Unesco World Heritage: Matera ranks first on TripAdvisor

In the special ranking compiled by TripAdvisor, a global player in the travel sector, Matera ranks first, with the "Sassi" representing Italian UNESCO Heritage sites. Matera is in sixth place worldwide, while Angkor Wat in Cambodia dominates the global ranking.

The special “TripAdvisor” ranking of UNESCO World Heritage sites, finds Matera, the “Cities of Sassi” in first place in Italy and sixth in the global ranking. Matera is the only Italian UNESCO World Heritage site in the top ten worldwide. The rankings of the most appreciated UNESCO World Heritage sites by international travelers in Italy and around the world are based on the average review scores for attractions declared UNESCO World Heritage sites present on TripAdvisor.

The 10 Italian UNESCO World Heritage sites according to TripAdvisor

1. Sassi di Matera;
2. Monreale Cathedral (PA);
3. Historical center of Siena;
4. Basilica Patriarcale di Santa Maria Assunta in Aquileia, UD;
5. Val d’Orcia (Tuscany);
6. San Francesco Basilica in Assisi;
7. Amalfi Coast;
8. Pompeii archaeological site;
9. Historical center of Florence;
10. Venice and its lagoon.

Looking at the ranking, one notices the predominance of Tuscany with three sites among the top ten but also the scant representation of northern sites, represented here by the Aquileia Basilica, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the Venice Lagoon.

The Amalfi Coast and the Pompeii Ruins are in the latter part of the ranking despite the large number of tourists attracted by these two sites every year. Matera, whose beauty is its originality is beyond doubt, also benefits from its special position as “Capital of Culture 2019“.

The 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites worldwide according to TripAdvisor travelers

1. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
   Despite the risk of being overwhelmed by the enormous number of temples in Siem Reap, you cannot miss Angkor Wat. To discover all its fascinating aspects, the curiosities about its construction process and history, including that of Cambodia itself, it is worth visiting with a specialized guide. The best views are at dawn or sunset, when the crowds thin out and the light reveals the full splendor of the site.
2. Taj Mahal, India
   Get ready to be moved when you see it for the first time! Visited by more than 8 million people each year, this mausoleum is a true monument to love, built by Shah Jahan during his mourning for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
3. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, China
   This section of the Great Wall of China was originally built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi dynasty but it was during the Ming dynasty, under the supervision of General Xu Da, that the current wall was begun, on the foundations of the previous one. Connected to the Juyongguan pass to the west and the Gubeikou gate to the east, it is 7-8 meters high and surrounded by forests and streams, making it even more enchanting. The Mutianyu section is the largest in size and quality of the entire Great Wall.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru
   You can visit it in one day traveling from Aguas Calientes or immerse yourself completely by hiking the Inca trails for at least 3 days; in any case, once you arrive at one of the most incredible sites in the world, you will be speechless! The Inca citadel from the 15th century located on top of a 2,400-meter-high mountain.
5. Iguazu National Park, Brazil/Argentina
   This vast lush park, inhabited by rare bird species, pumas, tapirs, monkeys, and other wild animals, is famous for its waterfalls among the largest and most spectacular in the world, the Iguazu Falls, extending for kilometers and reaching heights of up to 70 meters. Argentinians claim their side is the best, but Brazilians say the same about theirs!
6. Sassi di Matera, Italy
   A breathtaking place where history, from the Neolithic to today, is literally carved into the rocks and landscape. At first glance, it may seem like an ancient abandoned city with old buildings almost piled on each other, but as you begin to explore it, walking along its steep and winding streets, you discover stories of incredible human interventions over the centuries, from caves transformed into homes to 13th-century frescoes and the magnificent Cathedral.
7. Auschwitz Birkenau, PolandBuilt by the Nazis in 1940, Auschwitz-Birkenau has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. Although the exact number of victims is unknown, many Jews, Poles, Russians, and Roma died here. The site is divided into several camps including Auschwitz I, the first and oldest (with prisoner numbers fluctuating between 15,000 and 20,000), and Auschwitz II, Birkenau (where more than 90,000 people were imprisoned in 1944).
8. Old City of Jerusalem, IsraelWith its narrow, winding alleys, this historic part of the city is full of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim places of worship, including the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, and the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.
9. Historical districts of Istanbul, TurkeyThis World Heritage Site includes structures such as Sarayburnu, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Santa Irene Church, Zeyrek Mosque, Suleiman Mosque, Little Hagia Sophia, and the Walls of Constantinople.
10. Historic Center of Krakow, PolandThe city of merchants dating back to the 13th century hosts Europe’s largest market and numerous historic buildings, churches, and palaces with magnificent interiors, 14th-century fortifications, ancient synagogues, Jagiellonian University, and the Basilica of Santa Maria where Polish kings are buried.

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