The Alhambra a UNESCO World Hertitage site In Andalucia.
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN ANDALUCIA
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (either a natural feature, such as a forest, mountain, lake or desert; or a manmade item, such as a monument, building or city) that is listed by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as of special cultural, historical, architectural or physical significance, and outstanding universal value, which should be conserved for the common heritage of humanity. The programme was founded in 1972. Some sites are eligible for special funding.
Andalucia has six World Heritage Sites - five cultural and one natural: Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín (Granada); Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias (Seville); the Historic City Centre of Cordoba (including the Mezquita); the Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza; and 68 items of cave art in Almeria, Granada and Jaen provinces, which is included in Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. The natural World Heritage Site is Doñana National Park in Huelva.
There are currently 911 sites, with Italy having the most (45). Spain has 42 sites in total: 37 cultural, three natural and two mixed sites. The Spanish for "World Heritage" is Patrimonio Mundial. The list is maintained by the International World Heritage Programme, administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 state parties (countries) which are elected by their General Assembly for a four-year term.
| Granada |  |
Seville |
| Granada - the Alhambra, Generalife, and Albaicin. Moody and magnificent monuments to Moorish times More > |
Seville - the Cathedral, Alcazar and Archivo de Indias. Intriguing blends of Christian and Moorish architecture, with invaluable historic documents of Spain's golden colonial era in the Archivo More > |
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| Cordoba | |
Ubeda and Baeza |
| Cordoba - the Mezquita and Historic Centre. The superb, stripy Cathedral-Mosque, plus the beautiful old quarter with its pretty patios and Alcazar More > |
Jaen - Ubeda and Baeza. Two exquisite Renaissance towns. More > |
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| Doñana National Park | |
Rock Art |
| Doñana National Park, home to unique wetlands which draw thousands of migrating birds, as well as the endangered lynx. More > |
Rock art - Prehistoric cave paintings in Jaen, Granada and Almeria, including a graphic logo you're sure to recognise More > |
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
As well as buildings and natural features, UNESCO now has a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Patrimonio Inmaterial de la Humanidad), which encompasses cultural traditions, practices and crafts, specifically “oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.” These are defined as being traditional, contemporary and living; inclusive; representative; and community-based.
Andalucia has three cultural traditions inscribed in this list; flamenco, the Mediterranean diet; and the Cordoba Patios Festival.
| Flamenco | |
Mediterranean diet |
| This typically Andalucian art form, which consists of guitar, song and dance, is now on the list of Intangible World Heritage. It originated in gypsy families in Andalucian cities such as Seville, Jerez and Granada, and is now studied, practised and performed all around the world. More > |
An essential part of life in Andalucia, this encompasses ingredients (olive oil, cereals, fresh fruit and vegetables, moderate dairy and meat), as well as skills and techniques of growing and harvesting crops; biodiversity; and associated crafts, rituals and traditions. More > |
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| Cordoba Patios Festival | |
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| A colourful festival in May, when private houses in Cordoba open up their patios to visitors. More > |
WORLD BIOSPHERE RESERVES
These are distributed across 31 countries in the region.
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between man and nature (e.g. encourage sustainable development).
In 2010 there were 564 biosphere reserves in 109 countries. In Andalucia there are eight namely.
- Grazalema (1977)
- Doñana (1980)
- Las Sierras de Cazorla y Segura (1983)
- Marismas del Odiel (1983)
- Sierra Nevada (1986)
- Sierra de las Nieves y su Entorno (1995)
- Cabo de Gata-Nijar (1997)
- Las Dehesas de Sierra Morena (2002)
