List of World Heritage Sites in Portugal

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Portugal accepted the convention on Sept 30, 1980, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list.

Sites in Portugal were first inscribed on the list at the 7th Session of the World Heritage Committee, in 1983. At that session, four sites were added: the "Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores"; "The Monastery of Batalha]"; the "Convent of Christ in Tomar"; and the joint inscription of "Monastery of the Hieronymites" and "Tower of Belém" in Lisbon. One site was added in 1985 (Historic Centre of Évora), and nine other sites since then. As of 2012, Portugal has 14 total sites inscribed on the list. Of these 14 sites, 13 are cultural and 1 is natural; Site named Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde is shared with Spain after its extension. Two sites are in the Azores and 1 in Madeira.

List of sites

The table lists information about each World Heritage Site:

Name: as listed by the World Heritage Committee

Location: city or province of site

Period: time period of significance, typically of construction

UNESCO data: the site's reference number; the year the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List; the criteria it was listed under: criteria i through vi are cultural, while vii through x are natural; (the column sorts by year added to the list)

Description: brief description of the site

Site	Image	Location	Criteria	Area ha (acre)	Year	Description	Refs
Alto Douro Wine Region		Portugal !Douro Subregion, Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province, Portugal 41°6′6″N 7°47′56″W	Cultural: (iii)(iv)(v)	700424600000000000024,600 (61,000); buffer zone 225,400 (557,000)	2001	Wine has been produced by traditional landholders in the Alto Douro region for some 2,000 years. Since the 18th century, its main product, port wine, has been world famous for its quality. This long tradition of viticulture has produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty that reflects its technological, social and economic evolution.
Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores		Portugal !Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal 38°39′18″N 27°13′12″W	Cultural: (iv)(vi)	—	1983
Convent of Christ in Tomar		Portugal !Tomar, Santarém District, Portugal 39°36′17″N 8°25′3″W	Cultural: (i)(vi)	—	1983
Cultural Landscape of Sintra		Portugal !Sintra, Portugal 38°47′0″N 9°25′0″W	Cultural: (ii)(iv)(v)	7002946000000000000946 (2,340); buffer zone 3,641 (9,000)	1995
Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications		Portugal !Alentejo, POR 38°52′50″N 7°9′48″W	Cultural: (iv)	7002179000000000000179 (440); buffer zone 608 (1,500)	2012	The site, extensively fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries, represents the largest bulwarked dry ditch system in the work. Within its walls, the town contains barracks and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries. While Elvas contains remains dating back to the 10th century A.D., its fortification began when Portugal regained independence in 1640. The fortifications designed by Dutch Jesuit Padre João Piscásio Cosmander represent the best surviving example of the Dutch school of fortifications anywhere. The site also contains the Amoreira Aqueduct, built to enable the stronghold to withstand lengthy sieges.
Historic Centre of Évora		Portugal !Évora Municipality, Alentejo, Portugal 38°34′23″N 7°54′28″W	Cultural: (ii)(iv)	—	1986
Historic Centre of Guimarães		Portugal !Braga District, Minho Province, Portugal 41°26′27″N 8°17′41″W	Cultural: (ii)(iii)(iv)	700116000000000000016 (40); buffer zone 45 (110)	2001
Historic Centre of Oporto		Portugal !Oporto, Norte, Portugal 41°8′30″N 8°37′0″W	Cultural: (iv)	—	1996
Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture		Portugal !Azores, Portugal 38°30′48″N 28°32′28″W	Cultural: (iii)(v)	7002190000000000000190 (470); buffer zone 2,445 (6,040)	2004
Laurisilva of Madeira		Madeira, Portugal	Natural:PorLau (ix), (x)	700415000000000000015,000 (37,000)	1999	The site is the largest surviving area of laurel forest. It consists of approximately 90% old-growth forest and is home to endemic species such as the Madeiran long-toed pigeon.
Monastery of Alcobaça		Portugal !Alcobaça, Leiria District, Portugal 39°33′0″N 8°58′36″W	Cultural: (i)(iv)	—	1989
Monastery of Batalha		Portugal !Batalha, Leiria District, Portugal 39°39′28″N 8°49′37″W	Cultural: (i)(ii)	69999800000000000000.98 (2.4); buffer zone 86 (210)	1983
Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon		Portugal !Lisbon, Portugal 38°41′31″N 9°12′57″W	Cultural: (iii)(vi)	70002660000000000002.66 (6.6); buffer zone 103 (250)	1983
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde		ZZZ !Portugal; Spain 40°41′51″N 6°39′40″W	Cultural: (i)(iii)	—	1998	The original 1998 listing contained examples of Upper Palaeolithic rock art in the Côa Valley of Portugal. In 2010 it was extended to include 645 engravings in the archaeological zone of Siega Verde in Spain. The two sites represent the most well-preserved collection of open-air Paleolithic art in the Iberian peninsula.

Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage list, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage list are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. As of 2012, Portugal recorded 24 sites on its tentative list. The sites, along with the year they were included on the tentative list are:

1. Historic Centre of Santarém (1996)
2. Algar do Carvão (1996)
3. Furna do Enxofre (1996)
4. Town of Marvão and the craggy mountain on which it is located (2000)
5. Ilhas Selvagens (Selvagens Islands) (2002)
6. The Southwest Coast (2004)
7. Pombaline Baixa or Downtown of Lisbon (2004)
8. Mafra Palace, Convent and Royal Hunting Park (2004)
9. Coimbra University (2004)
10. Forest Park of the Discalced Carmelites, Buçaco (2004)
11. Arrábida (2004)
12. Icnitos of Dinossaurs (2008)

Location of sites

Alto Douro
Wine Region

Convent of Christ

Sintra

Elvas

Évora

Guimarães

Oporto

Alcobaça Monastery

Batalha Monastery

Jerónimos and Tower of Belém

Côa Valley

Location of World Heritage Sites within mainland Portugal.

Angra do Heroísmo

Pico Vineyard

Location of World Heritage Sites within the Azores Islands.

Laurisilva

Location of World Heritage Sites within the Madeira Islands.

External links

(Portuguese) Comissão Nacional da UNESCO - Portugal