Your chosen UNESCO World Heritage site by Fisher, James

Aleppo

2023-11-19 15:31:55 UTC

The Ancient city of Aleppo holds great value in terms of World heritage as it contains a vast variety of histories of various civilizations from different parts of the world, having been successively ruled by the Hittites, Assyrians, Akkadians, Greeks, Romans, Umayyads, Ayyubids, Mamelukes and Ottomans.

Aleppo is therefore home to a diverse and rich range of historical sites, for example the citadel, the 12^th century Great Mosque as well as the public baths which all form a “unique urban fabric”. The Citadel in particular is a site with rich history, as it contains architecture from various cultures and civilizations for example the remnants of 6^th century Christian buildings as well as the mosques and madrasas relating to the Ayyubid and mameluke development of the city

Unfortunately, there have been fundamental changes within the 30 years before Aleppo was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1986, including the destruction of buildings as well as the development of tall new buildings such as the eight storey hotel in the Bab al-Faraj area. Preservation is therefore key in order to avoid disturbing the original and historic landscape of the city.

The Website outlines how the Ancient City of Aleppo qualifies as a World Heritage site under Criterion iii and iv. In terms of Criteria iii, Aleppo represents and pays “exceptional testimony” to the variety of civilizations that have occupied it, due to the vast Architectural remnants of the diverse groups of occupants.

In terms of Criterion IV , Aleppo is “an outstanding example of an Ayyubid 12^th century city” due to its military fortifications which were built following the success of Salah El-Din against the crusaders, again representing a significant stage in human history. (The crusades)

Historic City of Vienna

2023-11-19 16:22:05 UTC

Vienna is rich in architecture, including Baroque castles and gardens, and played a leading role in the development of European music and Viennese Classicism, being home at times to many prominent composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. It had both early Celtic and Roman settlers and was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Although the medieval city walls were demolished in the second half of the 19^th century, the inner city still contains multiple medieval buildings and churches.

In accordance with the selection criteria, Vienna’s urban and architectural qualities depict the “interchange of values thought the second development” and played a prominent role in the key periods of European culture and political development. Furthermore, it has been “universally acknowledged” to be the musical capital of Europe since the 16^th century.

However, in 2017, Vienna was listed as being in danger due to multiple high-rise building projects in place, threatening the “outstanding universal value of the site”.

Normandy D-Day Beaches

2023-11-19 16:43:02 UTC

80km of coastline which covers the 5 landing areas of the allied D-Day landings in 1944. Bearing many traces of the amphibious operation with visible archaeological and underwater remains. It is also a site of great symbolic significance as it represents a universal message for freedom and peace and the fight against tyranny. It transcends national boundaries and has a legacy that must be protected for future generations. I believe it best aligns with criteria 6 of the UNESCO world heritage criteria

Avebury

2023-11-19 18:32:03 UTC

Avebury is already a UNESCO World Heritage site, but in association with Stonehenge, rather than its own site. It meets at least 3 of the selection criteria. It deserves to be a priority for preservation as it has already been damaged as a site. Many of the stones are missing as they have been taken either to be used for building work in the surrounding area or have been stolen. In addition to this, roads have been built through the centre of the Neolithic stone circles, meaning other stones have been removed and this has damaged the site.

All the Unesco Sites in Ukraine

2023-11-20 01:19:38 UTC

Although not a single site in particular, Unesco has identified damage to 329 of its World Heritage sites in the country since the Russian invasion. Russian attempts to destroy Ukrainian cultural heritage, undermine their sovereignty and ease Putin's imperial expansion. Special efforts must thus be made by the organisation to protect these landmarks and thwart Russia's attempts to wipe out Ukrainian Culture.

Ruins of Cyrene

2023-11-20 03:02:38 UTC

In 2016, the Libyan Civil War caused UNESCO to list all 5 World Heritage sites in the nation as 'in danger'. Though a ceasefire was reached in 2020, fighting resumed at the end of 2022 and continues today.

Though multiple Hellenistic, and later Roman, cities existed across North Africa, Cyrene occupied an important position in the area. It served as a seat for the dynasty of the Battiads before becoming a part of Ptolemaic Egypt, an "important Jewish centre", and part of the Roman Republic. The Archeological Site of Cyrene fulfills criteria ii), iii) and vi), while the threat of damage through military action in the area means it is a priority for protection.

Minoan Palatial Centre of Knossos

2023-11-20 08:42:32 UTC

The Minoan civilisation developed over the course of two millennia (2800-1100 BC), with monumental architecture, ground-breaking water and drainage systems, art, and equal participation of men and women in religious and social life. These Palatial centres were also the centre of social transformation from primitive-urban communities of the Early bronze Age to a multifaceted and hierarchical society; with developments in all aspects of life emerging from the gradual centralisation of power and accumulation of wealth.

How does it meet the UNESCO World Heritage selection criteria?

-It was the main witness to the Minoan civilisation (a great Bronze Age maritime power- influence in the East Mediterranean)

-First organised form of exercising foreign diplomacy in the Aegean, relations with Egypt, Syria etc

-Connection to myths which still have an influence on arts, literature, music etc

-Monumental architecture, complex internal organisation- passed into ancient Greek memory as the ‘Labyrinth’ (mythology e.g. Minotaur, Daedalus and his son Icarus, abduction of Europa by Zeus in form of a bull)