Journey into the Mudejar with the special course at University of Zaragoza

For yet another year, Territorio Mudéjar is participating in the course entitled “Viaje al arte mudéjar” (Journey into Mudejar art), which will take place on July 13, 14 and 15, 2020, as part of the special courses at University of Zaragoza, aimed at directly studying Mudejar art by taking in-depth tours of the most emblematic monuments in these areas. The course provides a thorough explanation of the geographic, historical, ethnographic and artistic framework of this genre, and represents a continuation of the journey that began seven years ago under the leadership of professor Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis, a constant presence in our work.

This year, we’ll be visiting 16 towns, all of which are part of Territorio Mudéjar, and traveling hundreds of kilometers between the valleys in the districts of Calatayud, Aranda, Daroca and Valdejalón with the director of Territorio Mudéjar, Victoria Trasobares; supervising professor of the UNED in Calatayud, José Luis Cortés; University of Zaragoza professor, Rebeca Carretero; art historian at Centro de Estudios Bilbilitanos, Silvia Molina, and Elena Paulino, from the Complutense University.

The Mudejar architecture of Aragon was designated as UNESCO World Heritage in 1986 in the city of Teruel and in 2001 it was extended to the province of Zaragoza, with the city of Zaragoza, the Santa María collegiate church in Calatayud, the church of La Virgen in Tobed and the church of Santa Tecla in Cervera de la Cañada. “This course focuses on the conceptual hub around Calatayud, which features a web of rivers linked to the Jalón River, bolstering the concept of valley culture through learning on site. The course affords a complete understanding by learning on the ground and through the unique contribution of each individual place,” explains Victoria Trasobares. The director of Territorio Mudéjar added that monuments are just the tip of the iceberg in Mudejar culture, because it is the context of the towns and the valleys that provides room for comprehension. “In this course, we show that learning can have a scientific side, but it can also have a fun approach entailing a journey that is open to all audiences, with universal access, and this element has defined our courses ever since we first began in 2014,” she concludes.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Monday, July 13

  • 9:30 AM. Tour of the chapel of La Virgen de Cabañas in La Almunia de Doña Godina. Lecture “El génesis del mudéjar” (The genesis of Mudejar).
  • 10:15 AM. Tour of the tower and church of Santa María in Ricla. Lecture “El mudéjar en la Comarca de Valdejalón, Ricla” (Mudejar in the district of Valdejalón, Ricla).
  • 12:00 PM. Tour of the church of Santa María in Tobed. Lecture “Mahoma Calahorri y el Santo Sepulcro” (Mahoma Calahorri and the Holy Sepulcher).
  • 1:00 PM. Tour of Espacio Mudéjar-Mahoma Calahorri. “La Gestión del Patrimonio y el territorio” (Heritage management and the countryside).
  • 2:00 PM. Tour of the church of San Miguel in Belmonte de Gracián. “Épocas y estética del mudéjar en la torre y el ábside de la torre de Belmonte de Gracián” (Mudejar periods and esthetics in the tower and tower apse in Belmonte de Gracián).
  • 4:30 PM. Tour of the church of Santa María in Maluenda. “La personalidad del mudéjar de Maluenda” (The Mudejar personality of Maluenda).
  • 5:30 PM. Tour of the church of Santas Justa y Rufina, Maluenda. “El binomio, arte mudéjar-pintura gótica” (The pairing of Mudejar art and Gothic painting).
  • 6:30 PM. Tour of the church of San Martín de Tours in Morata de Jiloca. “Transformaciones de las iglesias fortaleza” (Transformations in fortified churches).
  • 8:30 PM. Tour of the church of San Pedro de los Francos in Calatayud. “Espacios mudéjares” (Mudejar spaces).

