May 04th 2021

May the fourth: Stars Wars and World Heritage

Today is May the fourth, and for all Star Wars fans, that means it's the day of the force. If you are a World Heritage lover and also a fan of the Star Wars films, you will have noticed that their locations are so incredible that they can't be anything other than World Heritage listed places. That's why today we take the opportunity to remember these films that have been set in several places included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Discover these 10 WHS that have been the location of Star Wars.

The Dolomites

  • Country: Italia 
  • Inscription date: 2009
  • Criteria: vii, viii
  • Star Wars Movie:
    • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Do you remember the scene of the Train on the Snowy Mountains of Planet Vendor? The famous 'Heist on Vandor' scene was filmed on Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks, in the Dolomites.

Wadi Rum Protected Area: “The Valley of the Moon”

  • Country:  Jordania
  • Inscription date: 2011
  • Criteria: iii, v, vii 
  • Star Wars Movies: 
    • Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker 
    • Rogue One

Sceilg Mhichíl (Skellig Michael)

  • Country: Irlanda
  • Inscription date: 1996
  • Criteria: iii, iv
  • Star Wars Movies: 
    • Episode VII: The Force Awakens
    • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.

Old City of Dubrovnik

  • Country: Croatia
  • Inscription date: 1979
  • Criteria: i, iii, iv
  • Star Wars Movie:
    • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

The English Lake District

  • Country: UK
  • Inscription date: 2017
  • Criteria: ii, v, vi
  • Star Wars Movie:
    • Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Mount Etna

  • Country: Italy
  • Inscription date: 2013
  • Criteria: viii
  • Star Wars Movie:
    • Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. 

This place is the background for the battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker

Redwood National and State Parks

  • Country: USA
  • Inscription date: 1980
  • Criteria: vii, ix
  •  Star Wars Movie:
    • Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. 

This place is Ewoks’ home on planet Endor.

18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex

  • Country: Italy
  • Inscription date: 1997
  • Criteria: i, ii, iii, iv
  • Star Wars Movies: 
    • Episode I: The Phantom Menace
    • Episode II: Attack of the Clones

The scenes were shot indoors, as Amidala’s Royal Palace and as Queen Jamillas’ palace.

South China Karst

  • Country: China
  • Inscription date: 2014
  • Criteria: vii, viii
  • Star Wars Movie:
    • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

This site is the Wookie planet in Star Wars. It was the first time that a “Star Wars” movie had been filmed in Asia.

 

Tikal National Park

  • Country: Guatemala
  • Inscription date: 1979
  • Criteria: i, iii, iv, ix, x
  • Star Wars Movie:
    • Episode IV: A new Hope

Tikal Ruins are the place of the Rebel Alliance’s military base on the fourth moon of Yavin.

 

Do you know more World Heritage Places that appeared in Star Wars? Let us know in the comments!

And… May the fourth be with you. 

Sources: 

 

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