The Alhambra received from Queen Sofia the Honourable Mention at the European Union Prize / Europa Nostra Awards for the Alhambra Master Plan

Her Majesty The Queen Sofia has handed to the Director-General of the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, María del Mar Villafranca, one of the European Union Prizes for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards for the Alhambra Master Plan, due to its contribution to the conservation and management of one of the most emblematic sites being part of the European heritage and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Alhambra & Generalife Master Plan, designed by the Head of the site and the architect and technical director of the project, Pedro Salmerón, has received the Honourable Mention in the category of studies at the Europa Nostra Awards.
The award and honourable mention giving ceremony in Spain (of the calls in 2009 and 2010) was held on November 25 at the Royal Palace of El Pardo (Palacio Real de El Pardo) and chaired by HM The Queen, President of Honour of Hispania Nostra, which is the association that announces and manages the Europa Nostra Awards in Spain.
Each year, Europa Nostra, usual collaborator with the European Union, the Council of Europe and UNESCO, selects together with the European Commission the winners of the prestigious EU Prizes for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards committed to promote standards in conservation activities and future initiatives in the field of cultural heritage.
The UE Prizes for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards was created in 2002 by the European Commission and Europa Nostra pursuing the reward of outstanding initiatives in the area of the European cultural heritage in different categories, from restoration of buildings, interpretation of archaeological sites and preservation of art collections to rehabilitation of urban and rural landscapes. Also awarded are research and education projects and projects to raise public awareness, related to the cultural heritage as well as to the special dedication to the (individual or collective) heritage conservation.
The aim of these awards is to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experiences in terms of heritage between all European countries and promote similar initiatives by the “power of example”.
Europa Nostra was established in 1963 as an international and merely cultural organization committed to defend and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of Europe. In 1978, the Europa Nostra Awards were created with the same commitment and with the aim of honouring those projects that represent an exceptional contribution to the conservation and promotion of this heritage.