Tuesday, July 14

  • 9:30 AM. Tour of the castle in Mesones de Isuela. “Las techumbres mudéjares I” (Mudejar ceilings I).
  • 11:00 AM. Tour of the castle of Papa Luna in Illueca. “Las techumbres mudéjares II” (Mudejar ceilings II).
  • 12:00 PM. Tour of the church of San Juan Bautista in Illueca. “Pervivencias mudéjares en el siglo XVII” (Enduring Mudejar elements in the 17th century).
  • 1:00 PM. Tour of the church of Santa Ana in Brea de Aragón. “La obra de Juan de Marca” (The work of Juan de Marca).
  • 4:30 PM. Tour of the church of Nª Sª del Castillo, Aniñón. “Las iglesias fortaleza del Valle del Ribota I” (The fortified churches in the Ribota Valley I).
  • 5:45 PM. Tour of the church of La Asunción or Santa Tecla. Cervera de la Cañada. “Las iglesias fortaleza del Valle del Ribota II” (The fortified churches in the Ribota Valley II).
  • 7:15 PM. Tour of the church of San Félix, Torralba de Ribota. “Las iglesias fortaleza del Valle del Ribota III” (The fortified churches in the Ribota Valley III).
  • 8:30 PM. Sanctuary of La Virgen de la Peña, Calatayud.

Wednesday, July 15

  • 9:15 AM. Tour of the Luna family home, Daroca. “El mudéjar civil” (Civil Mudejar).
  • 10:15 AM. Tour of the church of San Juan. “La fusión del mudéjar y el románico I” (The fusion of Mudejar and Romanesque I).
  • 11:30 AM. Tour of the Santo Domingo de Silos church tower. “La fusión del mudéjar y el románico I” (The fusion of Mudejar and Romanesque I).
  • 12:45 PM. Tour of the Santa María church tower in Ateca. “Las torres de ascendencia islámica I” (Towers of Islamic origin I).
  • 1:45 PM. Tour of the Asunción church tower in Terrer. “Las torres de ascendencia islámica II” (Towers of Islamic origin II).
  • 5:00 PM. Tour of the church of San Andrés in Calatayud. “El mudéjar después de la Guerra de los Pedros I” (Mudejar after the War of Two Peters I).
  • 6:00 PM. Tour of the cloister of the Santa María collegiate church in Calatayud. “La figura y mecenazgo del Papa Luna” (The figure and patronage of Papa Luna).
  • 6:30 PM. Closing ceremony.

The Aragonese Mudejar, a mouse-click away around the world with the Google Arts and Culture platform

The Mudejar architecture of the province of Zaragoza can be accessed at the click of a mouse by anyone, anywhere around the world, thanks to its inclusion in the “UNESCO World Heritage” collection on Google Arts and Culture, a multi-lingual platform that has received more than 175 million visits and a mobile application that has been downloaded more than 30 million times, which offers virtual tours of museums and heritage treasures around the world.

Thanks to the initiative of the Provincial Government of Zaragoza and Territorio Mudéjar’s collaboration, the platform has included the Mudejar architecture of Aragon in a special UNESCO project for the promotion and dissemination of World Heritage sites. Specifically, the platform displays the monuments designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2001: the church of Santa Tecla in Cervera de la Cañada, the church of La Virgen in Tobed and the Santa María collegiate church in Calatayud, in Zaragoza province, and the Seo, the San Pablo tower and the Aljafería palace, in the city of Zaragoza. Mudejar sites in the province of Teruel, declared UNESCO World Heritage 15 years earlier, thus triggering the process of promotion and rediscovery of the Mudejar as the most authentic art form in Aragon, can also be seen.

The Mudejar art of Aragon has a strong regional component and cannot be understood through a single site. Its diversity and wealth is much more thoroughly explained when it is defined as “valley culture”, in which the valleys of Zaragoza are a highlight. To discover all its splendor, Google Arts and Culture has also included photographs of some monuments in Territorio Mudéjar that are not listed as World Heritage, such as the church in Torralba de Ribota, the San Andrés tower in Calatayud, the magnificent views of the city of Daroca and the church in Aniñón, just a few of the many wonderful examples found scattered throughout the valleys of Zaragoza. In addition, there are also images of the Seo in Zaragoza, the San Pablo tower and the Aljafería palace in the city of Zaragoza, as well as the El Salvador church tower in the city of Teruel. All of them offer a glimpse of the scope of Mudejar heritage as a cultural expression found nowhere else in the world.

The platform offers photographs, a video about the Mudejar identity of the towns in Zaragoza that share this rich heritage, and a photogrammetric model of some of the World Heritage churches. This model was created as a result of the work done in one of the Territorio Mudéjar fieldwork grants in 2019, representing a launching pad for many other projects in the field of 3D heritage. The owners of the more than 30 million mobile phones that have downloaded the Google Arts and Culture app have received a message containing a link to all of these contents.

