Scala dei Turchi

Discover Scala dei Turchi in Realmonte, Italy: "Stairs of the Turks", a chalky white cliff eroded conveniently into stairs, allowing for easy pillaging.

Goats of the Cingino Dam

Discover Goats of the Cingino Dam in Noasca, Italy: This Italian dam is covered in salt-hungry goats who manage to scale its almost vertical face.

Thermopolia of Pompeii

Discover Thermopolia of Pompeii in Pompeii, Italy: Ancient snack bar of the Roman Empire re-opened.

Aleister Crowley’s Abbey of Thelema

Discover Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema in Cefalù, Italy: Where Aleister Crowley taught magick in "La Chambre Des Cauchemars," his "Chamber of Nightmares.".

Casina delle Civette

Discover Casina delle Civette in Rome, Italy: A fairy tale castle in modern Rome.

Capuchin Monastery Catacombs

Discover Capuchin Monastery Catacombs in Palermo, Italy: Thousands of well-dressed mummies below a monastery.

Herculaneum

Discover Herculaneum in Ercolano, Italy: Pompeii's less famous neighbor is still revealing her secrets.

Neptune’s Grotto

Discover Neptune's Grotto in Alghero, Italy: Stalactites and stalagmites in a beautifully lit cave.

St. Valentine’s Skull

Discover St. Valentine's Skull in Rome, Italy: The skull of the patron saint of lovers lies in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin—maybe.

Francois Hennebique’s Concrete Manor

Discover Francois Hennebique's Concrete Manor in Bourg-la-Reine, France: The man who introduced reinforced concrete to the world demonstrated its genius by using it to build his own house.

La Maison à Vaisselle Cassée

Discover La Maison à Vaisselle Cassée in Louviers, France: A former milk-delivery driver and his wife turn their home into a glimmering mosaic.

Le Village des Automates

Discover Le Village des Automates in Saint-Cannat, France: An often-shuddersome journey into a low-tech, robotic themepark.

Mantin House

Discover Mantin House in Moulins, France: French Time Capsule-19th Century home revealed to the public.

Pont Julien

Discover Pont Julien in Bonnieux, France: From carts to cars, this leftover Roman bridge in France has managed to survive for centuries.

La Cave aux Sculptures

Discover La Cave aux Sculptures in Dénezé-sous-Doué, France: Figures of unknown origin carved into the surfaces of underground caves.

Arles’s Cryptoporticous

Discover Arles's Cryptoporticous in Arles, France: A unique underground structure dating back to the 1st century BC.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius.
260
ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.
474
iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.
499
iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history.
633
ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
135
v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
167
vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria).
252
vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
148
viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.
96
x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
166