Spain

• © UNESCO/Anthony Lacoudre
• Mérida, Estremadura, remains of a Roman theatre, roman architecture

Spain, home country of the former UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor, joined UNESCO on June 30, 1953.

Spain organized, in partnership with UNESCO, the Universal Forum of Cultures - Barcelona 2004. It remains symbolic of the country’s close cooperation with the Organization, particularly in culture. Spanish cultural heritage is represented by a 40 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, ranging from the Alhambra to the Route of Santiago de Compostela.

The Spanish city of Seville joined the Creative Cities Network in 2006 as the first UNESCO City of Music.

The first Alliance of Civilizations Annual Forum was held 14-16 January 2008 in Madrid.

Spain has more than 50 UNESCO Chairs, 20 of them related to the natural sciences. The UNESCO Chair in Freedom of Expression, established in 2007 at the University of Málaga, is the most recent addition. Spain also has seven Networks.

Spain is home to a number of biosphere reserves participating in the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.