 

Universality, uniqueness and authenticity

This initiative spotlights the Mudejar World Heritage brand internationally and provides a powerful tool for heritage outreach and for the towns in the province.

The Mudejar architecture of Aragon was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2001 for its “universality, uniqueness and authenticity”. Although Mudejar is usually described as Christian architecture built by Mudejars, Muslims who remained in the lands conquered by Christian rulers, this avant-garde movement from the medieval period is actually much more complex. This genre, which extends across several centuries and has a regional component entailing journeys across valleys, mountains and urban settings, has stamped each town with a unique personality that goes beyond mere monuments to encompass urban design, the division of land, the landscape and society, impacting the intangible heritage of the towns and their idiosyncrasy.

 

Link to Aragonese Mudejar architecture on Google Arts and Culture:

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/VwVBrGnQt1ZofQ

 

Territorio Mudéjar holds its annual assembly with 34 towns in attendance and an action plan for spotlighting Mudejar heritage and creating jobs in rural areas

Territorio Mudéjar now has 34 member towns – it started with 22 in 2018 – that will benefit from an activity program in 2020 designed to support the management, research and dissemination of Mudejar heritage and to create a network of professionals and jobs linked to the management of these historical and artistic resources. The association of towns promoted by the Provincial Government of Zaragoza held its annual assembly online this year and ratified the inclusion of the towns of Mainar, featuring the slender Mudejar tower of the church of Santa Ana, Magallón, represented by the chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Huerta and the church of San Lorenzo, Villarreal de Huerva, with the San Miguel tower and the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, and Zuera, with the San Pedro church.

At the assembly, chaired by the mayor of Tobed, Juan Antonio Sánchez Quero, and attended by the mayors of the member towns, Victoria Trasobares, director of the entity, presented the activity program that is being carried out in 2020 and the adjustments made in response to the COVID-19 situation.

The plan will continue promoting knowledge applied to Mudejar culture thanks to the second call for proposals to the Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis grants for projects and fieldwork, which will make it possible to implement up to six fieldwork projects and will help create a network of professionals linked to the towns, with the training and skills needed to ensure that projects are launched and that they remain feasible and are implemented in the future.

Territorio Mudéjar will continue progressing on projects aimed at designing job profiles related to the heritage in the towns in order to attract highly qualified professionals who can generate business ventures in Mudejar locations.

Work will also be done on educational innovation projects, such as the so-called “Circular Desde la Escuela Rural” (Circular from Rural Schools), to include contents related to Mudejar heritage in the curricula and to generate value in the schools to make teaching positions in these towns more attractive and, therefore, more stable.

In turn, Territorio Mudéjar will participate in calls for proposals and European projects that bring investments and foster development in the towns, such as the MOMAr Interreg project by the Provincial Government of Zaragoza and Cultural Heritage in Action, in which the entity was selected in the ‘peer learning visits’ category, generating learning visits among European entities with common goals.

Similarly, the members will continue to receive advice on developing projects and seeking funding, and the dissemination and communication of Mudejar culture will be strengthened through the creation of our own contents, workshops in the towns and activities in the media.

May 18. International Museum Day 2020: Museums for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Happy Museum Day! Let’s take a tour of the heritage and museums of Territorio Mudéjar

Territorio Mudéjar is joining in on the celebration of International Museum Day, to take place this Monday, May 18, the date established in 1977 by ICOM (International Council of Museums), which is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion this year. And we are doing so by visiting throughout the week a wide range of museums in our region that safeguard the identity of our towns and tell us about their history through magnificent art collections and museum spaces. While their management models and contents differ, they all act as active stakeholders, serve as meeting places, spaces for learning and for interacting with the region’s inhabitants, and above all, represent a cultural hub in a rural setting.

We have made a selection, starting with Mudejar heritage buildings and the related museum, and every afternoon at 7:00 pm we will take you to one of these spaces over our social media accounts.

