United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
I’ve been somewhat surprised at the UNESCO sites that I have been able to visit over the years. Instead of standing outside looking in, I’ve actually been able to walk around (carefully!) and enjoy the experience. A couple international examples are Melk Abbey and The Colosseum. Both have handicap entrances, elevators and suitable facilities. A few UNESCO sites located in the United States are The Statue of Liberty, Monticello, San Antonio Missions and several of our national parks, of which I have also had the privilege to visit and enjoy.
By my count from the World Heritage List, I have visited 40+ UNESCO sites in 15 countries to date, with plans to visit several more on future travels. I may have a mobility challenge, but I accept that challenge and want to see as much of our world as I can, while I can. It may be 20 steps at a time, but I do get there!
It’s amazing how many sites around the globe are listed under this organization. To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria, such as “to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius” or “to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance”.*
Find a UNESCO site that interests you, do your research for availability, operating hours, admission fees and more by checking the internet for reviews and informative websites. There are over 1000 properties listed by country at the following link: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
UPDATE: July 10, 2019 –
Twenty-nine new UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been added!
“The most beautiful in the world is, of course, the world itself.”
-Wallace Stevens
*Information obtained from UNESCO
Twenty Steps at a Time 