Answer: Italy

The United Nations, through their Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) program, maintains a list of “World Heritage” sites around the world. Until 2004, there were six criteria for cultural sites and four criteria for natural sites, such as “represents a masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance” or “is an outstanding example representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features”. From 2005 onward, however, it was modified so that there has been only one set of ten criteria (nominated sites must be of “outstanding universal value” and meet at least one of the ten criteria).

Among the countries of the world, Italy has the most World Heritage sites. Though small in size compared to some of its heritage site competitors (like China and Russia), Italy has a rich cultural history that lends itself to a full roster of heritage sites. There you’ll find everything from individual cathedrals (such as the Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena) to entire cities (such as the historic city of Verona).