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The
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO)
was created in 1945 to promote peace and security by
means of education, science and culture. To date UNESCO,
whose headquarters are based in Paris, France, has 193
member states and has designated 13 sites in
Portugal
as world heritage locations, though more are
in consideration.
To date
(as of 2009) the number of sites worldwide was recorded
at 890, so given Portugal's diminutive size in relation
to other larger nations, this is quite a significant
achievement.
The
first sites to be listed by UNESCO were the
Convento de Cristo,
Monastery of Batalha, Monastery of the Hieronymites and
the
Torre
de Belém all which received UNESCO listing
status in 1983.
The last
site to be granted UNESCO status was the Landscape of
the Pico Island Vineyard Culture. in 2004. However the
UNESCO Committee will convene again for it's 34th
session on 25th July 2010 in Brasilia, Brazil to discuss
the latest list of nominations to be considered for this
high profile status.
Among the 35 sites listed
for consideration, two are situated in
Portugal
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Dinosaur Ichnites of the Iberian Peninsula of Portugal
and Spain; Palaeolithic Rock Art Ensemble in Siega Verde
(extension of Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa
Valley). |
