UNESCO high points World Heritage Site project led by Porto

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has highlighted the project led by Porto "AtlaS-WH - Heritage in the Atlantic Area: Sustainability of the Urban World Heritage" project, funded by the INTERREG - Atlantic Area programme", which aggregates other UNESCO world heritage cities, namely Santiago de Compostela, Bordeaux, Florence and Edinburgh. 

The latest UNESCO newsletter on innovative practices regarding cultural management all around the world highlights the "Historic Centres under Change - Perspectives of World Heritage in the Atlantic Area" work, a project led by Porto that was presented in the Invicta last May 2019, based on the conclusions that had been drafted in Florence.

The global purpose of such study, which was led by Porto, was jointly carried out with Florence, Santiago de Compostela, Bordeaux and Edinburgh, and its aim was to design tailored sustainability plans of each WHS, by means of an integrated and participative management and monitoring model, based on the common know-how and best practices.

The AtlaS.WH - Heritage in the Atlantic Area, focuses on finding global methodologies and solutions to addressing common challenges that affect Urban World Heritage Sites, namely by stimulating heritage-led economic and cultural development, following the conclusions of the "Diagnosis Study of Urban World Heritage Sites in the Atlantic Area".

Amid the ongoing pandemic, the challenges facing urban landscape are manifold, and it is crucial that conservation and management strategies in local and urban planning processes are enhanced, without encroaching on the different traditions and cultural specificities of each region but rather spotlighting heritage in the special development process that must be built towards urban sustainability.

Porto Historic Centre and Bridge Luiz I, alongside the Monastery of Serra do Pilar, have been classified World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1996.