The first day of the Alianza de Paisajes workshop has begun in Menorca with an official reception at the Consell Insular.
President Adolfo Vilafranca welcomed attendees, highlighting the importance of this gathering in strengthening the connection between heritage and society.
"It is an honor to contribute to organizing and hosting this event, which we consider important because it focuses on providing professionals with tools for the communication and dissemination of our heritage. We see the workshop as essential for citizens to learn about and appreciate Talayotic Menorca, to value our collective past and present, and to contribute to the conservation of heritage and the natural environment," Vilafranca explained.
"Menorca is a very young member of the Alianza. We joined last year, as we have been a World Heritage Site since 2023, and that is why we believe that these sessions represent
a step forward in our commitment to culture and sustainability. Menorca has a high density of archaeological sites—more than 1,500 in just over 700 square kilometers—making us an open-air museum where the relationship between landscape and archaeology forms a whole. This, in fact, was the foundation of our UNESCO candidacy. Furthermore, the island has been a Biosphere Reserve for over 30 years, so landscape conservation and sustainability are our top priorities," added the president of the Consell Insular de Menorca.
Following the reception, participants visited the Naveta des Tudons, one of the most representative monuments of the World Heritage-listed Talayotic Menorca. The visit served as an introduction to the island’s rich archaeological heritage, emphasizing the importance of its conservation and dissemination.
The first presentations of the workshop addressed various strategies for the interpretation of World Heritage. Pablo Jiménez Díaz, from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, analyzed different approaches to communicating these sites, while Celia Martínez Yáñez, from ICOMOS International, discussed authenticity and regulation in heritage interpretation. Mariola Andonegui, from the San Millán de la Cogolla Foundation, presented an educational program that serves as a benchmark in heritage dissemination.
The workshop, which will continue until tomorrow, March 12, combines theoretical sessions with
visits to historical sites on the island, making Menorca a meeting point for experts in heritage and communication.
About the Alliance
The Alliance is an association that brings together 13 landscapes and sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List across Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. Its goal is to promote the exchange of experiences and best practices in the management, conservation, and dissemination of these sites, fostering innovative approaches and collaborative strategies.
Since its creation, the Alliance has actively worked on organizing meetings, workshops, and discussion forums, such as the one currently taking place in Menorca, to improve the communication of heritage values and their connection with society.