The colorful colonial city stands as an eminent example of Spanish military architecture in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Its strategic location made it an essential link

The Taj Mahal, a universally admired masterpiece, sits on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh, India. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built this white marble mausoleum between 1631 and 1648 in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Many consider the Taj Mahal to be the greatest Indo-Islamic architectural achievement, and it

Named a national park in 1951 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Serengeti National Park covers nearly 6,000 square miles of savannah in northern Tanzania. It is home to the great migration, the world’s largest animal migration, in which 2 million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras embark on a 600-mile trek across the

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates cultural and natural sites around the world that demonstrate exceptional value to humanity with the aim of protecting and preserving them. Today, these World Heritage Sites number 1,154. Starting this month, the World Tribune will highlight one UNESCO World Heritage Site in every issue. Venice