Italy has 45 UNESCO world heritage sites with 18 in northern Italy and one that includes monuments throughout Italy, Longobards in Italy - Places of the Power. Northern Italy's world heritage sites include city centers, archaeological sites, and natural sites. Sites are listed in the order in which they were inscribed by UNESCO, starting with Italy's first world heritage site in 1979, the rock drawings of Valcamonica.
More Italian UNESCO Sites: Central Italy | Southern Italy | Sicily and Sardinia
1. Valcamonica - Rock Drawings
Val Camonica Rock Carving © James Martin
The prehistoric petroglyphs of the Valcamonica was Italy's first UNESCO World Heritage site, designated in 1979. La Valle Delle Incisioni, the Valley of Engravings, is the largest collection of prehistoric rock carvings in Europe with more than 140,000 petroglyphs done over a period of 8,000 years. In addition to prehistoric sites, the beautiful Valcamonica is dotted with picturesque medieval villages and has many hiking trails.
2. Milan - Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Last Supper
The Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie with Leonardo da Vinci's famous Last Supper painting is a top sight in Milan. If you're going be sure to book tickets ahead (see link above for visiting information). Both the convent and the painting are from the 15th century.
3. Venice and the Venetian Lagoon
Basilica San Marco © Martha Bakerjian
Venice is one of Italy's most popular and romantic cites. Built on 118 islands, the city of Venice was chosen as an architectural masterpiece with many important works of art. The Doge's Palace is the most impressive building in Venice and Basilica San Marco is not to be missed but you'll find interesting architecture in all parts of Venice.
4. Vicenza and Palladian Villas of the Veneto
Vicenza, east of Venice, is the heart of the Veneto region and was an important city from the 15th through 18th centuries. Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio designed many of Vicenza's buildings in the 16th century classical Roman architecture. The Basilica Palladiana is considered by many to be Palladio's masterpiece. The Palladian Villas in the countryside, also designed by Palladio, were built as summer homes for well-to-do Venetians and some of them are now open to the public. See Veneto Map for location.5. Crespi d'Adda
Crespi d'Adda in Capriate San Gervasio in the Lombardy region was chosen as "an outstanding example of the 19th- and early 20th-century company towns built in Europe and North America by enlightened industrialists to meet the workers' needs". Built in 1875, the town, and factory it was built around, prospered until the depression of 1929 when the factory was sold to a larger company for financial reasons. Today the factory is closed but the town still functions.6. Ferrara and the Po Delta
Castello Estense de Ferrara © James Martin
Ferrara, on the Po Delta in Emilia Romagna, is a walled Renaissance city with lots of great examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. A medieval castle dominates the old town and its 12th century cathedral is a good example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. During the Renaissance, Ferrara was an intellectual and artistic center, designed according to the late fifteenth century principles of the "ideal city". Ferrara holds it Palio contest May and one weekend is devoted to flag throwing Stay near the castle at Hotel Annunziata.
7. Ravenna - Early Christian Monuments
Ravenna Mosaics © James Martin
Ravenna, also known as the city of mosaics, offers the visitor a unique look at religious mosaic arts from the 5th and 6th centuries. Eight of Ravenna's monuments and churches from the 5th-6th centuries are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, most because of their spectacular early Christian mosaics. During this period, Ravenna was the western capital of the Roman Empire and of the Byzantine Empire in Europe.
8. Padua - Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden © James Martin
9. Modena - Cathedral and Monuments
Modena Cathedral © Martha Bakerjian
Modena's 12th century Duomo or Cathedral and Gothic bell tower, Torre della Ghirlandina, are in the historic center in Piazza Grande. These three monuments make up Modena's world heritage site. The cathedral is one of the best Romanesque churches in Europe. Modena is also the home of Luciano Pavorotti, balsamic vinegar, and exotic car makers like Maserati and Ferrari, who just opened the Enzo Ferrari House Museum in Modena.
10. Portovenere and Cinque Terre
Portovenere © James Martin
Portovenere and the Cinque Terre are picturesque villages on the coast near La Spezia. Portovenere, on the Gulf of Poets, has a harbor lined with brightly colored houses and narrow medieval streets leading up the hill from the ancient city gate to a castle. Cinque Terre, five lands, are five car-free villages connected by hiking trails, trains, and ferries.