  • We are kicking off this afternoon with #Tobed, where the Espacio Mudéjar-Mahoma Calahorri is located, boasting a museum-grade ceramic collection, and the Museo Parroquial (Parish Museum), the first on the ground floor of Palacio de los Canónigos and the second in the cloisters of the church of La Virgen, which is UNESCO World Heritage.
  • On Tuesday, the 19th, we travel to the Museo de la Historia y de las Artes (Museum of History and Art) in #Daroca, located in the former Santo Domingo hospital.
  • On Wednesday, the 20th, we go to the Museo de las Momias (Mummy Museum) in #Quinto, in the building known as El Piquete.
  • On Thursday, the 21st, we’ll be visiting the collegiate church of Santa María in #Calatayud, designated as UNESCO World Heritage, to tour its cloister and museum.
  • On Friday, the 22nd, we’ll meet in #Borja, in the museum of the Santa María Collegiate Church.
  • On Saturday, the 23rd, we’ll be heading to #LaAlmunia, where we can learn about its natural heritage, in addition to visiting its museum.
  • And we’ll wrap up on Sunday, the 24th, with other museum concepts in towns that have turned their heritage spaces into hubs of knowledge: #Torralba, #Aniñón, #Illueca, #Villafeliche and #Maluenda.

But the list of museums in our Territorio Mudéjar is much longer than that, so here you have a list of all the places you can visit soon.

Alagón

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Hispano-Mexicano (Hispano-Mexican Contemporary Art Museum)

Plaza San Antonio, nº 2. Tel. 976 61 18 14. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Price: Check with tourist office.

Aniñón

Museo del Aceite (Oil Museum)

Calle Joaquín Costa, nº 1. Tel. 692 055 881. Opening hours: Every day with advance booking. Price: To be agreed.

Ateca

Centro de Interpretación de la Semana Santa (Holy Week Interpretation Center)

Calle Castillo s/n. Tel. 976 842 005 / 686 716 631. Opening hours: Thursday, 5:00 pm-6:30 pm. Sunday, 10:30 am-12:00 noon. Price: € 2.00 Combined with Santa María Parish Church.

Belmonte de Gracián

Espacio Baltasar Gracián (Baltasar Gracián Space)

Calle San Roque, s/n. Tel. 976 892 093. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with advance booking. Price: Free of charge.

Borja

Museo de la Colegiata (Museum of the Collegiate Church)

Plaza de Ntra. Sra. de la Peana, s/n. Tel. 670 230 780
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Price: Free

Museo Arqueológico (Archeological Museum)                            

Plaza de San Francisco, s/n. Tel. 976 852 947. Opening hours: Saturday, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Sunday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Price: free

Museo Baltasar Gómez (Baltasar Gómez Museum) Only during exhibitions.

Museo Santa Clara (Santa Clara Museum)

Calle del Rey, s/n. Tel. 976 867 076. Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Tours by appointment or on weekdays, when booked in advance by contacting the museum by phone. Price: Free

Santuario de la Misericordia (Sanctuary of Mercy)

Located 5km from Borja. Tel. 607 391 752. Opening hours for visiting the famous Ecce Homo, the church, the interpretation center and the estate are: Winter, from September 15 to June 30, every day from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Summer, from July 1 to September 14, every day from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Christmas, on December 24 and 31, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Closed on December 25 and January 1. Price: 3 euros.

Calatayud

Museo de Calatayud (Calatayud Museum)

Plaza Santa Teresa de Jesús, s/n. Tel. 976 897 816. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Sunday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Price: free

Museo de la Colegiata de Santa María (Museum of the Santa María Collegiate Church)

Calle Amparados, s/n. Tel. 976 886 322 (Tourist office)
Opening hours: Saturday, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. Price: € 2.00 Tower visit, € 2.00. Free admission for children.

Museo de la Iglesia de San Juan el Real (Museum of the Church of San Juan el Real)

Avda. San Juan el Real, s/n. Tel. 976 886 322 (Tourist office)
Opening hours: When the church is open. Price: € 2.00 / free admission for children.

Museo de la Dolores (Museum of the Dolores Church)

Plaza Mesones, s/n. Tel. 976 546 581. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Sunday 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Price: € 2.00

Casa de los Cabezudos (House of the Big-Head Figures)

Calle Fernández Ardavin, nº3. Tel. 685 122 677. Opening hours: Book in advance. Price: Free

Cosuenda

Centro de Interpretación Plantaria (Plant Interpretation Center)

Plaza de España, 1. Tel. 976 627 081. Opening hours: Weekdays: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Saturday, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Sunday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Price: €1.75, minimum groups of 6 pax. www.plantaria.es

Daroca

Museo de la Historia y las Artes de Daroca (Museum of the History and Art of Daroca)

Plaza de Santo Domingo, nº 3. Tel. 976 800 129. Opening hours: Contact the tourist office. Price: On request

Museo de los Corporales (Museum of the Corporals altar cloths)

Plaza de la Colegiata de Daroca. Tel. 976 800 129
Opening hours: from 11 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm (except during services). Price: € 2.00

Museo de la Naturaleza (Museum of Nature)

Antigua iglesia de Escolapios, calle Rabino Josef Albó. Tel. 690 739108. Opening hours: Advance booking. Price: On request.

