Politiques patrimoniales et rehabilitation urbaine au Portugal

In: Pôle sud: revue de science politique, Issue 22, p. 127-141

Abstract

The analysis of urban planning & of the rehabilitation of Portugal's architectural & urban historical heritage over the past fifteen years demonstrates a clear intensification of local processes aimed at preserving & enhancing historical sites. Three trends in particular are evident. The first is the effort to gain official recognition of world heritage sites. In addition, we note the spread of international methods of urban management. Finally there is a tendency towards excessive "packaging" or esthetic presentation of public spaces. Taking as examples the historic centers of four Portuguese cities, (Coimbra, Guimaraes, Porto, & Santarem) this article seeks to analyze the specificities of these policies with a view to understanding their experimental nature & to assessing the cultural sustainability as well of the policies themselves as of the urban centers that are their objects. Adapted from the source document.