Published in October 2019, a guide titled “UNESCO World Heritage – 33 Italian Sites Accessible by Train” was produced by Trenitalia, the Italian state railway group, in collaboration with Italy’s National UNESCO Commission. The publication identified 33 of Italy’s 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be reached directly by regional trains, which operate over 5,000 daily connections across the country.
Each site featured in the guide is within a maximum 2-kilometer walk from the train station. The National UNESCO Commission provided concise descriptions of the criteria for UNESCO recognition for each location, covering works of human and natural creation, archaeological sites, and places of exceptional universal value in historical, aesthetic, ethnological, or anthropological terms.
Promoting Sustainable Cultural Tourism
The guide aimed to promote knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage and advance sustainable tourism, with train travel highlighted as one of its primary modes. An English-language version was also produced to serve the numerous international visitors who travel to Italy annually. The initiative offered immersive 360-degree photography of the sites and encouraged travelers to avoid automobile traffic by reaching World Heritage locations directly from train stations at the heart of each site.
Frequently asked questions
How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites does Italy have?
Italy is home to 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites distributed across the entire country.
How many sites were covered in the train guide?
The guide identified 33 of Italy’s 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are accessible by regional train service.
How many daily train connections serve these sites?
Regional trains operate over 5,000 daily connections to reach the 33 sites featured in the guide.