Museo de la pastelería Manuel Segura (Manuel Segura Bakery Museum)

Calle Santa Lucía 28. Tel: 976 800 129
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 6:30 pm (from July 1 to September 15); 4:30 pm (from September 15 to June 30). Price: € 3 /person. Open house, Friday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. To visit the gardens, please write to angelaballesta@icloud.com.

Illueca

Castillo –Palacio del Papa Luna. Centro de Interpretación (Papa Luna Castle and Palace. Interpretation Center)

Plaza de Peñíscola s/n. Tel: 626 345 202 – 976 820270. Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Check with tourist office. Price: On request

La Almunia de Doña Godina

Museo del Juego y el Deporte Tradicional. El Fuerte (Museum of Traditional Games and Sports. The Fort).

Tel: 976 600 923. Price: € 2.00 Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm; Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm / 4:00 pm-7:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am-7:00 pm; Sunday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm.

Maluenda

Centro de Interpretación de pintura gótica: Espacio Domingo Ram (Gothic Painting Interpretation Center: Domingo Ram Space). Church of Santa Justa. Tel. 976 893 007 / 652 492 315. Opening hours: Book in advance. Price: On request.

Mesones de Isuela

Castillo de los Luna (Luna family castle)                       

Tel: 626 345 202 – 976 820270. Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am-2:30 pm.

Quinto

Museo de las Momias (Mummy Museum)

Cerro de la Corona, S/N · 50.770 Quinto (Zaragoza). Tel. 976 177 011 – 976 176 111- 680 860 495. Friday, Saturday and special holidays, 10:00 am-11:30 am/4:00 pm-5:30 pm (open till 7:30 pm in summer); Sunday, 10:00 am-11:30 am. Price: General rate, € 7.00; Reduced rate, € 5.00 www.momiasdequinto.es

San Mateo de Gállego

Taller-Museo Fernando Malo (Fernando Malo Museum-Workshop)

Fernando Malo. Tel. 976 684 406. Calle Antonio Machado, 69. Tours must be booked in advance. info@fernandomalo.com http://ceramicactiva.blogspot.com.

Tobed

Museo Mudéjar. Espacio Mahoma Calahorri (Mudejar Museum. Mahoma Calahorri Space)

Plaza de San Pedro, s/n. Tel. 976 619 101 / 686 994 408. Opening hours: Open every day, advance booking required. Summer: August 1-October 31. Sundays, 11:30 am-2:00 pm. Winter: Open by special arrangement and advance booking. Book or check social media. Price: € 5.00 / free admission for children. Combined ticket with the Mudejar Church, Parish Museum, Prior’s Palace and permanent ceramics exhibition.

La despensa del palacio (Palace pantry)

Permanent exhibition. Pza. de San Pedro, s/n. Tel. 976 619 101 / 686 994 408. Opening hours: Open every day, advance booking required. Summer: August 1-October 31. Sundays, 11:30 am-2:00 pm. Winter: Open by special arrangement and advance booking. Book or check social media. Price: € 5.00 / free admission for children. Combined ticket with the Mudejar Church, Parish Museum, Mudejar Museum and Prior’s Palace.

Museo parroquial Iglesia Mudéjar de la Virgen (Mudejar church of the Virgin parish museum)

Pza. de la Virgen, s/n. Tel. 976 619 101 / 686 994 408. Opening hours: Open every day, advance booking required. Summer: August 1-October 31. Sundays, 11:30 am-2:00 pm. Winter: Open by special arrangement and advance booking. Book or check social media. Price: € 5.00 / free admission for children. Combined ticket with the Mudejar Church, Mudejar Museum, Prior’s Palace and permanent exhibition.

