The decision was made during an Intergovernmental Committee meeting held last week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to safeguard the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
The decision was announced last Thursday after Portugal’s application was submitted to UNESCO in 2015.
The application to safeguard Portuguese falconry was made by Salvaterra de Magos Council, Santarém, in partnership with the Alentejo and Ribatejo Regional Tourism Entity (ERT-AR), Évora University, and the Portuguese Falconry Association.
Falconry was first added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010 following an application spearheaded by Abu Dhabi (UAE), and which brought together 11 countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Korea, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
In 2012, UNESCO extended the recognition of Intangible Cultural Heritage to falconry practiced in Austria and Hungary, with Portugal this year becoming the 14th country to have the importance of the activity acknowledged.
In its application, Salvaterra de Magos Council and its partners recalled that falconry represents “one of the oldest relationships between man and bird” and is over 4,000 years old.
It was to watch falconry that the Portuguese Royal Family spent long periods in Salvaterra de Magos, and in the 18th Century Dom José I ordered the construction of the Royal Falconry centre, which became “a meeting place for falconers from various parts of Europe”.
Designed by architect Carlos Mardel, with a Pombaline architecture and inspired by Dutch falconry centres of the time, the building was considered “unique to the Iberian Peninsula” and was saved from ruin in 2009 by then Mayor Ana Cristina Ribeiro, to be used as a “living museum.”
In 2014, current Salvaterra de Magos Mayor, Hélder Esménio registered the brand ‘Salvaterra de Magos – National Capital of Falconry’ and pressed ahead with the project that has now seen its bid to be classified UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage approved.
Mayor Esménio, who travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to accompany the meeting and be present for the moment of the decision, said the international recognition will make the salvaterrenses “proud”, and attract more visitors and researchers to the region.
António Ceia da Silva, head of the ERT-AR tourism board, said “valuing falconry and Salvaterra de Magos will greatly increase tourism. With the classification, dynamics, routes and itineraries are created that will make the heritage a bonus for the region.”