NewsWar & Conflict
Sacred rock-hewn churches at risk as rebel forces take control of Ethiopia's Unesco World Heritage Site Lalibela
Historic town, a holy site for millions of Orthodox Christians, caught up in widening Tigray conflict
NewsSaudi Arabia
Ancient rock art complex Hima listed as Saudi Arabia's sixth Unesco World Heritage site
Global heritage body's decision boosts Saudi government's efforts to promote an open image of the country
NewsUnesco World Heritage Site
Liverpool loses Unesco world heritage status—'really disappointed' mayor plans appeal
Committee finds that construction projects have reduced cultural value
CommentVenice
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
NewsMuseums & Heritage
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
CommentVenice
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, yet over 11% of social housing stands empty
NewsTeotihuacan
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
NewsHeritage
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
NewsWar & Conflict
Ethiopian heritage under attack as reports of massacre emerge
Eyewitnesses say Eritrean military stormed an Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, killing hundreds
NewsAngkor
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
NewsHeritage
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
NewsConservation & Preservation
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
NewsUnesco World Heritage Site
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
NewsSaudi Arabia
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
NewsBiennials & festivals
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
ReviewPetra Museum
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
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
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
NewsHeritage
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
ArchiveMuseums & Heritage
The government of Saudi Arabia to spend $1.7bn on building 230 museums
Thirty international archaeology teams have been invited to the desert land
ArchiveCambodia
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
ArchiveCultural heritage
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.
ArchiveUnesco
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
ArchiveUnesco
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
ArchiveUnesco
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
ArchiveUnesco
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
ArchiveConservation & Preservation
Harnessing the tourist industry to help Mediterranean historical sites
The Getty's floating conference on the conservation of archaeological sites.
ArchiveUnesco
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
ArchiveUnesco
Number of sites protected by Unesco has increased, and campaign to raise money to protect them is launched
The safeguarding of these places of global, cultural importance will increase
CommentArchitecture
Liverpool should not be punished for its modern vision
The UK city has been stripped of its World Heritage status. Walter Aubrey Thomas, who designed some of its most famous buildings, would have objected, says his great-grandson
Ivan Macquisten