Culture

UNESCO Adds France's D-Day Landing Beaches, Greece's Mount Olympus to World Heritage List

Culture Visitors stand at the Prionia trailhead on Mount Olympus in northern Greece, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

UNESCO Adds France's D-Day Landing Beaches, Greece's Mount Olympus to World Heritage List

World War II’s D-Day landing beaches in northern France, the iconic Mount Olympus in Greece and the ancient Japanese capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara were among…

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Culture  Children jump in the ocean in the former dhow port of Kalaweni, opposite the Grand Mosque, in Moroni's historic Medina on July 17, 2026. (AFP)

Six Ancient Comoros Medinas Join UNESCO's Heritage List

UNESCO on Saturday added six centuries-old medinas in the Comoros -- once historic sultanates along Indian Ocean trading routes -- to its World Heritage List,…

Culture  In this picture made available by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Friday, July 24, 2026, part of the restored ceiling of the Bakery House is displayed at the Pompeii Archaeological site. (Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP)

Pompeii Archaeologists Reconstruct Frescoed Ceiling of a Banquet Hall

Archaeologists in Pompeii, the ancient city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, have unveiled the partially reconstructed frescoed ceiling vault…

Culture A Palestinian visitor takes a photo at the Roman historical site in the West Bank town of Sebastia, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP)

UNESCO Adds West Bank Site and Lebanese Castles to World Heritage List Despite Israeli Objections

A United Nations committee voted Friday to inscribe a major archaeological site in the West Bank and a set of castles in southern Lebanon as World Heritage…

Culture Saudi Visual Arts Commission Organizes Intermix Residency Open Studio Event for the Public

Saudi Visual Arts Commission Organizes Intermix Residency Open Studio Event for the Public

Saudi Arabia's Visual Arts Commission invited the public to the Open Studio of the Intermix Residency at Studio I08, JAX District, Diriyah, on July 28, 29, and…

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Culture A firefighter extinguishes a blaze at a five-story residential building in Kharkiv on March 7, 2026, after it was partially destroyed by a Russian strike amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK / AFP)

Ukraine Urges Venice Biennale to Exclude Russia

Ukraine on Sunday called on the Venice Biennale to keep Russia out of the prestigious art event after organizers said it could participate for the first time…

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Culture A cowboy gestures during a bull-tailing competition held as part of the "Fiestas del Alma Llanera" celebration in San Fernando de Apure, Apure State, Venezuela, on February 27, 2026. (AFP)

Grabbing the Bull by the Tail: Venezuela’s Cowboy Sport

Four mounted cowboys jostle for position near the bull pen gate. When the bull bolts out into the ring, a mad scramble begins as the riders vie to grab its…

Culture Pedestrians walk past the Basilica of Santa Agnese Outside the Walls as a marble bust is displayed inside after being identified as a work by Michelangelo Buonarroti after centuries without attribution, following a decade of archival research by Italian researcher Valentina Salerno in Rome on March 4, 2026. (AFP)

Michelangelo’s Works Hidden in ‘Secret Room’, Researcher Says

Renaissance artist Michelangelo ordered many of his artworks to be hidden by his pupils in a secret room to protect them for posterity, an Italian researcher…

Culture Following its inclusion in the project in 2022, the mosque's area was expanded to 293 square meters - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Restores Al-Hawza Mosque in Aseer

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques is rehabilitating Al-Hawza Mosque in Dhahran Al-Janoub, Aseer, as part of its…

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Culture The people of AlUla in Saudi Arabia have long maintained a close relationship with nature, reflected in their careful observation of crescent moons. (SPA)

'Moon Spotter': AlUla's Enduring Tradition of Crescent Sighting

The people of Saudi Arabia’s AlUla have long maintained a close relationship with nature, reflected in their careful observation of crescent moons and the…

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Culture Poeple look at Rembrandt's famed Night Watch, which is back on display in what researchers say in its original size, with missing parts temporarily restored in an exhibition aided by artificial intelligence, at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands June 23, 2021. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo

Dutch Museum Makes ‘Needle in a Haystack’ Confirmation of Rembrandt Painting

A painting that was once rejected as a work by Rembrandt van Rijn has now been acknowledged as a work by the Dutch master, thanks to two years of scrutiny in…

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Culture Plumes of smoke rise after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo)

UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran Damaged in Strikes

Iran's UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran has been damaged in US and Israeli strikes, local media reported Monday. "Following the joint US-Israeli…

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Culture Turkish drummer Hakan Ozbingol plays drum and sings traditional songs in the streets of Istanbul, to wake Muslims up for the suhour, the Ramadan meal eaten at night, on February 24, 2026. (AFP)

Before Dawn, Ancient Drum Rite Wakes Istanbul Faithful to Fast

It's 3:30 am and lights are slowly coming on in the homes lining a narrow Istanbul street as people are woken up by the rhythmic thump of a drum. Emerging…

