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Inscription: The University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares (Spain)

Document type
Decision
Reference number
VIII.B.1
Date
Nov 30, 1998
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Status
Active
Subject
Wild species & ecosystems
Treaty
Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Nov 23, 1972)
Meeting
22e session du Comité
Website
whc.unesco.org
Abstract

Property: The University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares

Id. N°: 876

State Party: Spain

Criteria: C (ii)(iv)(vi)

The Committee inscribed this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi):

Criterion (ii): Alcalá de Henares was the first city to be designed and built solely as the seat of a university, and was to serve as the model for other centres of learning in Europe and the Americas.

Criterion (iv): The concept of the ideal city, the City of God (Civitas Dei), was first given material expression in Alcalá de Henares, from where it was widely diffused throughout the world.

Criterion (vi): The contribution of Alcalá de Henares to the intellectual development of humankind finds expression in its materialization of the Civitas Dei, in the advances in linguistics that took place there, not least in the definition of the Spanish language, and through the work of its great son, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and his masterpiece, Don Quixote.

The Delegate of Thailand, while agreeing with the inscription, expressed his reservation on the application of criterion (vi).

The Delegate of Morocco added that the Islamic origins of the city are important to note. The Delegate of Mexico commended the preservation and management of this site in view of its proximity to a large urban centre.