The municipality of Vila Real de Santo António will host the headquarters of the International Association of Cities and Entities of the Enlightenment (AICEI), a structure designed to jointly promote the economic and cultural importance of cities that were founded in the Enlightenment period of the century XVIII.
The decision was taken during the IX International Meeting of the AICEI, held in Valencia (Spain), a forum whose center of debate was «Historical Heritage and the Economy of Culture».
For Luís Gomes, Mayor of VRSA, with this mission, Vila Real de Santo António further reinforces its importance as an enlightened city and is committed to promoting a broad debate on the challenges facing urban regeneration, with a view to architectural preservation and the current economic and financial situation.
«The Historic Center of Vila Real de Santo António is currently one of the best examples of XNUMXth century architecture and urbanism, whose importance led to the approval of a Safeguard Plan for its Pombalino Nucleus and the creation of the first Rehabilitation Area Urbana (ARU) of the country», notes Luís Gomes.
It is being the target of the largest redevelopment operation ever carried out, valued at one and a half million euros, and which is transforming the city into a tourist and commercial reference.
The process, underway since 2013, is financed by the Jessica community fund and gave rise to the creation of the “VRSA a Céu Aberto” brand, through which all commerce and urban materials were standardized and the most emblematic buildings in the city were reclassified.
AICEI is a non-profit association, with an international character, which aims to establish a network of cooperation and study between member cities and entities, promoting the enhancement and conservation of the heritage inherited from the «Século das Luzes».
Through its activities and annual congresses, it aims to spread knowledge and protection of the material and immaterial heritage of the XNUMXth century and its projection and reflection in the XNUMXst century, considering that its values are a differentiating element for progress and socioeconomic development.
Currently, AICEI has 14 members, including cities and entities such as Barcelona, Real Sítio de San Ildefonso/Segovia, Almacelles, Ferrol, Valencia, Es Castell/Menorca, Cádiz, University of Cádiz, Madrid, Cartagena, Vila Real from Santo António and the city of Guatemala, where the AICEI sub-headquarters for the Ibero-American continent is located.
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