The Committee

1. Takes note that Spain has nominated the fiesta of the patios in Cordova for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

For twelve days at the beginning of May, the city of Cordova celebrates the Fiesta of the Patios. The patio houses are communal, family or multi-family dwellings or sets of individual houses with a shared patio, located in the city’s historical quarter. This characteristic cultural space boasts an abundant array of plants, and during the fiesta inhabitants freely welcome all visitors to admire their beauty and the skill involved in their creation. The patios also host traditional singing, flamenco guitar playing and dancing. Ancestral practices of sustainable communal coexistence are shared with people who visit through expressions of affection and shared food and drink. The fiesta is perceived as an integral part of this city’s cultural heritage, imbuing it with a strong sense of identity and continuity. It requires the selfless cooperation of many people from all age groups, social strata and backgrounds, promoting and encouraging teamwork and contributing to local harmony and conviviality. It is guided by secular traditions, knowledge and skills, which take form in the luxuriant, floral, chromatic, acoustic, aromatic and compositional creativity of each patio – an expression of the symbolism and traditions of Cordovan community, and especially the residents who dwell in these patio houses.

2. Decides that, from the information provided in file 00846, the nomination satisfies the criteria for inscription on the Representative List, as follows:

R.1:   Celebrating social spaces that promote human contact and cultural exchange, the Fiesta of the patios is a communal festive event that provides a sense of identity and continuity to the residents of Cordova, who recognize this expression as a significant component of their intangible cultural heritage;

R.2:   Inscription of the Fiesta of the patios on the Representative List could promote cultural diversity and appreciation of human creativity because of its spirit of openness to the entire community and to innovation;

R.3:   The nomination describes the current and proposed measures to protect and promote the Fiesta of the patios, strengthen its viability and ensure its continuity with the commitment of the State and Cordova residents;

R.4:   The nomination was elaborated with the active participation in particular of the practitioners and relevant associations and they provided their free, prior and informed consent;

R.5:   The element is included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Atlas of Andalusia administered by the Andalusian Historical Heritage Institute and in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage administered by the regional government, both elaborated with the participation and consent of the practitioners and communities concerned;

3. Inscribes the fiesta of the patios in Cordova on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.