year of inscription. 1991
criteria. Cultural
The Historic City of Ayutthaya is located in the province of the same name. Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam. From thence until the 18th century CE, it was a splendid cosmopolitan city, a centre of global diplomacy and trade, characterised by monumental buildings and religious structures. The eclectic Ayutthaya style of architecture and art, which marries the earlier Sukhothai style with foreign influences, continues to be influential in Thailand today. In 1767, the Burmese invaded and razed the city to the ground, expelling all its residents, leaving the site as it is today.
