UNESCO: From Wars to Tourists

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Created after the vast destruction from two World Wars, UNESCO players have implemented initiatives to improve lives around the world through nation-wide educational and scientific programs. The organization promotes peace, sustainable development, and dignity through education, science, culture, and communication. It is dedicated to strengthening humanity with 194 Member States across the globe. Among other actions, they protect culturally relevant artifacts.

You’ve likely heard of many of the world heritage sites on this UNESCO list including the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Acropolis of Athens, Venice and its Lagoons, The Dolomites, Giants Causeway in Ireland, Tower of London, Yellowstone National Park, Olympic National Park, and the Statue of Liberty. They are bucket-list destinations, but they are also locations that require gentle tourism and protection.

Here is a growing list of the sites we've visited in our retirement journey so far.

ALBANIA

• Butrint

• Historic Centers of Gjirokaster and Berat

• Ohrid region: Natural & Cultural Heritage

ITALY

• Cathedral, Torre Civica, and Piazza Grande, Modena

• Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the System of the Palazzi dei Rolli

• Historic Centre of Florence

• Historic Centre of Naples

• Historic Centre of San Gimignano

• Medici Viillas and Gardens in Tuscany

• Piazza del Duomo, Pisa

• The Porticoes of Bologna

• The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera

• Trulli of Alberobello

• Val d’Orcia

• Venice and It’s Lagoon

• The Great Spa Towns of Europe

GREECE

• Old Town of Corfu

• The Acropolis

• Archeological Site of the Delphi

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

• Independence Hall

• Olympic National Park

• Redwood National and State Parks

FRANCE

• Nice-winter resort town of the Riviera

• Le Mont-Saint-Michel

• Beaches of D-Day landing

• Strasburg, Grande-Île and Naustadt

• The Great Spa Towns of Europe

SWITZERLAND

• Old City of Berne

• Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch

CZECHIA

• Historic Centre of Prague

HUNGARY

• Budapest

• The Great Spa Towns of Europe

AUSTRIA

• Historic Centre of Vienna

NORTH MACEDONIA

• Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region