Portuguese pavement as a World Heritage Site?

Monument to the road workers will be replaced to Restauradores, as an expressed wish for the insertion of the Portuguese cobblestone pavement to the Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The Lisbon Chamber will begin the process of applying for the Portuguese sidewalk as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as well as the replacement of the sculpture created to honor the road workers, withdrawn after acts of vandalism. In the proposal, the council stressed the importance of "promoting the sidewalk and paver art as the identity elements of Lisbon."

The "Monument to Paver" was created in 2006 to honor the activity of the road workers and was placed on Rua da Vitória, in downtown Lisbon. However, the sculpture suffered acts of vandalism and for this reason it was removed from the place, being kept by the municipality in another space from that date. The goal is that, if the proposal is approved, the sculpture going to be placed next to the Restauradores Square.

The councilman António Prôa considers that the replacement of the sculpture is "a predisposing act for the application to the Heritage classification" of the Portuguese sidewalk. In the proposal, PS and PSD councilors stress, that today the sidewalk "is an element of strong Lisbon identity, associated with a quality artistic expression, that values the image of the city."

In the application there is a historical framework of the sidewalk, indicating that the material "began to be used in Lisbon in the 19th century", first in Castelo de São Jorge and later as paving of Rossio Square. The mayors consider that there are currently "rich and varied expressions" of Portuguese pavement in such places, as: Rossio, Baixa Pombalina, Chiado, Avenida da Liberdade and Cais do Sodré.

Last October an online petition was submitted by the knight Fernando Correia, to raise the Portuguese sidewalk to Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The paver with more than 40 years in the profession defines the Portuguese pavement as a "national symbol of great heritage value."

In some areas of Lisbon, with the exception to certain neighborhoods and historic areas, the City Council is replacing the traditional sidewalk with a wider one, made of white cement and lioz stone, to make circulation more comfortable and safe. This measure has generated controversy among some residents.