The Venice Charter sixty years on: legacy, relevance and new heritage challenges

The Venice Charter, adopted by ICOMOS in 1964, remains a cornerstone in heritage conservation despite the emergence of new challenges such as mass tourism, digital transformation, and shifting cultural dynamics. While its principles continue to guide global heritage safeguarding efforts, contemporary pressures question its adequacy in addressing modern dilemmas. This special issue of Conservar Património critically examines the Charter's legacy, proposing reforms to align it with 21st-century demands, including a focus on human and non-human wellbeing, urban cultural values, and co-production of knowledge between stakeholders. Contributions explore innovative frameworks for heritage management, such as integrating Vitruvian criteria into religious monument preservation, signaling potential paradigm shifts in European heritage conservation.

Rodrigues dos Santos, J., & Moura Soares, C. (2026). The Venice Charter sixty years on: legacy, relevance and new heritage challenges. Conservar Património. https://doi.org/10.14568/cp52fm2