UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is committed to preserving the culture and heritage of major sites around the world. The latest World Heritage list includes varied places like the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, East Africa’s Serengeti—and Curaçao’s Willemstad.
An Outstanding Addition
In 1997, the UNESCO World Heritage Site committee selected the historic city center of Willemstad—one of just six Caribbean sites chosen—because of its “outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries, and preserves to a high degree significant elements.”
In addition to Willemstad’s historic city center, other inductees include the beautiful restored mansions of Scharloo and Pietermaai and Curaçaoan neighborhoods dating back to the 1700s.
For more information:
www.unesco.org