List of World Heritage Sites in Italy

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.Italy ratified the convention on June 23, 1978, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list. As of 2016, Italy has a total of 51 inscribed properties, making it the state party with the most World Heritage Sites, followed by China with 50.

Sites in Italy were first inscribed on the list at the 3rd Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Cairo and Luxor, Egypt in 1979. At that session, one site was added: the "Rock Drawings in Valcamonica". A total of 25 (approximately half), of all Italian sites were added during the 1990s with 10 sites added at the 21st session held in Naples, Italy in 1997.

Out of Italy's 51 heritage sites, four are shared with other countries: "Monte San Giorgio" and "Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes" with Switzerland; "Historic Centre of Rome" with the Vatican; and "Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps" with Austria, France, Germany, Slovenia and Switzerland. Four World Heritage Sites in Italy are of the natural type, all others are cultural sites (47). Therefore, Italy has the largest number of world "cultural" heritage sites followed by Spain with 39 cultural sites.

The table lists information about each World Heritage Site:

In addition to the sites inscribed on the World Heritage list, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage list are only accepted if the site has previously been listed on the tentative list.

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