The Plaza del Pilar and its surroundings will be proposed as a World Heritage Site

The proposal includes the Lonja, the Basilica del Pilar and the entire Seo complex.

Vanesa Aso Martín Tuesday, February 4, 2025 / 09:00

Although part of the Plaza del Pilar, corresponding to the Mudejar surroundings of the Seo, already has the distinction of World Heritage, the City Council of Zaragoza will now begin the procedure so that the whole of it,
including the Basilica, can have this title. The proposal, which was agreed unanimously in the Plenary Session last Thursday, will now be transferred to the Archbishopric and the Government of Aragon.

It should be remembered, in any case, that this initiative was already launched in 2020, when Jorge Azcón was still mayor. At that time, however, the application was not completed so as not to hinder the candidacy of the jota , to which the Zaragoza City Council contributed and continues to show its support to this day.

In this sense, the political groups present in the Zaragoza council (PP, PSOE, Vox and ZeC) agreed to promote, among others, the declaration of the Lonja as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the creation of a network of Lonjas that recognizes and disseminates the heritage value of these emblematic civil buildings of what was the Crown of Aragon. This declaration would also extend to the rear of the Seo and the Basilica of Pilar.

PROCESS FOR DECLARING A PROPERTY AS A WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTY

According to the 1972 Convention on World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the first step a country must take to include a property on the World Heritage List is to draw up an inventory of the properties eligible for the declaration, which is known as the Tentative List.

Only properties that have been on this list for at least one year can submit their formal candidacy. In Spain, this indicative list is made up of proposals from the Autonomous Communities. Hence the need for the City Council of Zaragoza and the Government of Aragon to work hand in hand in the proposal.

According to the Zaragoza City Council, this candidacy is a great opportunity to preserve and enhance the heritage, as well as to promote it as a tourist destination, at a crucial time with important dates marked on the calendar. This is the case of the bicentennial of Goya in 2028 or the bimillennium of the Coming of the Virgin in 2040.