The 2024 ICTC Study Tour was held in Andalusía, Spain from December 8 to 14, 2024, with visits to Córdoba, Granada, and Málaga and an International Charter Workshop at the Alhmabra. ICTC organizes study tours annually to allow its members to immerse in the tourism environment of the selected destination and dialogue with local tourism leaders and stakeholders regarding what they’ve experienced. The destination managers are important partners of this program because ICTC has the opportunity to offer them different perspectives and recommendations regarding potential challenges they may be facing.
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| Visiting the city walls beside the Puerta de Almodóvar |
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| The Synagogue is situated in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Cordoba |
Day 1 (December 9): The group walked around the Historic Centre of Cordoba, a World Heritage site, and visited the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba (Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba).
The Great Mosque of Cordoba, now the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is an architectural masterpiece of al-Andalus and an important monument of early Islamic architecture.
After lunch, the group was able to experience the hop-on, hop-off bus courtesy of the Municipality of Córdoba.
In the evening, the group was able to attend a flamenco performance. Flamenco is in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Day 2 (December 10): Earlier in the morning, the group visited the World Olive Germplasm Bank of Córdoba where they conserve 1,200 varieties of olive trees from 29 countries. Olives are a very important element of the Mediterranean diet.
The group then met with local tourism stakeholders led by Arístides Bermejo Hernández, coordinador general de Turismo of the Ayuntamiento de Córdoba and Rafael Pérez de la Concha, jefe unidad de Turismo. They hosted a quick meeting and reception at the Centro de Recepción de Visitantes (see separate post).
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| At the Puerta del Puente with representatives of the Ayuntamiento de Córdoba |
From Cordoba, the group traveled by train to Granada.
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| Taking the train at the Cordoba Train Station |
Day 3 (December 11): Members had a technical visit to the Alhambra in the morning and were welcomed and accompanied by Rodrigo Ruiz-Jiménez Carrera, Director, Council of the Alhambra and Generalife, and Antonio Peral López, Chief, Conservation and Protection Service.
ICTC is thankful to the Alhambra for arranging the visit and allowing the group to see some areas closed to the public.
In the afternoon, the "International Meeting: Towards a paradigm shift in cultural heritage tourism / The transformational potential of the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism 2022" opened at the Palacio de Carlos V of the Alhambra (see separate post).
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| Day 1 of the International Charter Meeting |
Day 4 (December 12): Continuation of the International Charter Workshop.
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| Day 2 of the International Charter Meeting |
Day 5 (December 13): After the International Charter Workshop, the group took a bus from Granada to Málaga.
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| Day 3 of the International Charter Meeting |
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| Waiting for the bus at the Granada Bus Station |
Day 6 (December 14): The members did a walking tour around the Historic Center of Málaga before departing for their onward destinations.
Among the sites visited were the Mercado Central de Atarazanas, Málaga Cathedral, Alcazaba, and the Plaza de la Merced and the Picasso Statue.
Study Tour Photos:
Day 1 in Cordoba |
Day 2 in Cordoba |
Day 3 in Granada |
Day 6 in Malaga
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