Decision 45 COM 7B.196

Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (Portugal) (C1573)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decisions 43 COM 8B.30 and 44 COM 7B.54 adopted at its 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions respectively,
3. Notes with appreciation the State Party’s implementation of the requests made by the Committee with regards the constituting and functioning of the Cooperation Unit and the Advisory Unit and the continued development of various management tools for the property, including the Strategic and Management Plan for the Hunting Park and the ‘preliminary study’ for the Management Plan for the Cerco Garden;
4. Requests that the State Party accelerate the development of the various management plans so as to allow for the completion of the Integrated Management Plan for the property and the proper functioning of the Cooperation Unit, and submit these to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
5. Also notes with appreciation the State Party’s timely notification of its intent to renovate a portion of the Mafra Palace to house the National Museum of Music;
6. Further notes that the Memorandum of Understating between the School of Arms and the Mafra City Council, which includes the implementation of demolitions and new construction, was due to lapse in July 2023 and that the ‘preliminary study’ for the Management Plan for the Cerco Garden outlines a notable number of construction projects to be implemented in the medium term, and therefore also requests the State Party to:
   1. Extend the Memorandum of Understating between the School of Arms and the Mafra City to allow for the completion of the requalification and rehabilitation of the Military Parade Square,
   2. Submit a landscape architectural report for the Military Parade Square on improving the setting of the convent whilst meeting the functional needs,
   3. Ensure appropriate documentation of the buildings dating from the mid-20^th century identified for removal before their demolition,
   4. Provide details of the design of the new storage building for tactical vehicles to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before implementation of this component of the project,
   5. Provide details of the design of the Cerco Garden new construction and adaptation projects, which include a new aviary and enlargement of the Winter Greenhouse, the Administrative Office and the visitor’s shop, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, as soon as they are ready;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit an update on the functioning of the Advisory Unit and the Cooperation Unit in relation to its role in the conservation and management of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
8. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.