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I spent a week in Coimbra in June 2008. The reason of my stay was a scientific conference organized by the University and it took place in the lecture halls of new parts of the University; new means from 20th century. Thus, I had great opportunity to explore and enjoy the site very intensively. The local organizers also did for us guided tours to older parts of the University such as library, and the Museum of science - Chemistry Laboratory. Besides, we visited botany garden (photo), the cathedral and other parts that are now included to WHS. I had great memories on my stay. I could not say that the individual monuments are unique (for example, I like modern campus of Sapienza University in Rome more than austere buildings in Coimbra, and the cathedral is a small sister to Santiago de Compostela church), but the entire ensamble together vith the "spirit" of the University makes the Coimbra special and worth inscription.

I visited the site by train from Lausanne as late afternoon-evening trip, and I was only person walking through the wineyards, it was in July 2012. I enjoyed my walk and beatiful views as well, although I still do not fully understand OUV of all those cultural landscapes related to cultivation of wine. Anyway, the place is special and worth-visiting if one is in the area of Lac Leman.

I visited Avila in March 2019 after spending a couple of days in Segovia and found the first impression quite stunning. The city walls in the evening sun are quite a site and Avila clearly deserves its WHS status just for them alone. The walls are mostly built between the 11th and 14th century but seem based on little known older structures. They really look in perfect shape and they are repaired all the time. This is great but one wonders how much material has been exchanged in the process. 

 Beyond the walls the eastern area of the city is also very impressive and has a certain time traveling quality: The area within the walls around the Cathedral and the churches just outside the eastern wall. In the western half of the cities’ rectangle you have the strange phenomenon that you see in many Spanish cities: The streets follow the medial street plan but the buildings are all quite new or so modified the the old structure became unrecognizable.

The second great seller for Avila beside its walls is its local mystic Saint Teresa of Avila who lived in the 16th century and who was obviously of great importance for the Spanish counter reformation.

The original nomination includes four extra muros churches. Of these San Vincente to the cities north east turns out to be a real jewel, less overwhelming but more harmonious then the great cathedral. San Pedro is also nice but artistically less rich. San …

Without thinking much about it this is the WORST site in Poland at the moment, and they are trying to add ANOTHER mine to the world heritage this year! (and not just Poland but Indonesia, Germany/Czechia with the Ore Mountain Range...when are we done inscribing all the mines!) Again this is one of those that sneaked through the review process and was overruled by the state parties - basically wasting the consulting process from the start. Maybe at one point in the future they can just sit together and decide which sites they LIKE and then we don't need a lengthy expensive process for reviewing them. Having said that, when I rate a site low the review becomes more of an old cat lady rant so I will try to keep it to a minimum:

So I arrived here just after it was inscribed. I would probably not have taken the extra few hours from my Czechia trip to reach it. There was no "UNESCO" sign anywhere but that was the only word I understood from the Polish guide. I saw an English tour inside but they were a larger group and the museum wouldn't start one just for me an hour earlier when I arrived. There is actually little history about the mine you need to know. The first part of the tour just tells you about how the mines work, equipment, steam power, yes I admit for someone who doesn't visit many this can be delightful - …

I take Naumburg cathedral as the epitome of central-european church from first half and mid of13th century. The monumental building has two choirs, two rood screens, one crypta, four towers, adjacent cloister. The highlight is obviously the decorations of the west choir (12 statues of founders, rood screen, floral decoration, stained glass windows). I loved not only Ekkehard and Uta, but all the sculptures and stone carvings of the western choir from ca. 1250. The floral decoration is simply beautiful and naturalistic (see PHOTO) - the leaves seem to be in the wind - that is quite typical for this period of early gothic in central/eastern Europe and can be seen also in several churches in Czechia, but the origin of the floral decoration can be found obviously in France (Reims, Amiens, Paris). I could see other works of Naumburg`s master in Meissen cathedral. The Naumburg work is however the best one.

