Old City of Salamanca
Factors affecting the property in 2004*
- Housing
- Legal framework
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Urban pression
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2004
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2004**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2004
On 1 February 2004, the World Heritage Centre received a report by the State Party, in which it is stressed that the regional authorities had not received any information nor construction proposals concerning the Huerto de las Adoratrices, a walled plot in the core area of the World Heritage property formerly occupied by a convent and its garden. The report remarks that the municipal law on the protection of the historic city centre is being strictly applied and that minor modifications of the law are allowed, subject to the approval of a cultural heritage commission of the regional government of Castile and Leon. One of these modifications took place on 15 September 2000, opening the plot of the Adoratrices to construction.
The report also indicates that the preservation of open places is guaranteed in the municipal law, depending on whether the building on the plot is classified as a protected monument or not. As the convent of the Adoratrices is not a protected building, the walled garden is also not protected.
Despite the clarification that no project for construction has been received, the report failed to confirm that no construction will take place. Therefore, the extent of guarantees submitted by the State Party for the implementation of the Convention is greatly weakened by the facility with which the document for urban protection has been modified. Furthermore, the legal measures taken to avoid urban encroachment are not effective, as open spaces like the garden of the Adoratrices are not considered in their own value, but determined by the value of the constructed heritage.
This situation creates uncertainty about the effective protection of the World Heritage property. It also raises the question of what is effectively the subject of World Heritage protection, as the modifications of the municipal law that served as the basis for inscription on the World Heritage List allow the exclusion of parts of the site from the protection of the Convention. Without questioning the development needs of a living monumental city centre, the modifications may however put into question the authenticity and universal value of the site.
Concerning the new revision of the urban plan, ICOMOS expressed its wish to comment on it, before it is adopted. This is also the case for the draft of the revised local legislation, which is in progress.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2004
28 COM 15B.98
Old City of Salamanca (Spain)
The World Heritage Committee,1. Takes note with appreciation that the Spanish authorities have provided a report as requested (Decision 27 COM 7B.76);
2. Recalls that the plot of the Huerto de las Adoratrices was included in the original nomination file as an integral part of the core area of the World Heritage property;
3. Regrets that the Huerto de las Adoratrices has been excluded from the protection of the municipal law on heritage protection;
4. Further regrets the recent changes to the law, which do not only affect the Huerto de las Adoratrices but also other monuments and plots within the boundaries of the area protected under the World Heritage Convention;
5. Urges the State Party to elaborate an integrated management plan for the World Heritage property as a whole, which should be developed and endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2005, the draft revisions of the municipal legislation on heritage protection as well as the urban development plan in order to transmit them to ICOMOS for its comments and review so that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 29th session in 2005.
Draft Decision:28 COM 15B.98
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Takes note with appreciation that the Spanish authorities have provided a report as requested;
2. Recalls that the plot of the Huerto de las Adoratrices was included in the original nomination file as an integral part of the core area of the World Heritage property;
3. Regrets that the Huerto de las Adoratrices has been excluded from the protection of the municipal law on heritage protection;
4. Further regrets the recent changes to the law, which do not only affect the “Huerto de las Adoratrices” but also other monuments and plots within the boundaries of the area protected under the Convention;
5. Urges the State Party to elaborate an integrated management plan for the World Heritage site as a whole, which should be developed and endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2005, the draft revisions of the municipal legislation on heritage protection as well as the urban development plan in order to transmit them to ICOMOS for its comments and review so that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 29th session in 2005.
Spain
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
