NewsHagia Sophia
Russia to fund small-scale replica Hagia Sophia in Syria that will be used as a church
Tactical move comes after Turkish president ordered historic Istanbul site to be turned into a mosque
NewsConservation & Preservation
Turkish government on collision course with Unesco over turning Hagia Sophia into mosque
President Erdogan’s plans to convert the museum have drawn fire from Greece and the US
NewsMosul
Unesco's plan to ‘revive spirit’ of devastated Mosul gets under way
Initiative involves local communities in rebuilding their historic landmarks and neighbourhoods
NewsHeritage
Unesco denounces construction project near Lebanon's ancient archaeological site Nahr El-Kalb
In an open letter, the organisation criticises building work in the historic area, which is on the nomination list to become a World Heritage site
NewsClimate Change
Heritage on the edge: new Google project reveals climate change damage to Unesco sites
Digital visualisations gathered for online exhibit will be a “blueprint” for heritage managers planning climate adaptation in the future
NewsTurkey
Court ruling converting Turkish museum to mosque could set precedent for Hagia Sophia
Decision that Kariye Museum must become a Muslim house of worship again could imperil its Byzantine art and have repercussions for other early Christian monuments
NewsVenice
Where are the flood barriers, cry the citizens of Venice after its second worst flood since records began
More evidence has emerged that the flood barriers have serious technical problems
NewsIraq
As protests rage in Iraq, experts say culture is key to long-term reconstruction
Iraqi culture ministry announces new national museum in Baghdad as Mosul restoration plan is extended to historic churches
CommentUnesco
A former Unesco chief denounces its failure to protect Venice at Baku meeting
“Where have the ethics and sense of a global mandate to protect the world’s heritage gone?”, asks Francesco Bandarin
NewsUnesco
In a first, Unesco gives Frank Lloyd Wright buildings World Heritage status
US architect's distinctive designs are among 29 cultural sites recognised for their “outstanding value to humanity”
NewsBrazil
Unesco visit brings new growth to Roberto Burle Marx’s home and garden
Brazil funds major renovation of landscape architect's lush estate, which could become a World Heritage site in 2020
CommentVenice
The Turkish shareholders in the port of Venice want to keep cruise ships coming—and the mayor supports them
The World Heritage Committee is meeting in Baku and intends to dodge declaring Venice endangered for the third time
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
World Heritage Committee will not discuss Notre Dame at its 2019 annual meeting
France is due to provide a report on the fire-ravaged church this year
NewsHeritage
Planned cable car attraction over Belgrade historic fortress ‘should be suspended’
Kalemegdan served as a military site for the Roman Empire and is a candidate for Unesco World Heritage status
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
French senate says Notre Dame must be restored 'in the same way as before'
Wim Delvoye, one of the artists who submitted a proposal, says he is confident the government will pivot to his solution
NewsHeritage
Opposition flares as Peru’s government makes way for airport near Machu Picchu
A petition has been launched to prevent the Peruvian government from continuing the project
NewsLeonardo da Vinci
Italy secures loan of Leonardo da Vinci's Benois Madonna from Russia's Hermitage museum
There has been intense competition to borrow works by the artist during the 500th anniversary of his death this year
NewsHeritage
Exhibition of Gormley’s figures repopulates a Greek island’s ancient ruins
Life-size "bodyforms" are positioned amid ancient grottoes, agoras and sculptures
CommentCathedral of Notre Dame
Notre Dame should be rebuilt as it was
The cathedral’s 19th-century additions are as much part of its history as its Gothic vaults, says a former director of Unesco’s World Heritage Centre
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Weimar—birthplace of Bauhaus—opens new museum dedicated to the influential design school
On the same day, the nearby Neues Museum Weimar will open a new permanent exhibition on early Modernism
NewsUnesco
Goodbye Venice, goodbye Ravenna, goodbye Ferrara, goodbye Carthage?
