Portuguese Pavement candidate for Intangible Cultural Heritage

On the 19th of March, the candidacy of Portuguese Pavament (Calçada Portuguesa) was presented as Intangible Cultural Heritage. This proposal was presented at the Ministry of Culture and is an initiative for the recognition of the importance of the profession of paving stone and for the preservation of this type of pavement, mostly built with limestone. The patrimonial classification proposal, prepared by the Portuguese Pavement Association with the support of the Lisbon City Council, constitutes a commitment to enhance the profession of paving stone, paving the way for a broader work to promote Calçada Portuguesa that will focus on the extractive sector, for research, for artistic enrichment, for the protection of exceptional examples of sidewalks, for the consideration of their environmentally sustainable characteristics and for internationalization. The unique characteristics of Calçada Portuguesa and the strong cultural and identity component and its know-how will lead to the desirable distinction as a World Heritage Site.

Alexandre Vieira, Geological engineer