Ever wondered what the Sistine Chapel or Machu Picchu actually sound like? Thanks to a new project released for World Heritage Day, you can now experience 270 soundscapes from UNESCO World Heritage Sites across 50 countries all available online.
The Sonic Heritage project, developed by Cities and Memory, invites listeners to explore how sound shapes our experience of some of the world’s most iconic places. The collection captures everything from the rich reverberations inside the Taj Mahal to the lively “cacophony” within the Sistine Chapel, offering an immersive new way to connect with cultural landmarks.
“There are no ‘blue plaque’ schemes for sound, and yet how we record and preserve significant sounds really matters,” says Stuart Fowkes, founder of Cities and Memory. “These precious soundscapes are perhaps even more at risk from overtourism than any other part of our experience.”
In addition to famous sites, the project also highlights sounds from various cultural traditions, such as textile weaving, agave cutting, and tortilla making broadening the definition of heritage beyond just bricks and mortar.
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