The University of Coimbra-Alta and Sofia: world heritage management agents

The University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (UC-A&S) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since the 22nd of June 2013, with the correlated material and immaterial matters. This nomination is the end of a lengthy process that began in the early 80’s of the 20th century. However it was necessary for several institutions to join efforts to obtain the title. The aim of this paper is to discuss the results of the options and policies chosen which would guarantee the best management strategies for the application process and for the future management of the property. For example, the constitution of the RUAS Association, based on a formulation of policies about compromises and synergies between the institutional entities responsible for safeguarding and protecting the property and its urban area of influence. By analysing the legal and management instruments and structures, it is possible to verify which strategic policies and agents played a relevant role in the process and are doing it still. The case of the UC-A&S management plan is an example of success concerning the application process. Nevertheless, it is necessary to establish with every entity, both the public and the private ones, some legal bounds for the urban management itself, regarding its influence on the areas of its property and its protection zone. This paper argues that it is imperative to discuss this kind of connection between the property and the city, because, in the case of Coimbra, each seems to be the driving force stimulating or developing the other. In that sense, the institutional entities responsible for protecting the area reached an innovative solution based on policies about urban projects and management. It is not possible to understand the University of Coimbra without its urban context and this particular aspect may include some significant strategies to deal with this process, which has increased the urban ntervention ynamics in the property area, hoping that this could be another opportunity to consider the city desired for the future, assuming that it will be better than the present one