Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
- Housing
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Project to construct a new bridge over the river Rio Adajo just outside the historic walls of the city of Avila (issue resolved)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2003**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003
On 24 April 2003, the World Heritage Centre received a report by the City Council of Avila with information and photos of a new building and the complete refurbishment within the square “Mercado Grande / Plaza de Santa Teresa” in Avila. Two old buildings had been demolished to clear the area for the new building designed by a renowned architect. The volume of the new building is not proportionate to the ensemble of the Square as it is bigger than the two demolished buildings it is replacing. The Romanesque Church of San Pedro, on the opposite side of the Square, is described in the nomination file as one of the four protected extra-muros churches.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.78
Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches (Spain)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Acknowledging that the Spanish authorities have provided, as requested by the World Heritage Centre, information concerning the current state of the construction plan for the Plaza Santa Teresa,;
2. Recalling that the Plaza Santa Teresa has been included in the nomination file as part of the protected area of the property ‘Old Town of Avila', being the buffer zone between the Puerta del Alcazar and the Church of San Pedro,;
3. Recalling also that when inscribing the property in 1985, the extra-muros Church of San Pedro was included in the listed area, as advised by the Bureau, and special mention was made of the Square of Santa Teresa as a high point within the World Heritage property,;
4. Further recalling Paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines, where the State Party is requested to inform the World Heritage Centre of any construction plans that may affect a World Heritage property,;
5. Expresses concern about the demolition of the old buildings, its impact on the authenticity of the World Heritage property, the construction plans for a new and bigger building, and the refurbishment of the Plaza Santa Teresa;
6. Urges the State Party to reconsider the construction plans of the new building in order to adapt it as far as possible to the historic ensemble of the area;
7. Requests the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004, a report on these issues in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004.
Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 78
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Acknowledging that the Spanish authorities have provided, as requested by the Centre, information concerning the current state of the constructions plans for the Plaza Santa Teresa,
2. Recalling that the Plaza Santa Teresa has been included in the nomination file as part of the protected area of the site ‘Old Town of Avila’, being the buffer zone between the Puerta del Alcazar and the Church of San Pedro,
3. Recalling also that when inscribing the site in 1985, the extra-muros Church of San Pedro was included in the listed area, as advised by the Bureau, and special mention was made of the Square of Santa Teresa as a high point within the World Heritage site,
4. Further recalling Article 56 of the Operational Guidelines, wherein the State Party is requested to inform the World Heritage Centre of any construction plans that may affect a World Heritage site,
5. Expresses concern about the demolition of the old buildings, its impact on the authenticity of the World Heritage site, the construction plans for a new and bigger building, and the refurbishment of the Plaza Santa Teresa,
6. Urges the State Party to reconsider the construction plans of the new building in order to adapt it as far as possible to the historic ensemble of the area,
7. Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2004, a report on these issues for examination at its 28th session.
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.
