The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of Greece. All the monuments on the Acropolis reflect the successive phases of the Athenian history. Illustrating the civilizations, myths and religions that flourished in Greece over a period of more than 1,000 years, the Acropolis, the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art - The Parthenon, The Propylaea, The Erechtheum and the Temple of Athena Nike - can be seen as symbolizing the idea of world heritage.

The Abu-Menas Monastery built in the 3rd century, commemorates an Alexandrine soldier, Menas, who was an officer in Diocletian's army. The monastery is located south of Alexandria in Egypt. Legend has it that Menas' remains were brought back from Phrygia by camel and was buried, where the animal refused to walk any more. A water well in the desert came up from that spot, which made the area full of vines and olive trees. It was an oasis called Saint Menas Vineyards. Today, only ruins and the desert are the witness of once a beautiful oasis.

Assisi, a medieval city built on a hill, is the birthplace of Saint Francis, closely associated with the work of the Franciscan Order. Its medieval art masterpieces, such as the Basilica of San Francesco and paintings by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto, have made Assisi a fundamental reference point for the development of Italian and European art and architecture. Being the birthplace of the Franciscan Order, from Middle Ages onwards, Assisi has been closely associated with the cult and diffusion of the Franciscan movement in the world, focusing on the universal message of peace and tolerance even to other religions or beliefs.

Ban Chiang is considered the most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in South-East Asia. It is located in Thailand and marks an important stage in human cultural, social and technological evolution. The site presents the earliest evidence of farming in the region and of the manufacture and use of metals.

Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, stands in a romantic park created by the famous landscape gardener, 'Capability' Brown. It is home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It was presented by England to John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his victory in 1704 over French and Bavarian troops. Built between 1705 and 1722 and characterized by an eclectic style and a return to national roots, it is a perfect example of an 18th-century princely dwelling.

Emperor Frederick II built Castel del Monte near Bari in the 13th century and he imbued it with symbolic significance, as reflected in the location, the mathematical and astronomical precision of the layout and the perfectly regular shape. It is a unique piece of medieval military architecture, and a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic. The Castel del Monte is a site of outstanding universal value in its formal perfection and its harmonious blend of cultural elements from northern Europe, the Muslim world, and classical antiquity.

Carved out by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon (nearly 1,500 m deep) is the most spectacular gorge in the world. Located in the state of Arizona, it cuts across the Grand Canyon National Park. Its horizontal strata retrace the geological history of the past 2 billion years. The Canyon appears on many versions of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World list, although none of these lists is by any means authoritative. There are also prehistoric traces of human adaptation to a particularly harsh environment.

A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 sq. m) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues.

The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, is one of Thailand's historical and majestic highlights. Serving as the Thai capital for 417 years .Founded in 1350 AD, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. The Burmese destroyed it in the 18th century. Its remains, characterized by the Prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendor. More importantly,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991.

Kinabalu Park, in the State of Sabah on the northern end of the island of Borneo,, dominated by Mount Kinabalu, with its peak at 4101 meters (and growing), is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. It has a very wide range of habitats, from rich tropical lowland and hill rainforest to tropical mountain forest, sub-alpine forest and scrub on the higher elevations. It is designated as a Centre of Plant Diversity for Southeast Asia and is exceptionally rich in species with examples of flora from the Himalayas, China, Australia, Malaysia, as well as pan-tropical flora.

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consist of five island groups (the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island) in the Southern Ocean southeast of New Zealand. The islands, lying between the Antarctic and subtropical convergences and the seas, have a high level of productivity, biodiversity, wildlife population densities and endemism among birds, plants and invertebrates. They are particularly notable for the large number and diversity of pelagic seabirds and penguins that nest there. There are 126 bird species in total, including 40 seabirds of which, five breeds are found nowhere else in the world.

Founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River, Berne, developed over the centuries in line with an exceptionally coherent planning concept. The buildings in the Old City, dating from a variety of periods, include 15th-century arcades and 16th-century fountains. Most of the medieval town was restored in the 18th century which has retained its original character.

From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, from the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its history can be seen from the River Seine. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Sainte Chapelle are architectural masterpieces while Haussmann's wide squares and boulevards influenced late 19th- and 20th-century town planning the world over.

The Statue of Liberty is an amazing structure made in Paris by the French sculptor Frederic - Auguste Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel (who was responsible for the steel framework). This towering monument to liberty was a gift from France on the centenary of American independence in 1886. 'Liberty Enlightening the World', known more commonly as the 'Statue of Liberty', stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. The statue has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States ever since.

Stonehenge and Avebury, in Wiltshire, are among the most famous groups of megaliths in the world. The two sanctuaries consist of circles of menhirs arranged in a pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored. Stonehenge (in its first form) dates from about 5000 years ago and the site was completed around 1500 BC. It is the best preserved and most celebrated of the megalithic monuments in Europe. These holy places and the nearby Neolithic sites are an incomparable testimony to prehistoric times.

“WOW ! ... Astonishing ... Thrilling ... Sumptuous ... Exotic ... Ravishing ... ”says The SundayTimes, London. An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal(Arjuman Banu Begum). The refined elegance of The Taj Mahal is a conspicuous contrast both to the Hindu architecture of pre-Islamic India and to the Indo-Islamic styles, in which Hindu elements are combined with an eclectic assortment of motifs from Persian and Turkish sources. It is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

The Bellinzona site consists of a group of fortifications grouped around the castle of Castelgrande, which stands on a rocky peak looking out over the entire Ticino valley. Running from the castle, a series of fortified walls protect the ancient town and block the passage through the valley. A second castle (Montebello) forms an integral part of the fortifications, while a third but separate castle Sasso Corbaro or Castle of Unterwald, built on an isolated rocky promontory, southeast of the other fortifications, in 1479 and has the finest view of Bellinzona from its terrace, where one can see the lower valley of Ticino as well as Lake Maggiore.

The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom. William the Conqueror built the tower to protect London and assert his power on the Thames. The Tower of London - an imposing fortress with many layers of history, which has become one of the symbols of royalty - was built around the White Tower. Events and exhibitions –
a) Medieval Palace – Daily
b) Tower of London Ice Rink - 25 Nov 2006 - 14 Janu 2007
c) Tower twilight tours Every Tuesday 7 Nov - 12 Dec
d) Medieval Christmas 27 -31 Dec live event

Founded in 421 A.D, by Roman refugees fleeing from the Goths and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others. In fact, Venice is absolutely a showcase for some of the outstanding artworks in the history of the world.

Westminster Palace(also known as the House of Parliament), rebuilt from the year 1840 on the site of important medieval remains, is a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture. The site - which also comprises the small medieval Church of Saint Margaret, built in Perpendicular Gothic style, and Westminster Abbey, where all the sovereigns since the 11th century have been crowned and the place of the coronation, marriage and burial of British monarchs, except Edward V and Edward VIII - is of great historic and symbolic significance.