Protective Town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
The Protective Town of San Miguel de Allende and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco represent exceptional examples of 18th-century Mexican Baroque architecture and cultural fusion. Established in the 16th century along the Royal Route, San Miguel reached its zenith in the 18th century when its distinctive religious and civic buildings were constructed. Located 14 kilometers from the town, the Jesuit sanctuary of Atotonilco showcases remarkable Baroque art including oil paintings by Rodriguez Juárez and murals by Miguel Antonio Martínez de Pocasangre. The site embodies the cultural exchange between European and Latin American traditions, particularly reflecting the influence of Saint Ignacio de Loyola's doctrine. The architectural ensemble demonstrates the transition from Baroque to neoclassical styles while preserving the colonial urban layout. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site continues to serve as a living example of Spanish colonial influence and Mexican cultural identity.
A photograph of Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle located in Wiltshire, England. Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 by garethwiscombe.
San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jésus Nazareno of Atotonilco
The Terracotta Army is a collection of life-sized terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. Discovered in 1974 near Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, this archaeological marvel dates to 210-209 BCE and was created as funerary art to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The site contains thousands of individually crafted warriors, each with unique facial features, expressions, and attire, alongside chariots, horses, and weapons. The remarkable craftsmanship demonstrates the advanced artistic and military organization of the Qin Dynasty. The warriors are part of a larger imperial mausoleum complex that remains largely unexplored. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site provides invaluable insights into ancient Chinese history, culture, and artistry while continuing to attract researchers and visitors from around the world.
The Hermitage, located in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, is a National Trust for Scotland protected site nestled along the River Braan in Craigvinean Forest. Created in the 18th century by John Murray, the third Duke of Atholl, to honour the blind bard Ossian, the site features notable Georgian follies, including Ossian’s Hall of Mirrors and Ossian’s Cave. The Hermit’s Cave, built around 1760 for the third Earl of Breadalbane, was initially intended to house a permanent hermit. The grounds of The Hermitage are home to remarkable trees, including several Douglas-firs. One such tree, the Hermitage Douglas-fir, became the second tallest tree in Britain, reaching 63 meters (207 feet) in 2009. Tragically, it was blown over during a storm in January 2017. This self-sown tree germinated from a seed blown from one of the older trees at the site in 1887 (Wikipedia Contributors, 2024). Climate change and increasing storm frequency pose significant risks to ancient and towering trees like those at The Hermitage. Strong winds and unpredictable weather patterns are more likely to damage or uproot such trees, threatening the stability and longevity of these historical landmarks.
The Flow Country, located in Caithness and Sutherland in northern Scotland, is the largest blanket bog in Europe, covering around 4,000 km². This expansive peatland, rich in deep peat and dotted with bog pools, is crucial in wildlife habitat and climate change mitigation. Peat, composed of plant remains stores significant amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming if released into the atmosphere. However, the area has faced historical damage due to large-scale drainage and afforestation during the 1970s and 1980s, which degraded the peatland, releasing stored carbon and disrupting ecosystems. In 2019, a wildfire further impacted the area, affecting the most degraded zones and threatening the peatland’s delicate balance.
Stonehenge is a heritage site located in Wiltshire, England. It is one of the most important prehistoric monuments in the world, built between 3000 BC and 1600 BC. The monument is made of large standing stones arranged in a circular pattern, using local Sarsen sandstone and imported Bluestone. It is aligned with solar events, which reflects the astronomical knowledge and ritual practices of prehistoric communities. Stonehenge demonstrates impressive prehistoric engineering and organisation. Digital interpretation is currently used to increase accessibility and awareness. English Heritage provides a 360-degree virtual tour that allows people to explore Stonehenge online. The Skyscape platform shows the real-time movement of the sun, moon and planets above the monument, helping users understand its astronomical importance. This digital approach supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by protecting cultural heritage. It also contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) through public learning, and to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by offering virtual access that reduces environmental impact caused by tourism.
A photo of Buddha statues at the Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi, China. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 by xiquinhosilva.
The location where George Orwell wrote 1984 on Jura Island
Barnhill is a farmhouse in the north of the island of Jura in the Scottish Inner Hebrides overlooking the Sound of Jura. It stands on the site of a larger 15th-century settlement, Cnoc an t-Sabhail; the English name Barnhill has been in use since the early twentieth century. The house was rented by the essayist and novelist George Orwell, who lived there intermittently from 1946 until January 1949. He completed his final novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, at Barnhill.
Yungang Grottoes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Datong, Shanxi Province, China. The site contains 252 caves and over 51,000 stone Buddhist statues, created during the Northern Wei dynasty starting from around 460 AD. These grottoes reflect the spread of Buddhism into China and the fusion of traditional Chinese and foreign artistic styles. They are significant examples of early Buddhist cave art and show advanced stone carving techniques of the time. The official website of the Yungang Grottoes offers a 720-degree virtual panoramic tour of important caves with audio and text explanations. Visitors can also view high-resolution images of the carvings online. These digital tools help people explore and understand the site remotely. This heritage site contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by protecting and promoting cultural heritage. It also supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing the environmental impact of tourism through virtual access.
Front View of Dizang Hall, Jiuhua Mountain, China
The Flesh-Body Hall (Roushen Baodian) of Jiuhua Mountain, also known as the Dizang Hall, enshrines the mummified body of the Tang Dynasty monk Kim Qiaojue, revered as the incarnation of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. After practicing for 75 years at Jiuhua, his body remained intact after death and became a central object of veneration. Built in the Qing Dynasty, the hall is a masterpiece of traditional Hui-style architecture, featuring curved eaves, intricate wood carvings, and symbolic decorative elements. It is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists across China. The red lanterns and the Chinese national flag in front of the temple represent the blending of ancient religious devotion and modern cultural identity. This site holds not only deep spiritual meaning but also tangible historical and architectural value. Digital preservation of the temple—through 3D scanning, virtual walkthroughs, and annotated interpretation—can help foster global understanding of Chinese Buddhism while contributing to the sustainable safeguarding of immovable heritage.
The Flesh-Body Hall (Roushen Baodian) of Jiuhua Mountain, also known as the Dizang Hall, enshrines the mummified body of the Tang Dynasty monk Kim Qiaojue, revered as the incarnation of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. After practicing for 75 years at Jiuhua, his body remained intact after death and became a central object of veneration. Built in the Qing Dynasty, the hall is a masterpiece of traditional Hui-style architecture, featuring curved eaves, intricate wood carvings, and symbolic decorative elements. It is one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists across China. The red lanterns and the Chinese national flag in front of the temple represent the blending of ancient religious devotion and modern cultural identity. This site holds not only deep spiritual meaning but also tangible historical and architectural value. This heritage preservation project aligns with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By using digital technologies to reduce physical tourist impact and preserve sacred sites, we ensure cultural continuity and sustainable community identity.