I visited Naumburg and several places around ca. 15 years ago, I could see also sites that were included in one of the trials to enter the list. Well, all the process was a little bit odd, but the result that only cathedral became WHS is positive.

Visited again in August 2019: I enjoyed my secon visit to the cathedral a lot and spent inside around two hours... I was also surpprised how pleasant and nicely reconstructed all the historical center of Naumburg is.

My visit was a few years ago so it's not all in my memory anymore. After being added to the Tentative list in 2019 I can finally call it the "trinity of odd inscription attempts" KL has, the Quartz "looks like the back of a dragon" Ridge and FRIM "fake rain forest" Selangor Forest Park being the other two now joined by the "Valley of Hope". I wouldn't have visited if this not JUST next door to the FRIM park and it is somehow recommend by expats in KL. Leprosy isn't exactly the hottest thing to seek out when you are on holiday, but the history of the hospital (built in 1930 by the Brits) and presentation inside the Open Air Museum is quite interesting. I still don't think there is any chance of this becoming WHS though. What worries me more is that the site is using crowdfunding to survive and collect donations for the surviving patients. I don't mean to see I have a cruel heart in any way but the site's inscription attempt is more of a cry for attention, and instead Malaysia could inscribe some of its amazing marine space like Sipadan, Tenggol, Tioman (but obviously not Redang), Bako NP or the turtle reserves.

So what can you see inside the museum? Old equipment, old beds, old replacement limps, old photos. Only a handful of the old buildings have survived, with the area surrounding it now mainly used for garden centers. It's best to have …

Twenty or so years back my aunt and I had visited Reims. We had been to the cathedral and visited the city center. But we skipped on the hills where the Champagne houses are; it's not in walking distance from downtown and at the time it wasn't a tourist attraction.

This time we skipped past the city center and went directly up the hill. It's really impressive when you pull in. The Champagne houses are large estates, half factory, half palace.

It's interesting how the marketing influenced the architecture and the presentation. When you visit the Pommery cellars for instance, you will see plenty of art on exhibition. While this may seem like a fancy tick, this is part of the original marketing conceived by Ms Pommery back in the 19th century.

In Reims we managed to see the Pommery Cellar and the St Nicaise hill. We passed by Taittinger and Martel but both houses were closed on Sundays. In Epernay we visited Fort Chabrol and the stellar Avenue de Champagne.

If I had to pick between Reims and Epernay I would probably opt for Epernay as you are closer to the vineyards. In Reims I was really wondering if there is wine at all in the Champagne. Overall, this is a pretty great site for a wine site. The 19th century architecture really sets it apart from other vineyards.

Getting There

There are TGV trains to Champagne Ardeche on the outskirts of Reims …

Italica was on the top of my list for Spain mainly because of the filming location used as the Season 7 finale of Game of Thrones. A great location indeed. It doesn't quite compare to big sites like the nearby Sevilla but it's a classic "ruin" that perfectly fits to world heritage.

Entrance was free even for non-Europeans at the time, the website states €1.50 which isn't a lot for the massive amount you get to see. The entrance to the site was also on the other side of the area which was temporary due the film crew (read: set construction) using the main access instead. Everyone was greeted and as soon as they figured I'm not Spanish I was just shuffled along inside, the rest was offered a guided tour (I assume not for free).

It is one of the biggest sites of Roman ruins although it is very ruined. A lot of of the main paths go along very short walls and column pieces - not very impressive by itself but after it took me 20 minutes to walk around I figured this place is REALLY huge. The amphitheater is the biggest draw and the location of the GoT scenes. Not only that but it could house 25,000 people, that's a lot and maybe the entire town! Due to the upcoming filming the site was partially blocked off and it was not possible to walk inside at that moment, as the site is to make a …

