A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the heritage register in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
. The term is also used in
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
and other Spanish-speaking countries.
The term literally means a "good of cultural interest" ("
goods" in the economic sense) and includes not only material heritage (
cultural property
Cultural property does not have a universal definition, but it is commonly considered to be tangible (physical, material) items that are part of the cultural heritage of a group or society, as opposed to less tangible cultural expressions. They in ...
), like monuments or movable works of art, but also
intangible cultural heritage
An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. I ...
, such as the
Silbo Gomero language
Silbo Gomero ( es, link=no, silbo gomero , 'Gomeran whistle'), also known as ''el silbo'' ('the whistle'), is a whistled register of Spanish used by inhabitants of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, historically used to communicate across the dee ...
.
Some ''bienes'' enjoy international protection as
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
s or
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and th ...
.
History
In Spain, the category of ''Bien de Interés Cultural'' dates from 1985 when it replaced the former heritage category of ''
Monumento nacional ''(national monument) in order to extend protection to a wider range of
cultural property
Cultural property does not have a universal definition, but it is commonly considered to be tangible (physical, material) items that are part of the cultural heritage of a group or society, as opposed to less tangible cultural expressions. They in ...
. The category has been translated as "Cultural Interest Asset".
''Monumentos'' are now identified as one of the sub-categories of ''Bien de Interés Cultural.''
Sub-categories
The movable heritage designated as ''Bienes de Interés Cultural'' ("Cultural Interest Assets") includes archeological artefacts, archives and large works of art. Such protected objects may well be kept in a building which is itself a BIC.
*Non-movable heritage is divided into the following classifications:
**
''Monumento'' (monument)
**''
Conjunto histórico In Spain, the legal designation ''Conjunto histórico'' (formerly ''Conjunto Histórico-Artístico'' or "Historic-Artistic Grouping") is part of the national system of heritage listing. It is applied to buildings in a given locality. It is typicall ...
'' (historical ensemble, group or set)
**''
Jardín histórico A jardín histórico is a Spanish historic garden. In Spain ''Jardín histórico'' is a heritage listing which protects historic gardens. (The English equivalent would be the English Heritage 'Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special histo ...
'' (historical garden, e.g. the
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
' ( Spanish for ''Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid'') is an botanical garden in Madrid (Spain). The public entrance is located at , next to the Prado Museum.
History
The garden was founded on October 17, 1755, by King Ferdinand VI, and ...
)
**''Sitio histórico'' (literally a historic site, the term is used for
cultural landscape
Cultural landscape is a term used in the fields of geography, ecology, and heritage studies, to describe a symbiosis of human activity and environment. As defined by the World Heritage Committee, it is the "cultural properties hatrepresent the ...
s, e.g.
Riotinto mines)
**''Zona arqueológica'' (archaeological area or zone, e.g.
Archaeological site of Atapuerca)
Regional variants
Under the Spanish system, regions maintain their own registers of cultural heritage (see
Patrimonio histórico español). There have been some differences in approach between
autonomous communities.
An example is
bullfighting
Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of rules, guidelines, or cultural expectations.
There are several variations, including some forms w ...
(which at a national level is now regulated by the Ministry of Culture). Madrid's regional government considers that bullfighting events should be protected as cultural heritage,
whereas in Catalonia a
ban on bullfighting came into effect in 2012, although this was later overturned by the
Supreme Court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
.
See also
*
Lists of Bienes de Interés Cultural
*
Patrimonio histórico español
References
External links
Declaran Bien de Interés Cultural de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela la canción Alma Llanera The Protection of Historic Properties: A Comparative Study of Administrative ...By Consuelo Olimpia Sanz SallaProcedimiento y proceso administrativo práctico, Volume 2XX Jornadas del Patrimmonio Cultural de la Región de MurciaBy Pedro Collado y José Antonio Melgares (coord.)Boletin de la Real Academia de la Historia. TOMO CCII. NUMERO III. AÑO 2005By Vv.aaCuerpo Tecnico de la Comunidad Autonoma de Extremadura. Especialidad .. Código de la Administración Gallega By Jaime Rodriguez-Arana Muñoz, Miguel Ángel Sendín GarcíaManual de arte rupestre de CundinamarcaBy Alvaro Botiva ContrerasXXII Jornadas de Patrimonio Cultural de la Región de MurciaBy Varios AutoresLos tesoros del mar y su régimen jurídicoBy Jesús Ignacio Fernández DomingoCódigo legislativo de CantabriaBy Cantabria
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bien de Interes Cultural
Spanish culture
Venezuelan culture
Law of Spain