The
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates
World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to
cultural
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human Society, societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, and habits of the ...
or
natural heritage
Natural heritage refers to the sum total of the elements of biodiversity, including flora and fauna, ecosystems and geological structures. It forms part of our natural resources.
Definition
Heritage is that which is ''inherited'' from past gener ...
which have been nominated by countries that are signatories to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.
Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural heritage is defined as natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty.
Portugal ratified the convention on 30 September, 1980.
, there are 17 World Heritage Sites listed in Portugal, with a further 19 on the tentative list. The first four sites listed in Portugal were the
Monastery of the Hieronymites and
Tower of Belém
A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
in
Lisbon
Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
, the
Monastery of Batalha, the
Convent of Christ in Tomar, and the town of
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo (), or simply Angra, is a city and municipality on Terceira Island, Portugal, and one of the three capital cities of the Azores. Founded in 1478, Angra was historically the most important city in the Azores, as seat of the Roma ...
, in 1983. The most recent additions to the list were the
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga and the
Palace of Mafra with its
hunting park in 2019.
One site, the
Laurisilva, is located in the island of
Madeira
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and is Portugal's only natural site; the other sites are cultural. Two sites are located in the
Azores archipelago. The
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley
The Prehistoric Rock-Art Site of the Côa Valley is an open-air Paleolithic archaeological site located in Norte, Portugal, northeastern Portugal, near the border with Spain.
In the early 1990s rock engravings were discovered in Vila Nova de Foz ...
and
Siega Verde is shared with Spain, making it Portugal's only transnational site.
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World Heritage Sites
UNESCO lists sites under
ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural and vii through x are natural.
Tentative list
In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage list, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage list are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.
, Portugal recorded 19 sites on its tentative list.
See also
*
Tourism in Portugal
References
External links
*
Comissão Nacional da UNESCO – Portugal UNESCO National Commission – Portugal"
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of World Heritage Sites In Portugal
Tourism in Portugal
Portugal
World Heritage Sites