This year, UNESCO named the Arab-Norman architecture of Sicily to its World Heritage list, one of several World Heritage sites in Sicily, a rare distinction for any region. Located on the northern coast of the island, the nine civil and religious structures of Arab-Norman Palermo include two palaces, three churches, a cathedral and a bridge as well as the cathedrals in the nearby towns of Cefalù and Monreale — all structures dating from the era of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily, 1130–1194. UNESCO says these ancient structures “bear testimony to the fruitful coexistence of people of different origins and religions, including Muslim, Byzantine, Latin, Jewish, Lombard and French.”

In 2002, UNESCO named eight late-Baroque towns in southeastern Sicily (Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli) to the World Heritage list. These towns have existed since medieval times, and some were rebuilt after the devastating 1693 earthquake that caused 93,000 casualties. Other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sicily include the ancient cities of Siracusa (date of inscription, 2005) and Agrigento (1996).