On March 12 and 13, an interesting cultural event will take place in Zaragoza. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Mudejar art as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the UN Tourism Forum Zaragoza 2026 has been scheduled with the theme of World Heritage and Tourism: An Unbeatable Union.
The Forum is organized by the Zaragoza City Council and UN Tourism, which gives the event an international character. Experts in heritage, universities, and cultural agents from various countries such as Amsterdam, Cologne, Zagreb, Linz, Kosice, and Matera are expected to participate, along with representatives from several Spanish cities like Madrid, Seville, Burgos, Gijón, Granada, and Valencia.
The intense program of talks, round tables, and visits will take place at the Seo Cathedral, the Aljafería Palace, and the Church of San Pablo, sites that have been included on the World Heritage list since 2001.
Alongside these locations, the Mudejar catalog of Aragon, considered a universal and irreplaceable asset, includes the Collegiate Church of Santa María de Calatayud, the Church of the Assumption of Cervera de la Cañada, and the Church of Santa María de Tobed.
In November 1986, UNESCO recognized the cultural value of Mudejar with monuments in Teruel such as the roof and dome of the Cathedral of Santa María de Mediavilla, the tower and church of San Pedro, the tower of the Church of the Savior, and the tower of the Church of San Martín. The Camino de Santiago, declared a World Heritage Site in 1993, includes its Aragonese section, featuring medieval sites such as the Cathedral of Jaca and the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña.
The Rock Art of the Mediterranean Arc, declared a World Heritage Site, has sites in communities such as Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Murcia, and Valencia, including shelters and caves in the cultural parks of the Martín and Vero rivers in Aragon.
The Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park is recognized as a World Heritage Site for its cultural and natural values, representing the richness of the Pyrenees. These and other places will be discussed at the Forum, highlighting the tourist and economic development that their protection and conservation entail.
