VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages

Abstract

Porto has a rich urban mesh that has been being preserved since the CRUARBE foundation (1973-2003) and the work developed during the 1980’s was the basis of its historic centre classification as World Heritage by UNESCO (1991). Built heritage from Modern and Contemporary periods are the main pillars of the city identity and the basis of a traditional socio-economic model of growth. Although, the increase in demand of Porto as touristic destination since 2015, simultaneously also favoured by the opening of Porto’s airport new terminal that greatly powered low-cost companies and the licensing for the rehabilitation of houses for hostels and restaurants, introduced new factors of changes, since those were opportunities to implement a mass tourism level with high impact on cultural heritage not yet completely evaluated. Some stakeholders have already pointed some risks of this type of model of heritage and tourism exploitation (UNESCO Portugal; APPRUP) and the COVID Pandemic brought us the opportunity to reflect about the need of changing practices. Beyond the impact on housing and gentrification, mass tourism has had a great impact on the city’s lifestyle itself. The local community is confronted with these rapid metamorphoses, becoming the agent of a process of acculturation that is complex and unsustainable in the long run and with implications in the construction of Identity and future Collective Memory. Traditional local gastronomy has been changed, remodelled, and repackaged. This communication aims to highlight the results of the research conducted under the HAC4GC project. Accordingly, topics as Rehabilitation versus Reconstruction, Facadism, official recognized and non- recognized speeches on cultural heritage, the relationship between local community and tourism as well the changes and durableness’s of values will be discussed in a holistic perspective.