10 Countries With Highest UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Italy and China are home to largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world. Both countries boast 55 world heritage sites each, including the historic city centers of Rome and Florence or the Amalfi Coast for Italy and the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City for China - all magnets for tourism. In total, the UNESCO list includes 1,121 monuments in 167 countries as world heritage sites. With 49 world heritage sites, Spain ranks third ahead of Germany. The U.S. has 24 listed sites, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Taos Pueblo and Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.

# U.S.A.

The United States has many cultural sites mostly thanks to a rich indigenous history. These sites include places such as Taos Pueblo. It also has some sites from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the Statue of Liberty. Most notably, the United States has some of the most natural World Heritage Sites due to its vast size, varied climates, and national parks. These include sites including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks.

# Russia

Russia has a number of sites due to a mixture of its rich history and large geographical size. Russia has several cultural sites dating from its past history when it was part of the Russian Empire, such as the Kremlin and Red Square. Russia, like the United States, has a great deal of natural sites due to its immense share of the global map, including the Golden Mountains of Altai.

# United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has a number of culturally important sites from its past Roman occupation and from its own past as a global spanning empire. Some of these included the Frontiers of the Roman Empire and the Tower of London.

# India

India was home to some of the oldest civilizations on Earth, seeing the rise of many empires and dynasties, and serving as the birthplace for several major religions, including Sikhism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. India has many natural sites including the Taj Mahal and the Elephanta Caves.

# Mexico

Mexico was the home to two important past civilizations, the Maya and Aztecs, as well as some of the earliest sites of European colonization of the New World. Some cultural sites in Mexico are the Historic Center of Puebla and the Pre-Spanish contact city of Teotihuacan.

# Germany

Germany has a number of cultural sites from its history with the Roman Empire and the later being at the center of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire. Some sites included the Wartburg Castle and the Cologne Cathedral.

# France

France has a long history stretching back to the Frankish tribes during Roman times and as well as the powerful French Empire and its powerful monarchs. France has many cultural wonders such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Palace of Versailles.

# Spain

Spain, much like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, has a past history involving the Roman Empire and as a powerful world spanning empire of its own. Some cultural sites in Spain including the Roman Walls of Lugo and the Burgos Cathedral.

# China

China is the birthplace of one of the oldest civilizations in the world and many different dynasties that have come and gone. China is home to many different cultural sites, including the Great Wall of China. China also has many natural sites, since like Russia and America it is a big country. One of these natural sites is the Chengjiang Fossil Site.

# Italy

Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites of any country in the world, due to its history as the birthplace of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Some of the cultural sites in Italy include the Villa Romana del Casale and the Castel del Monte.