Culture ​​​​​​​The recent renovation by specialized Saudi firms increased the mosque's capacity from 80 to 129 worshippers and its area to 250 square meters - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Restores Historical Al-Jaloud Mosque in Hail

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques has completed the comprehensive restoration of Al-Jaloud Mosque in Hail Region…

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Culture The ministry encourages consumers to choose national coffee products for their nutritional value - SPA

Saudi Coffee Remains Key Crop and Cultural Treasure during Ramadan

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has confirmed that Saudi coffee is a key national agricultural crop and an important cultural legacy,…

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Culture Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, is investing in world-class cultural infrastructure that serves both local communities and international visitors. SPA

Red Sea Museum Opens 'Sunken Treasures' Exhibition to Highlight Maritime Heritage

The Red Sea Museum celebrated the opening of 'Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea' exhibition on Wednesday in an event that brought together…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture Several residents of Al-Baha Region are reviving the atmosphere of Ramadan iftar in old houses. (SPA)

Old Houses in Al-Baha: A Living Architectural Heritage of Ramadan

Several residents of Al-Baha Region are reviving the atmosphere of Ramadan iftar in old houses, in a scene that reflects deep attachment to architectural…

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Culture (FILES) President of Chateau de Versailles Christophe Leribault arrives at the Elysee Palace, in Paris on February 27, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Head of France's Versailles Palace Takes over Louvre

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Christophe Leribault, the ⁠current head of the ⁠Versailles Palace, as ⁠director of the Louvre museum in Paris,…

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Culture Osborne Henry Mavor’s “Let Eric Remember” from Aberdeen Art Gallery. (Aberdeen archives, gallery & museums/Art UK)

One Million Works Catalogued in Art UK Database

From a bronze Rodin sculpture of Eve outside a Nando’s in Harlow to more than 6,000 artworks by JMW Turner, to a crumpled-up piece of A4 paper owned by…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Culture Laurence des Cars, director of Le Louvre museum, poses before a hearing at the Culture commission of the Senate, three days after historic jewels were stolen in a daring daylight heist, Oct. 22, 2025 in Paris. (AP)

Louvre Museum’s Director Resigns in Wake of Jewels Heist in Paris

The director of the Louvre Museum who had been under fire since the stunning and embarrassing heist of the French Crown jewels in October has stepped down from…

Culture The celebration underscored the role of cultural houses in strengthening national identity - SPA

Riyadh Cultural House Marks Founding Day with Creative Heritage Programs

The Riyadh Cultural House celebrated the Kingdom’s Founding Day with a range of cultural programs that highlighted national values and showcased the nation’s…

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Culture The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. SPA

Riyadh Cultural House Marks Founding Day with Creative Heritage Programs

The Riyadh Cultural House celebrated the Kingdom’s Founding Day with a range of cultural programs that highlighted national values and showcased the nation’s…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Renovates Historic Al-Qibli Mosque in Riyadh

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques continues efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s authentic architectural identity. …

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Culture The Qassim Region Principality illuminated in green marking Founding Day - SPA

Qassim Region Principality Illuminated in Green in Celebration of Founding Day

The Qassim Region Principality building was illuminated in green in celebration of Founding Day. The scene reflected pride in the historical roots of the…

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Culture The renovation utilized traditional mud, stone, and wood to preserve the mosque's authentic Najdi architectural style. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Restores Century-Old Uqlat Al-Suqur Mosque in Qassim

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques has completed the restoration of the Uqlat Al-Suqur Mosque in Qassim Region,…

Culture This handout picture released by Panama’s Ministry of Culture shows an archaeologist working inside a pre-Hispanic tomb approximately 1,200 years old, discovered at the El Cano Archaeological Park in Cocle, Panama, on February 20, 2026. (Handout / Panama’s Ministry of Culture / AFP)

Tomb More Than 1,000 Years Old Found in Panama

Archaeologists have discovered a tomb more than a thousand years old in Panama containing human remains alongside gold and ceramic artifacts, the lead…

Culture László Bárdossy, head chef of the Neverland Pizzeria adds topping on the restaurant's Roman-era pizza in Budapest, Hungary, on Feb. 11, 2026. (AP)

When in Rome: Budapest Pizzeria Offers Time-Travel Twist with Ancient Rome-Inspired Pie

In Hungary’s capital, a city best known for its goulash, a pizzeria is inviting diners to travel back two millennia to a time before tomatoes, mozzarella or…

Culture The Red Sea Museum. (Red Sea Museum)

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum Announces Ramadan Program 

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum announced on Thursday a curated program of creative and cultural activities for the holy month of Ramadan, running from February 22 to…

Culture The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan. SPA

Saudi Arabia: Ship of Tolerance Initiative Promotes Cultural Dialogue in Jeddah

The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the "Lenobadir" volunteer and community partnership program and the Athr Foundation, has launched the Ship…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)