I visited only Vulcano island as also other reviewers did. We traveled by ferry from Milazzo in October 2013 (be aware that train station in Milazzo is far away from the town and ferry port, and that there is infrequent or no bus connection between train station and the port during weekend and one has to take a cab), climbed the crater (very strong experience to see sulphur crystals + wonerful view over other islands of the archipelago), visited thermal baths nearby the port (I could smell suplphur on my skin even one week after), spent pleasent time on beaches (there are mineral spring directly underwater on the beach close to the port and thermal baths - Spiagga delle Acque Calde, while the beach just on the opposite side had black sand, which made water warmer - Spiagga delle Sabbie Nere), and - what was the most appealing - stayed overnighted directly in the nature in sleeping bags in the northernmost part of the island enjoying beautiful views to Lipari island.

Photo - view from the northernmost part of Vulcano towards the crater.

The Vulcano island was very tranquil (it was off the season in October) and literarlly warm. My dream is to visit also other island of the archipelago.

It is hard to compete with such illustrious neighbors as Siena or San Gimignano, so Volterra probably deserves its second-tier billing when it comes to Tuscan destinations. The historic town is an impressive enough specimen of medieval architecture without offering a "killer" must-see feature.

What Volterra compensates with is its Etruscan and Roman history. The collection of Etruscan artifacts at the Mario Guarnacci museum is among the best in the world of its kind. You can visit an Etruscan Acropolis at the highest point of the Parco Archeologico, right next to a Roman Cistern. From the northern edge of the old town you can have an excellent view over the remains of the Roman Theater (and for most people that is more than enough of a look).

The medieval town is compact and centered on Piazza dei Priori, dominated by the palazzo of the same name. The palace holds only a minor interest for visiting, but the tower views are worth the effort. The cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta has a number of features common to basilicas in Tuscany, but if you have seen Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence or Santa Maria Assunta in Siena, you will likely rate Duomo di Volterra as "just ok". Beyond those obvious points of interest, there are a couple of lesser museums and palaces that I myself have never been to in half a dozen visits to Volterra over the years.

Its lower profile aside, Volterra can still be pretty …

On first sight I would definitely lean towards "it's just a waterfall" but with the extensive new documentation written and inclusion of a lot of other places that I haven't seen there could be something unique. Just a mention of the superlatives "deepest, biggest volume" etc and the use of "scenic spot" makes me think a AAAAA site (China is quite generous to give away the top mark for scenic spots but that's another discussion) is trying to inscribe to attract more tourists. Huangguoshu is already very popular, the no.1 thing to do in Guiyang only an hour away, combined with cave visits (one of those that are just illuminated, has a light show, you are forced to take pictures for the option to buy later and a very generic karst site in general), you can spend the whole day here.

It also claims to be the biggest waterfalls in the world although I find that claim questionable. Large is measured width x height and even then it doesn't look that grande. What I found "cool" was the grotto one can walk through behind the waterfall (you will get wet) but again I don't think this is unique.

With other mentions of farming communities (can't really spot this), cave coffins similar to the ones in Guangxi, Fujian. Overall I get the idea that the combination of many factors is kind of what the state party thinks is unique but for one I dismiss any "rare natural beauty" claims …

I did a half day trip to La Laguna during my January 2011 holidays in Tenerife, and I was not disappointed. The historical district was nicely repared, so I could admire colorful facades of townhouses with fine wooden decoration. What I liked the most were wooden balconies and pretty courtyards (photo). The late gothic main church was also interesting both form inside and outside. I think the place is worth-visiting once you are in Tenerife.

Ishak Pasha Palace is in Eastern Turkey, close to the Irananian border. It stands strategically on a platform above the Sariova plain, surrounded by some of Turkish’s highest peaks, including Mount Ararat. It controls a strategic stretch of the Silk Road, a few kilometers above the town of Dogubayazit.

I visited this palace in october 2018 while driving from Van to Kars (on the way to visit Ani WHS). Dogubayazit is about half-way. Roads are in very good condition. There are numerous police checks, as it is close to the Iranian border, but nothing to worry about.

