Rui Moreira showcases Porto's good practices on urban rehabilitation and preservation of cultural heritage

The Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira was invited to lecture at the International Forum "Diálogo de Política Regional - Patrimonio y Ciudad" [Dialogue of Regional Politics - Heritage and City], which was held in Lima, Peru, from 28 to 30 November.

"Under the leadership of Rui Moreira, the city of Porto emerged as an outstanding example of growth, founded on its property assets and on tourism, placing the city at the top of the list of the most fascinating and sought for cities worldwide", as described by the Forum Organisation.

Mayor Rui Moreira was invited to share Porto's success story on urban rehabilitation and preservation of cultural heritage on that occasion, as Porto is evermore one of the most attractive cities regarding tourism and culture.

On the last day of the Forum, Rui Moreira lectured on the topic "Heritage and Productive City" and spoke to an audience of Mayors and councillors for cultural affairs of the Andean region, highlighting the good practice and achievements vis-à-vis Heritage preservation, redevelopment of the historical centre and urban rehabilitation.

Rui Moreira showcased the policies implemented by the municipal executive in urbanism, economy and culture areas.

This event was organised by the Inter-American Development Bank, supported by the Government of Peru and its Ministry of Culture, in the framework of the "Politics Regional Dialogue" sessions.

This forum focused on the "resiliency capacity of cities and the preservation of the cultural urban heritage of cities", which can be of great value "for the development of a local economy rooted on activities such as tourism and cultural and creative industries".

Rui Moreira was the only European Mayor to have been invited to such forum.

This knowledge and best practices sharing is of great value for the Latin American and Caribbean countries in terms of the regeneration of cities. That part of the world has 140 sites declared UNESCO World Heritage as well as 42 attested historic centres.

Porto Historic Centre was declared World Heritage by UNESCO 22 years ago, on 5 December 1996, on the basis of the cultural criterion (IV) and the fact that "it features an outstanding universal value of the urban fabric and the numerous historic buildings that testify the development this European city has undergone over the last millennium, a city that is turned to the west via its commercial and cultural relations".