World Heritage in Portugal

Portugal has more than a dozen assets inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, ranging from the Palaeolithic art of the Côa Valley to living historic centres such as those of Évora, Porto and Guimarães. Each inscription rests on an outstanding universal value — the rare and demanding criterion that distinguishes World Heritage from merely national heritage.

In preparation, pages devoted to Coimbra (University, Alta and Sofia), to the historic centre of Évora, to the cultural landscape of Sintra, to the archaeological site of the Côa Valley and to the historic centre of Guimarães — the cradle of the nation.

What “outstanding universal value” means

An asset enters the List only if it demonstrates a cultural or natural importance that transcends national borders and is common to humanity. To this criterion are added the requirements of authenticity (the asset preserves its original material and design) and of integrity (it remains complete and protected). To understand an inscription is, first of all, to understand the argument that justified it.