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 Vatican City: UNESCO World Heritage Site Scott 773 (1986) On April 14, 1986, Vatican City issued a series of six stamps commemorating the inscription of Vatican City on the UNESCO list of World Patrimony, or World Heritage, sites. The stamps, presented as a se-tenant block of six stamps, form an aerial view of Vatican City. The term se-tenant refers to the printing of stamps which, when joined together, form a unified design. The release consisted of sheets containing thirty-six stamps, making up six se-tenant blocks. The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture, or UNESCO, was formed in 1972, with its goal being the protection of the cultural and natural patrimony of the world. UNESCO uses ten criteria to determine the inclusion of sites on its list. To date, over 1100 areas have been designated World Heritage Sites. At the present time, Italy (including the landlocked countries of Vatican City and San Marino) is home to more UNESCO sites than any other. Vatican City, in its entirety, was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1984. It was the 286th site added to the list and met four of the ten criteria for inclusion. The summary from the UNESCO website states: The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lies within the boundaries of this small state. At its center is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.Here is another aerial photograph of Vatican City, taken at twilight in 2011, showing Saint Peter's Basilica Square and the surrounding structures at the Vatican:  Vatican City and St. Peter Square Photo from Lafiguradelpadre Congreso From Wikimedia Commons, used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license The UNESCO link below provides additional details regarding the Vatican City listing on the World Heritage Site list, as well as a means of reviewing some of the other sites from around the world. As a note, in 1972 Vatican City issued another se-tenant set, Scott 519, a four-stamp set to call attention to UNESCO’s efforts to save the city of Venice:  UNESCO Campaign to Save Venice Scott 519 (1972) Venice and its Lagoon were added to the World Heritage Site list in 1987. REFERENCES: |
