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Frequently asked questions
Brief answers to common questions about Portuguese cultural heritage, UNESCO classification and this project.
What is “cultural heritage”?
In a broad sense, it is the set of assets — tangible and intangible — that a society recognises as an inheritance worthy of being conserved and transmitted. It includes monuments and sites, but also landscapes, objects, practices and knowledge. The decision about what is heritage is itself a cultural act: see Heritage-making.
What is the difference between national heritage and World Heritage?
An asset may be classified at the national level (in Portugal, by the DGPC, as a National Monument or Property of Public Interest) and, separately, be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The latter requires the demonstration of an outstanding universal value — an importance that transcends national borders. There is far more nationally classified heritage than there is World Heritage.
How many Portuguese sites are World Heritage?
Portugal has more than a dozen cultural assets inscribed, among them Coimbra, Évora, Sintra, Guimarães, the Côa Valley and the ensemble at Belém, as well as landscapes such as the Alto Douro Wine Region. The list is updated periodically by UNESCO.
What makes a monument “authentic”?
In the doctrine of conservation, authenticity refers to the extent to which an asset preserves its original material, design and function. An excessive restoration may increase the legibility of a monument and, at the same time, diminish its authenticity — one of the central tensions of conservation theory.
Is this site official?
No. Patrimónios is an independent editorial project. It does not replace the official sources — DGPC, UNESCO, museums — to which it always refers. On how it works, see Method and sources.