7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites On the “Reading Around the World Trail”
One of my favorite things to do while on a solo reading retreat is to learn from a country. I love the charm and architecture of old cities. I enjoy browsing their bookstores and museums, and walking their cobblestone streets. There is something safe and serene about taking a walk through a place where time has stood still to offer up a chance for one to simply observe and admire the human condition.
The human condition has been a driving force of the arts and exploration, and it makes you realize that the arts is not a form of luxury, as some may think, rather the arts is an accessible medium for restorative thinking.
The Reading Around the World Trail offers readers the chance to pause and learn the world. One way to do that is to plan to visit a UNESCO World Heritage site. World Heritage sites are areas with legal protection that are designated by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. These sites promote world peace through cooperation from nations to share achievements in education, arts, science, and culture.
Here are seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in seven countries that we love and have added to the Reading Around the World Trail:
Panamá City, Panamá.
Visit Casco Viejo, or The Old City. This historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, since 1997, that preserves the old layout of the city. We often hear about the Panama Canal, but we don’t contemplate the implications.
As a terminal and logistical port city, Panama City contributed to the expansion of Spanish culture and language in America, and it also contributed to the African diaspora brought by the slave trade. Casco Viejo is the old charm of the city, a respite from skyscrapers in the rest of the city.
The Old City is a walkable city where you will be dazzled by 17th to 20th century architectural buildings.
Artful and elegant, the Old City is a place, although busy, that feels safe when walking its cobblestone streets. It is advisable to wear casual chic or dinner chic, as some restaurants do not allow casual wear.
My best experiences centered on the warmness embracing the city, the sense of cultural vibrancy that you experience through the food, music, people, and crafts.
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Corfu, Greece.
Visit the Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007. The Old Town of Corfu is a preserved port town with beautiful Venetian, British, and Greek designs that sits next to the stunning Ionian Sea. The main square is elegant and sprawling, with cultural treasures like the entrance to the Old Fortress of Corfu, but my favorite part was walking beneath Old Town and discovering hidden waterways perfect for reading.
I found En Plo Café, a gorgeous casual dining restaurant that serves Greek and Mediterranean lunches. The café sits next to serene waters and a hidden swim spot where the locals sunbathe and go for quick swims.
Pisa, Italy.
Visit the Piazza del Duomo, Pisa, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. In Italy, the Piazza del Duomo refers to a symbolic square that brings together art, faith, and culture. In this case, the Piazza del Duomo, Pisa, (officially called Piazza dei Miracoli, Square of Miracles) is an exquisite square in Italy’s Tuscany region.
It consists of four global, architectural masterpieces: the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a free-standing bell tower; the Duomo, a medieval cathedral; the Baptistery, a Romanesque building; and the cemetery.
I enjoyed taking pictures next to the leaning tower, which has an element of photographic surprise because at a certain angle, you can pretend to tip the tower, and it appears that way in pictures.
The tower took 199 years to complete and started to lean soon after it was built. It is a symbol of Pisa and a medieval engineering marvel.
Valletta, Malta.
Visit the City of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980. Valletta is the capital of Malta and the smallest capital city in the European Union.
But don’t be fooled by the size. We unsuccessfully rented a smart car and tried to drive through the city, down some narrow streets (here’s a tip: traffic drives on the left in Malta).
The country feels inviting enough that some people go to Malta with plans to walk the entire country. Architecturally, the city is a treasure of baroque designs located on a hilly peninsula.
One thrilling experience I had was riding the Barrakka Lift that connects the Lascaris Wharf with the Upper Barrakka Gardens, about 190 feet high, where you exit to the most magical and magnetic views of Valleta. The gardens is the perfect place, when not too busy, to retreat and read.
Paris, France.
Visit The Banks of the Seine, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991. Stretching from the Pont du Sully to the Pont d’Iena, this area also encompasses the Eiffel Tower. From here, you can also view the famous Notre-Dame de Paris.
The Seine connects the left and right banks of Paris, and it has such literary appeal that if you are a reader around the world, you must plan to visit the seine and explore the left bank.
One of my favorite activities was a lunch cruise around the seine, where I could view the collections of landmarks, sip white wine, and quietly observe the elegance of Paris.
Athens, Greece.
Visit the Acropolis in Athens, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. This is where architectural design meets natural site. An ancient citadel containing many monumental structures, it represents ancient Greek architectural development. From the Acropolis Hill, you can view all of the city.
It is a place that stuns you into silence once you reach the peak and look around. It is apparent the ancient Greeks were geniuses at both architecture and literature. If you can arrive early to find a spot on the stony hill as a chair, this will be a perfect place to rest and continue reading The Odyssey.
Vatican City
Visit Vatican City, the only country entirely listed as a UNESCO heritage site since 1984. The smallest country in the world, Vatican City is known as the heart of the Catholic church.
My husband and I spent an entire day here that we found enthralling, even though we had just disembarked from a long flight. I had just read 1 Peter 3:12 when we visited St. Peter’s Basilica, a baroque church and one of Christianity’s largest churches built over the tomb of St. Peter, Jesus’s disciple.
We sat quietly in the Sistine Chapel, known for its stunning frescoes, and gazed up at the famous Michelangelo ceiling, with its distilling depictions of scenes from Genesis. We viewed the Vatican Gardens, used by the Pope as a place of prayer.
Whether you’re spending some time in Rome, or maybe even flying into Rome with a long layover (you will need to plan properly, of course), I’d strongly suggest spending some time in Vatican City.