Villafeliche

Taller-exposición cerámica de Manuel Gil (Manuel Gil Ceramic workshop-exhibition)

San Antón, 52. Tel. 976891279

April 18. Day for Monuments and Sites: Shared Heritage

Territorio Mudéjar joins the celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites this April 18 by taking part in the ICOMOS Spain initiative to find examples of shared heritage that you can enjoy from home. This year, ICOMOS has chosen the theme, “Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility” as an expression of our global unity in light of the present world health situation.

This message shows that heritage is part of our cultural identity at a time in which evolving populations, conflicts and environmental uncertainty lead to constant, swift changes. The theme acknowledges that heritage – be it a place, landscape, custom or collection – is often linked to and appreciated by several diverse groups and communities, and Territorio Mudéjar shares this message in its mission and values. In sum, this means being collectively responsible for looking after and protecting heritage values.

Territorio Mudéjar invites you to enjoy its heritage with this video:

https://www.facebook.com/proyectoterritoriomudejar/videos/685295782236850/

More info: https://icomos.es/dia-internacional-de-los-monumentos-y-sitios-2020/

Territorio Mudéjar, main feature of the UNESCO “World Heritage” magazine

Our towns are featured in an extensive article in the first issue of this landmark magazine

The towns and heritage of Territorio Mudéjar are featured in the first issue of “World Heritage” magazine, published by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. This landmark magazine has devoted two pages to Mudejar art in the province of Zaragoza, outlining the key points that make Mudejar a unique, avant-garde style in which we can read the history of Aragon.

The article, which is available in Spanish, English and French, explains how the Mudejar art of Aragon, the architecture of which was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2001 due to its “universality, uniqueness and authenticity”, tells the story of our region and reveals an extraordinary rural setting that contrasts with the more ethnographic image commonly associated with villages. It is cultured, refined architecture that, nonetheless, remains close to everyday life and shows us a region that exudes intellectualism and beauty.

Here is the link for you to read the article:

Territorio Mudéjar presents its model at the MOMAr Interreg Europe meeting in Corsica

At this event, we exchanged good practices in managing sustainable rural heritage with a focus on people

Territorio Mudéjar traveled to the French island of Corsica to take part in a meeting of the MOMAr Interreg Europe project*, an initiative led by the Provincial Government of Zaragoza for the purpose of designing new rural heritage management models that foster sustainable development and adapt to the specific features of each region.

There, we exchanged good practices on a highly interesting topic: “Without people, there are no resources: local management exchanges observing efficiency, sustainability and demographic fragility”. This idea is in Territorio Mudéjar’s genes, since we work as a network around heritage resources in the Mudejar field, always closely linked to the towns and their inhabitants. We are convinced that heritage is alive and evolving because it is part of a context that is lived in, urban, and in the midst of people.

Some of the inspirational examples of heritage management that we learned about include the Route of the Romanesque in Germany, the monumental churches and farms in Groningen (the Netherlands), the efforts to preserve traditional Romanian embroidery on blouses in Mehedinti county and, of course, two projects from Aragon: the sustainable networked management of Territorio Mudéjar and promotion of the ancient village of Belchite (Provincial Government of Zaragoza).

Territorio Mudéjar discussed the management of cultural heritage as a possible strategy for the future. We believe that places in which historical, cultural and natural heritage resources are managed in a conscientious and intelligent manner are resilient, distinctive and identity-based. Places for investment, development and future.

Our efforts are based on these foundations, and this is how we have explained it at the meeting, in addition to discussing how our unified, collaborative network for heritage management works, and talking about all aspects of the Mudejar (architecture, urban design, landscape, popular culture and more) and about the projects we are implementing.

Together, we strive to design new strategies for rural heritage management that foster sustainable development and adapt to the unique identity of each region.

Our hosts gave us a first-hand view of how they work at the Corsican Movable Heritage Conservation and Restoration Center (CCRPMC) located at Fort Charlet in the town of #Calvi, which is in charge of safeguarding the knowledge, preservation and promotion of this heritage. There, we discovered their resources and magnificent artistic and religious heritage.

We also traveled to the city of Corte to learn about the project for the transformation of its citadel, built in the 15th century, and its watchtower, which presides over the entire city. In addition, we also visited the temporary exhibitions at the Museum of Corsica.

*MOMAr is the acronym for the project name: Models of Management for Singular Rural Heritage.

More information: https://www.interregeurope.eu/momar/

Rural schools and heritage, a forward-looking partnership

Territorio Mudéjar is participating in the first workshops on rural schools, organized by the Centro de Profesorado (Center for Teachers) in Calatayud.