Many World Heritage Sites around the Mediterranean are at grave risk from sea-level rise by 2100, report says
NewsUnesco
UK threat to leave Unesco reignites debate about purpose of UN culture body
The US and Israel announced plans to leave the international organisation last year
NewsDisasters & destruction
Syrian museums seek Russian expertise to restore destroyed Palmyra sculptures
Ancient city occupied by Islamic State was retaken by Syrian army with Russian support in 2017
NewsUnesco
Mumbai’s Victorian Gothic and Art Deco business district declared a Unesco World Heritage Site
British-era buildings in historic Fort area nominated by “several citizens’ groups”
NewsConservation & Preservation
World Monuments Fund gives $1m for post-quake restoration of Mexican archaeological site
Monte Albán, the ancient capital of the Zapotec people, was damaged by earthquakes in 2017
NewsLooting
Scotland Yard joins global crackdown on looted pharaonic antiquities
The initiative, which involves governments and the art world, will set up a public database of objects
NewsPalestine
Gifts multiply for fledgling Palestinian museum’s solidarity collection
Sixty works donated by European and Arab artists will stay at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris until a permanent home is built
NewsUnesco
Unesco: the view from Israelis and Palestinians
How disparate approaches to international law play out at the organisation
ArchiveCambodia
Cambodia to host culture and tourism conference
Preservation, cultural routes, urban regeneration through tourism are all set to be discussed
ArchiveCambodia
Light is finally being shed on the issue of restitution of looted art
The restitution of Cambodian statues by major museums and auction houses is an encouraging sign
ArchiveNews
Unesco warns of fraud as unsanctioned authentication documents circulate
The warning states that certificates of authentication allowing imports of African cultural heritage are being forged
ArchiveNews
Syrian war’s devastating toll on antiquities
Unesco places major national heritage sites on danger list as ground combat, air strikes and looting reduce ancient settlements to rubble
ArchiveCambodia
Demilitarised zone established to protect shelled temple on border between Cambodia and Thailand
Thai army cedes ground but future of Cambodian World Heritage site remains unresolved
ArchiveCultural heritage
Draft Unesco Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage would extend controls 200 miles out from the coast
If the draft is approved by two-thirds of member countries at the General Conference next month it will be sent out for ratification. US and Russian support unlikely.
ArchiveWar & Conflict
Another casualty of the culture wars
Damage to the Egyptian Museum is just the latest example of the politicisation of archaeology.
ArchiveRestitution
Books: A history of the development of an international restitution ethic
Giving things back—the how, when, where and why
ArchiveUnesco
Will the success of the Acropolis Museum change the Elgin Marbles debate?
Unesco intergovernmental committee is now seeking “a mutually satisfactory resolution to the issue”
ArchiveIraq
Ex-head of Iraq's board of antiquities estimates 10 years of restoration for Babylon
The integrity of the historic site did not factor into US strategy, proven by the construction of an adjacent military base
ArchiveIraq
International backing secured for the recuperation of Babylon after disturbances by US military bases
The World Monuments Fund will educate Iraqi experts tasked with keeping the ruins in good condition
ArchiveUnesco
Samarra shrine must be rebuilt: Unesco says reconstruction will help unite warring factions
The site is considered one of the holiest in Iraq, containing the remains of two of the Prophet's descendants
ArchiveUnesco
Samarra mosque at risk from new police barracks
There are fears that the new station will be a target for insurgents; Unesco powerless to protect the World Heritage site
ArchiveAntiquities & Archaeology
Iraqi Prime Minister pushes for Samarra rebuild after mosque loses final minarets in second attack
At least 18 shrines have been attacked since last February, says antiquities head
ArchiveUnesco
Unesco criticises private campaign to choose new seven wonders
Scheme is led by former Unesco director
ArchiveUnesco
“Catalogue of the National Museum of Afghanistan”: recording and illustrating key objects in the Kabul Museum
Unesco has published a record of the 1,600 objects acquired by the institution between 1931 and 1985
ArchiveUnderwater Archaeology
Conservation project focuses on Jewish heritage sites and underwater archaeology
Israel and India join forces
ArchiveUnesco
Getty revises its guidelines for acquiring antiquities—again
Artefacts must have left their countries of origin by 1970, the year of the Unesco Convention, or have proper export documentation to be considered for purchase
ArchiveAntiquities & Archaeology
Unesco to step in to examine so-called “pyramids”
Academics claim that the dig is “pseudo-archaeology”
ArchiveKosovo
Unesco reconstruction plan for Kosovo
Lack of trust between Serbs and Muslims continues to hinder restoration efforts
ArchiveUnesco
Switzerland to implement 1970 UNESCO Convention legislation on 1st June
Switzerland’s is known for its pivotal presence in the underground network that moves illicitly excavated artefacts from country to country
ArchiveArt market
China requests US impose embargo on Chinese art
China holds the US responsible for pillaging, however US cannot solve China's problems
ArchiveCambodia
Looters search areas of archaeological importance in Cambodia after bomb disposal experts have de-mined them
Illicit excavations occur as de-mined areas often show no signs of the riches below the surface so authorities do not deploy heritage security teams
ArchiveNews
Landslide warning at Macchu Picchu
Geologists have found the land on the steep slope at the back of the fortress is sliding down at a rate of a centimetre a month
ArchiveUnesco
“Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage”: UNESCO has identified new forms of heritage to the extension of the system of listing World Heritage Sites
28 out of 60 nominations were added to the list, raising awareness of 'masterpieces' that are under threat from modernisation
ArchiveUnesco
The US rejoins Unesco, analysis suggests the organisation being used as an extension of US foreign policy, as part of the ongoing 'war on terror'
Congress is expected to approve a $71.4 million payment to Unesco, the first US contribution in 18 years
ArchiveUnesco
Places categorised as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites are subject to immense tourism: what is the effect?
