UNESCO recently released its list of 2019 World Heritage Site additions, and as always, it encompasses a captivating array of cultural and natural wonders across the globe.
The new sites vary in obscurity, from the famous architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright to the little-known Neo-Confucian academies in the Republic of Korea. But all hold universal value and undeniable appeal for travelers.
Every site that is inscribed into the World Heritage list must meet one of 10 selection criteria, including qualifiers such as representing a masterpiece of human creative genius or bearing testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.
The committee gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan to evaluate these wonders; by inscribing 29 new sites, it raised the total number of UNESCO properties to 1,121. Renowned places like Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands were inscribed years ago, but as the organization grows, it’s successfully searched for more enigmatic yet equally important properties to certify.
Here are 20 of the most amazing new sites inscribed by UNESCO. Which ones will you be adding to your bucket list?