The Caliphal City of Medina Azahara inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

01/07/2018. [Cordoba] Spain
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA

The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Manama since June 24 under the chairmanship of Sheikha Haya Bint Rashed Al-Khalifa, registered today in its morning session two new cultural sites, one Spanish and one Italian, on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. The examination of the registration applications continues during this afternoon.

Aerial view of the Caliphate City of Medina Azahara. 01/12/2009. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Aerial view of the Caliphate City of Medina Azahara. 01/12/2009. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Hall of Abd al-Rahman III. Side nave. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

House of Ya'far. Decoration on arches 3. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Upper Gardens. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Upper Basilica Building. Interior 3. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Upper Basilica Building from garden. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

House of Ya'far. Entrance 2. 01/12/2009. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Upper Gardens. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Hall of Abd al-Rahman III. Detail of panel decoration. 01/10/2007. Photograph by M. Pijuán, © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Courtyard of the Pillars. The Meleager Sarcophagus. Image © Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Site (CAMaZ). Image courtesy of UNESCO

Spain is ranked third in the world and second in Europe with more places registered (46), only behind China and Italy.

"Medina Azahara is a symbol of tolerance and coexistence, this recognition is an example to continue betting on heritage, because investing in heritage is to invest in the future," says Miguel Ángel Vázquez, Minister of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía and member of the Spanish delegation that has attended the 42nd meeting of the World Heritage Committee.

Caliphate City of Medina Azahara. Spain. The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archaeological site of a city built in the mid-10th century CE by the Umayyad dynasty as the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After prospering for several years, it was laid to waste during the civil war that put an end to the Caliphate in 1009-10. The remains of the city were forgotten for almost 1,000 years until their rediscovery in the early 20th century. This complete urban ensemble features infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, buildings, decorative elements and everyday objects. It provides in-depth knowledge of the now vanished Western Islamic civilization of Al-Andalus, at the height of its splendour.

Ivrea, industrial city of the 20th century (Italy). The industrial city of Ivrea is located in the Piedmont region and developed as the testing ground for Olivetti, manufacturer of typewriters, mechanical calculators and office computers. It comprises a large factory and buildings designed to serve the administration and social services, as well as residential units. Designed by leading Italian urban planners and architects, mostly between 1930 and the 1960s, this architectural ensemble reflects the ideas of the Community Movement (Movimento Comunità). A model social project, Ivrea expresses a modern vision of the relationship between industrial production and architecture.