As Unesco celebrates the 30th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, this book analyses the effects of its policies in developing countries
ArchiveUnesco
Disagreement over possible resurrection of Bamiyan Buddhas
Unesco sends out conflicting press releases
ArchiveUnesco
Koichiro Matsuura dubbed "saviour of Unesco"
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, Matsuura explains his reform of Unesco and the return of the US to membership after nearly 20 years
ArchiveUnesco
Long the hub of the illicit antiquities trade, Switzerland is moving towards ratification of the 1970 Unesco Convention
Switzerland also debating new national legislation to make the movement of art and artefacts more transparent
ArchiveUnesco
"An absolute political priority": Bamiyan Buddhas may be rebuilt
Unesco will convene an international meeting next month to discuss reconstruction
ArchiveUnesco
Unesco adopts a new Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage to protect shipwrecks lying in international waters
However, the US and UK say the it conflicts with existing maritime legislation and Russia, Norway, Turkey, and Venezuela vote no
ArchiveUnesco
“Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”: A new list by UNESCO
Ancient language, song, dance and performance cannot be kept alive simply in a showcase or tended by curators. This list was produced to highlight their fragility
ArchiveCambodia
The Cambodian World Heritage site, Angkor Wat, is finally being restored
An ongoing effort to restore the ancient site has international teams working altogether but using radically different approaches, resulting in unexpected order
ArchiveUnesco
In full: the text of the US Customs import restrictions on Italian archaeological material
The restrictions were imposed following a 1999 request made by Italy under Article 9 of the Unesco Convention
ArchiveUnesco
China and US drafting anti-smuggling agreement
A full import ban may not be intended by the Chinese, merely a bilateral agreement to implement the 1970 Unesco Convention
ArchiveUnesco
Deliberation over ownership of submerged vessels and their booty at the bottom of the ocean leads to Unesco intervention
An estimated three million shipwrecks lay undiscovered. UNESCO is calling for a global treaty to protect them. Salvors say it is unrealistic and unworkable, despite developments in deep-sea exploration technology
ArchiveAntiquities & Archaeology
Decisive times for underwater archaeology: Who owns the watery past?
There are an estimated three million undiscovered shipwrecks scattered throughout the world’s oceans. UNESCO is calling for a global treaty to protect them. Salvors say it is unrealistic and unworkable.
ArchiveUnesco
New UNESCO protocol states attacks on cultural property during wartime will be criminalised
A new protocol allows for prosecution of organisations and individuals, putting pressure on art market professionals
ArchiveUnesco
Where underwater treasure-hunters go, legislation must follow: Unesco's proposal explained
Unesco is calling for a global treaty to prevent commercial interests from destroying shipwrecks found in international waters
ArchiveUnesco
Ten out of forty-six new World Heritage sites confirmed in Italy alone due to the Piedmont’s latest emphasis on culture and tourism
Out of the ten newly designated Unesco sites, the biggest includes eighteen royal Savoy properties
ArchiveUnesco
Restored revolutionary Bolivian murals by Miguel Alandia Pantoja remain homeless
As chief restorer of Andorra and consultant to Unesco, Guillamet was invited to save these murals. Months later, as revolution brewed, the paintings were abandoned. Seventeen years later, and this remains the case
ArchiveUnesco
The aspirations of Chris Smith, new Labour Secretary of State for National Heritage
Smith hopes for Britain to rejoin UNESCO, aiming divert Lottery funds to health and education
ArchiveUnesco
UNESCO has named 37 more sites of global importance
A list of the most important additions
ArchiveRestoration
Reviving a war-torn city
A plan to reconstruct Mostar's historic centre
CommentVenice
Venice is in peril: Unesco should come to the aid of Venice as it did after the great flood of 1966
Its official international role, to which Italy signed up, enables it to mobilise world expertise and funds
Francesco Bandarin