Rural schools in Aragon have always been a laboratory for rural innovation. Some of the most avant-garde educational initiatives have arisen there, later expanding to other schools in Aragon and even being duplicated across the country. One of the reasons for the success of these rural school projects is that they use the land as a reference for learning, making the environment a necessary element of the curriculum in order to educate with a sense of roots. At Territorio Mudéjar we share and promote these same distinguishing features, so we could not miss the “Escuela rural en clave de futuro” (Rural schools in terms of the future) workshops organized by the Center for Teachers in Calatayud.

We were there today, not only to accompany the teachers and schools from our Territorio Mudéjar (schools in the districts of Aranda, Campo de Daroca and Comunidad de Calatayud), but we also had the opportunity to discuss with some of them how we believe that heritage and education form a perfect partnership for innovation.

At Territorio Mudéjar we are working on several projects related to education: “Escuela rural como inicio del círculo” (Rural schools as the start of a circle) and research and development on educational materials. On the one hand, we aim to introduce ways of working with heritage into rural school curricula and, on the other, we intend to provide materials and resources to schools to help students learn to appreciate the natural and cultural heritage in their towns and to enable them to generate proposals for economic and demographic growth in order to counteract depopulation trends.

More info: http://profesoradocalatayud.catedu.es/escuela-rural-en-clave-de-futuro/

Territorio Mudéjar participates in the first meeting of the European MOMAr project

The aim of this project, which involves regions from five other countries and which will continue until January 2023, is to design new models for managing unique rural heritage.

In conjunction with other entities devoted to heritage management and rural development, Territorio Mudéjar took part in the first meeting with local agents from the province of Zaragoza in the European Interreg MOMAr project –Models of Management for Singular Rural Heritage-, an initiative led by the Provincial Government of Zaragoza for the purpose of designing new rural heritage management models that foster sustainable development and adapt to the specific features of each region.

The MOMAr project has a budget of EUR 1.2 million, and involves five other regional governments from five different European countries. It was approved last year, began in September with an initial meeting in Zaragoza of the six participating administrations, and will continue until January 2023.

The ultimate goal is to create a working document that outlines an action plan for the province of Zaragoza entailing all the stakeholders involved in heritage management and dissemination.

More information: https://www.interregeurope.eu/momar/

Video: https://www.facebook.com/315247192523931/videos/577438746140624/

FITUR 2020: Territorio Mudéjar as a role model of sustainable tourism and cultural heritage

Territorio Mudéjar is presenting at the leading international tourism trade fair a model for access to heritage that poses an opportunity to uphold local communities

Territorio Mudéjar is present at FITUR 2020, the leading tourism trade fair, which has become an excellent showcase for spotlighting the potential of our towns and heritage, as well as our proposal for smart, ‘green’ tourism strongly linked to the towns and their inhabitants.

At Territorio Mudéjar we strive to develop Mudejar heritage management practices that foster responsible, sustainable tourism designed by those in the places where the heritage is located, always in conjunction with their inhabitants.

We believe that heritage is a driving force for the development and identity of our towns. And we consider preservation, research and dissemination of the Mudejar identity to be key factors in the creation of tourism activities, which must always be designed from within the region and in conjunction with its inhabitants.

Therefore, we have aligned our work with the goals of Agenda 2030 and with the SDGs, as our guiding principles.

In this sense, as we shall explain at FITUR:

  • We promote the management of local eco-systems, extraction and use of nearby materials, native trades and craftsmanship that reduce energy consumption, and investments, all of which aid in the creation of sustainable means of subsistence and encourage green economies.
  • We believe that knowledge is key: accessibility to heritage as a starting point. We contribute our perspective in the construction of quality education at all levels that promotes learning opportunities which we believe to be crucial in the promotion of economic growth and high quality work.
  • We work with heritage space as a concentrator for rural innovation: new uses, workplace innovation, gender equality, inter-generational experiences and, in sum, working to reduce the inequality that arises, in our case, from working with world renowned heritage in a rural setting.

We firmly believe that places in which heritage resources – historical, cultural and natural – are managed in a conscientious and intelligent manner are resilient, distinct and identity-based places. They are places for investment, development and future.

To better spotlight our region, we will also be presenting a video at FITUR 2020, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCaStafQfA