UNESCO launched the Creative Cities Network concept in 2004 with the purpose of fostering international cooperation among cities while turning creativity into a driving force for development, taking into account ideas of sustainability, social inclusion, and cultural influence. Since then, a dozen Spanish cities have joined the Creative Cities Network. The latest to be added to this exclusive list is Zaragoza.
Zaragoza has done so in the category of gastronomy, one of the seven themes that structure this network, which also embraces other topics such as literature, film, music, folk arts, design, and digital art. Linking Zaragoza with gastronomy is a smart bet given its culinary tradition, the quality of local products, and the new offerings presented in the city’s restaurants and venues.
All of this was considered for Zaragoza’s inclusion in the network last October. It is now that the Zaragoza city council has unveiled its action plan to position the Aragonese capital as a national and international point of reference. A key objective among the members of the Creative Cities Network is to schedule activities and international cooperation programs among the 408 member cities spread across more than a hundred countries.
Therefore, being welcomed into this network will allow Zaragoza to exchange and promote various projects linked to gastronomy, as well as those related to culture, science, education, and, of course, the tourism industry. Strengthening the city’s international projection is one of the major goals.
To present the action plan that the Zaragoza City Council will develop, the Gente Rara restaurant, one of the trendiest venues in the city, was chosen as the setting. Attending the event were Mayor Natalia Chueca, along with the Counselor for Culture, Education, and Tourism, Sara Fernández; the manager of Zaragoza Turismo, José Francisco García; and the Head of Cultural Programs at the Spanish Commission for UNESCO, Diego Escámez, to explain the details of this project that aims to position the city as a prominent gastronomic tourist destination in Europe.
The action plan is structured into five well-defined blocks, each with its own program.
First, the focus is on tourism promotion and international cooperation in sustainable gastronomy, a cornerstone within the objectives of the Creative Cities Network. UNESCO gastronomic routes will be created featuring appropriate establishments, and these routes will be present at various national and international forums. This program includes participation in events in European countries as part of the Saborea España network. Additionally, the International Garnacha and Gastronomy Festival will feature a program from the Creative Cities Network, including seminars, workshops, tastings, and an event dedicated to sustainable gastronomy. Furthermore, the collaboration with other countries will peak with Zaragoza’s participation in the National Harvest Festival of Mendoza (Argentina).
Secondly, the goal is to connect different creative fields with gastronomy. This will be the leit motiv of the future International Gastronomy and Creative Arts Fair in 2027, where flavor and the best cuisine will be linked to film, visual arts, and music. Similarly, collaborations will be devised with the well-established Asalto Festival or the Distrito 7 project.
The third block of actions seeks to link gastronomy with local culture and our historical-artistic heritage. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Mudéjar architecture in Aragon as UNESCO World Heritage, the configuration of the Roots and Flavors of the Mudéjar UNESCO Route is proposed. Visiting significant monuments, where cultural tours will be complemented by tastings of traditional recipes inspired by local products and Mudéjar influence, will take place.
Sustainability inspires the fourth field of action of the program. Here, collaboration with the Sustainable Restaurants Foundation will be essential, as they will promote the development of non-harmful food and responsible consumption, emphasizing the importance of reducing food waste. Within this framework, the goal is to strengthen Zaragoza’s role as the World Capital of Garnacha, and therefore, as a reference in gastronomic tourism.
Finally, the fifth section of the action plan is aimed at training and innovation. This includes educational programs for students with different abilities, as well as collaborations with the Hospitality Federation to facilitate exchanges among professionals from various cities. Existing academic institutions such as the Aragon Center for Research and Technology in the Agri-food Sector (CITA), the Agri-food Transfer Center (CTA) of the Government of Aragon, the Aragon Agri-food Institute (IA2), the Aula Dei scientific campus, and the Aragon Academy of Gastronomy will also be involved.
In conclusion, Zaragoza’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities of the World Network represents a significant opportunity to project our culinary identity—and thus our cultural identity—beyond our borders.