The palace is quite recent, having been built by local pashas in the 18th century. It served as a palace but also as an administrative center. It mixes Anatolian, Iranian and North Mesopotamian architectural tradition. It was badly damaged by successive wars and an earthquake. Most of the roofs have collapsed and have been replaced by a glass footop. Entrance is through a very nicely decorated portal with Seldjuk features and costs 6 lira. There are two courtyards, the second one the nicest with views on the mosque’s dome and the mausoleums in which the pashas rest. The harem section is well preserved with spectacularly decorated rooms and remains of central heating control. The view on the plain below with the town is spectacular. Mount Ararat is hidden behind hills however, but is seem again as soon as going back down.

Ishak Pasha Palace is a nice site, …

Tushpa/Van Fortress (Van Kelasi in Turkish) and the Old City of Van is a site is located in the city of Van, which is easily reached by cheap domestic flights from Istanbul. It in the western outskirts of the city, near the lakeshore, visible from far away. Entrance to the site is on its western end, which is inconvenient if walking from Van city. Entrance fee is 6 TL. The site can also be entered from the East, but necessitates jumping above a small wall, and walking uphill.

Tushpa was the capital city of Urartian Kingdom, from the ninth to the sixth centuries BC. The kingdom was centered around Lake Van and built the first fortress on a high conglomerate mound about 100 meters high and 1.4 km long on the southern shore of Lake Van. It was a very fertile region and was occupied front Early Bronze Age. Successive states (Armenian, Romans, Sassanid, Byzantines, Arab, Seldjuk, Ottoman, Russian) built and rebuilt fortresses of top of its predecessor. Nowadays, foundations, walls, fortifications, tombs and buildings of those different ages mix with one another, including 10-meters high Ottoman fortifications (top of my picture) and older mud-and-stone-bricked fortification from the Uratian time (just below on the left of my picture).  

From the top of fortress hill, the view is great on the lake, on the modern city of Van, and its surrounding mountains, and, down below, on the ruins of the razed-to-the ground Old City of Van.

The Old …

Bardejov historical center belongs to places that I like in eastern Slovakia, and I visit it at every opportunity. Though result of extensive restorations to medieval appearance (especially roofs of townhouses), I do not take it as a tourist trap.The old photo (from 2003) shows a view on the central square with municipal house in the middle. One side of the square is formed by late gothic St. Egidius basilica. The interior contains the set of late gothic sculptures. However, even more prominent sets of wooden scupltures can be found in nearby Levoča and Spišská Sobota.

It is a pitty that I have not visited the Jewish quarter yet - maybe next time. I heard that it is finally reconstructed after many years of neglecting.

Koguryo Kingdom covers the sites on the Chinese side of the border. There is a separate, identical inscription for the DPRK which will probably never merge.

I visited this place a couple of years ago in winter. Not the best place to visit in winter but it was a lovely sunny day. My main plan was to continue north to Harbin for the ice festival so it "had" to be winter.

Arriving by train I rented a taxi for the day. The driver knew all locations well. You buy a ticket for 4 attractions although I don't remember getting checked for the tombs and the mountain city, maybe the driver just let someone know I have a ticket while I was away. The first one is the Haotai Stele where a guide was explaining the stele with another group of tourists. It is inside a building with large glass windows. It was built in AD 414 and describes the founding of the Koguryo Kingdom. There is a lot of information about the stele online I don't wish to repeat, but looking into it is certainly an interesting and long (very long) read.

Next stop is the Jiangjunfen Tomb and surrounded by several of the general's subordinates. There is not much to see but walk around the square structure. Impressive tomb nonetheless, sometimes referred to as the Pyramid of the East for good reason. Here I was also stopped by what I'm quite are fake policemen pretending to …

"You want to go where?" my aunt asked me. "La Grande Tombe de Villeroy, it's just next to Meaux, we can pass it on our way to the airport."

You need to know my mother's family is from Meaux, a town East of Paris. And indeed when coming from the East (Epernay) and heading to the world's worst airport (Charles de Gaulles), you pass within a few kilometers of the site.

