Seven Longobard Sites Newest Additions to UNESCO Heritage List

In 2011, UNESCO inscribed Italy’s newest World Heritage sites: The Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.).

Treated as one entity, these seven sites stretch from as far north as Castelseprio, Lombardy to as far south as Benevento in Campania. All seven of these sites represent, according to UNESCO, “the high achievement of the Lombards [Longobards], who migrated from northern Europe and developed their own specific culture in Italy where they ruled over vast territories in the 6th to 8th centuries.”

While the Longobard sites are the newest ones to be recognized by UNESCO, they are among the least well-known of the many UNESCO sites in Italy.

To learn more about each of the “Longobards in Italy” sites, including where they are, how to visit them, and the treasures they contain, visit Italia Longobardorum, the website of the group responsible for formally submitting these sites for UNESCO World Heritage consideration.

You can also click on the links below for the individual sites:

Longobards in Italy: Places of the Power

Campania

The Santa Sofia complex, Benevento

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

The Gastaldaga area and the Episcopal complex. Cividale del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Lombardy

Castelseprio

Castelseprio Archaeological Park: Castrum, Church of Santa Maria Foris Portas, Torba Tower and Abbey

Brescia

Monumental area with Monastic complex of San Salvatore–Santa Giulia

Puglia

Sanctuary of San Michele, Monte Sant’Angelo

Umbria

Campello sul Clitunno

The Clitunno Tempietto

Spoleto

Basilica of San Salvatore

Updated May 21st, 2021
Originally published July 26, 2011