Mértola is to host the 5th international conference on how to protect and get the most out of historic city centres.
Specialists from various countries will debate and reflect on their own historic centers and learn more of the World Heritage application process.
The delegates all are from within Portugal’s ‘Portuguese Language Union of Capital Cities’ group and will meet, on January 19th and 20th, at the Cineteatro Marques Duque in Mértola.
The first day will be dedicated to the management of historical centres, when case studies will be presented.
The next day will be run by the Regional Director of Culture of the Alentejo, Ana Paula Amendoeira, who will discuss the application process for World Heritage Site status.
The second day also will look at case studies, including M'Banza, Évora and Mértola. There will also be a round-table discussion on ‘Historical Centers World Heritage, from theory to practice.’
This meeting has been organised by Mértola council and the Union of Capital Cities of Portuguese Language.
Hopefully, city planner Ditza Reis from Olhão council will attend to learn how to preserve historic centres as opposed to modernising them, such has been the international uproar over council plans to remove historic calçada and install inappropriate street furniture. This assumes she has time while preparing for her next two court cases involving local council corruption.