My aunt asked again what precisely I wanted to see there. "A Nécropole, must a big thing" I said. Now my French is okay, but not perfect, so my aunt was trying to make sure she didn't misunderstand me. Eventually, she accepted that I meant the tomb. But she corrected me: "It's not a big thing, it's a small sign along the road." I couldn't quite fathom this information (Nécropole, Grande Tombe?), so I quickly googled the site and indeed: La Grande Tombe is pretty tiny. Most people in nearby Meaux wouldn't even know about it. But thanks to an inquisitive friend my aunt had been before and was able to counsel against a visit. Instead we stopped in Dormans on our way to the airport.

Dormans was my second site of the serial nomination. I had been to the cemetery in Arras just next to the Vauban fortification a year prior. In Arras you will find a simple toned down cemetery. Dormans is different, already signified by the address: Avenue des Victoires (Victory …

I camped at this site - even in winter it was nice and cold and the morning sun greeted me along with a few dozen sheep bleating. The local community of shepherds surely didn't mind. I thought I would spend a long time looking at the site in the morning but actually it is just a few rock carvings. In retrospective I would have taken a torch to look at them in the dark and continue driving to a hotel.

There are only a carvings, five in total I think although I only found 4. Most of them are unimpressive, the one with the king and queen are kind of impressive but what I think this site comes down to is that the local government thinks this is important and hasn't seen enough rock carvings around the world. I'm saying this with little info on the site of course. It appears to be the best example of early-Elamite period rock carvings - as special this may be.

The site is free to access with some boardwalks making this easy enough.

It is a decent stop between Shushtar and Esfahan, a new road buying built between Izeh and the former and thus it is getting more convenient to drive through the mountain areas.

My last Iranian WHS to visit and I almost missed it. The entrance to the site is not clear. I walked past it and reach what appeared on the map to be the tomb with a tiny sign pointing left to where I came from, but actually it looked more like it was pointing at some construction and I figured "oh no, another closed WHS in winter". So I walked into the next alley, nothing. Then I turned into the courtyard on the way back which is actually the archaeological museum and already closed. The young guard led me to the right place in the OTHER courtyard.

I was immediately taken by the nice garden and outer architecture but it doesn't quite prepare you for what you see inside. The tomb is marvelous yet the highlight is the next, bigger room, with your eye exploring each niche of the prayer rooms. Pictures are not allowed inside yet a friendly nod allowed me to snap the inscription certificate, but unlike other reviews I didn't have the encourage to pull out my camera when the staff is not looking. I spent half an hour in the area, more than most people probably do, making two trips through the rooms.

Surely one of the highlights in Iran.

The investment in my ‘All Turkey Tour’ of 1991 keeps on giving gifts. With a friend I had joined a 3 week group tour by bus all across Turkey. During that trip I visited 8 sites that are nowadays WHS. Also we touched upon numerous interesting TWHS. One lingering on Turkey’s Tentative List is Harran and Sanliurfa. These two ancient cities (located 40km apart) were among the highlights of the 1991 tour. This was mostly because of their very remote and oriental setting: I had not been outside of Europe at the time and Harran lies only some 25km north of the Syrian border.

SanliurfaSanliurfa is a city of 2 million inhabitants. It is marketed as a Holy City and pilgrimage town. Old Testament prophets such as Jethro, Job, Elijah and Abraham are believed to have lived in this city. In ancient times it was known as Edessa.

Central to the city is The Pool of Sacred Fish, believed in Islamic tradition to have been the place where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod. This is also the only place that I remember of my visit – it obviously is tourist attraction #1.

HarranHarran actually ticks so many boxes, there cannot be another outcome than that it will be a WHS somewhere in the future:

• It’s very very old: first inhabited in the Early Bronze Age III (3rd millennium BCE).
• It had a sanctuary to the Mesopotamian moon god Sin.
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