UNESCO World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites is celebrated every 18 April. Back in 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) proposed the celebration. Then, in 1983, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) approved it.
World Heritage Day is held in honour of monuments and sites all around the world that hold significance on a global level. Why do we celebrate this day? Well, because humanity’s story is one of a kind. Monuments and sites all over the world are a symbol of our story as a people. And, as the world advances, it is important to preserve the rich history that each of these sites holds. After all, they serve as a constant reminder of who we are and where we came from.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is a world-renown organisation. A UNESCO World Heritage site can be either a natural or a cultural site that holds significance on an international level. There are a total of 1,157 UNESCO World Heritage Sites all around the world.
Of that number, Spain is home to 49 of them. For one, the Alhambra, in Granada, is located in the sunny south of Spain. The old town of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, is situated in the northwest of Spain. The city of Toledo, towards the center of Spain, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each of these three sites is already overwhelmingly packed with history. Yet, Spain has 46 more, each one holding cultural significance on a global level.
The importance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain is so evident, as it has a big impact on the country’s economy as well as the people’s sense of identity. Each of the 49 sites attracts countless people form all around the world and therefore forms an essential part of Spain’s economy. Furthermore, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Spain mean a lot to the Spanish people. Throughout the centuries, they have become a part of what makes Spanish culture so unique.
We celebrate UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain in 2023
Every year, World Heritage Day is celebrated with a specific theme in mind. The topic for 2023 is “Heritage Changes.” This year, World Heritage Day will be celebrated with the theme of heritage and climate. This gives people the chance to think about the future of such sites, especially given the stressors on the environment. After all, there is a great need to preserve and protect such sites that hold such significance to the history of humanity.
A great way to celebrate World Heritage Day is to go and see an actual world heritage site! Spain is a great place to do that. Besides having 49 World Heritage Sites of the 1,157 globally, Spain is also home to the city with the most World Heritage Sites in the world. That city is the beautiful city of Cordoba.
We celebrate World Heritage Sites in Spain in 2023: Cordoba
Cordoba, a historical melting pot of cultures, is where you can find the famous Mosque-Cathedral, which is a symbol of peace between religions. After all, it is living proof of a time in history when Christians and Muslims shared the same space. However, while this monument is impressive and a definite must-see, Cordoba has three other UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The festival of the patios, which takes place in May, is full of beautiful colours and plant arrangments. Its impact on the city’s history is undeniable, as it is something many people from Cordoba identify with and look forward to every year. Essentially, it is part of what makes Cordoba…Cordoba.
Besides the festival of the patios, there is also the historic city centre. This well-preserved place goes hand-in-hand with the Mosque-Cathedral, as it serves as a great setting for the world-famous site. Also, just a few minutes drive from the center is the Medina Azahara, a Caliphate City. The ruins of the palace-city were undiscovered until the early 20th century.
UNESCO World Heritage Day and TEFL?
While it’s great to visit UNESCO world heritage sites is a great opportunity, sometimes, a few hours to a couple of days isn’t enough time to fully capture the essence of such a cultural symbol. If you had the chance to live in any Spanish city with a UNESCO world heritage site, which one would you pick?
Well, what if we told you that it’s not that far off of a dream? If you love to travel and getting to know different cultures but want to be able to afford your own trips, consider taking our Trinity CertTESOL course.
UNESCO World Heritage Day and TEFL: Take the EBC Trinity CertTESOL course
Enrol in our 4-week online Trinity CertTESOL course. What is it? Basically, it’s an online course that will certify you in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). The course is designed in such a way that both newbies and veterans in the TEFL world get something valuable out of it. You will learn how to become an effective English teacher.
You will also strengthen all the skills that you need to teach English as a foreign language. From lesson planning, So, whether you’re a language assistant who would like to make teaching English a career or a seasoned English teacher, this course can be great for you.
What else is great? At the end of the course, you get certification that is accepted and recognised by the British Council, which works in over 100 countries. You also get access to our highly-effective lifetime and worldwide job placement programme.
Basically, under this programme, you send us your CV. Then, you tell us where you want to work and other specifics. After that, we send your CV to language schools in whichever part of the world you want to work in!
Now, where do the UNESCO World Heritage Sites come in? Well, imagine choosing to work in a city like Cordoba. What would your life look like? You would go to work and teach. Then, in your free time, you’d have time to visit the Mosque-Cathedral. You could also go for a walk in the old town. You could take a bus to see the Medina Azahara. Or, you could even go and see the patios if it were the month of May.
Whereas many people from all over the world book flights and hotels just to see a place like Cordoba, you would be living there. You would be living in a city with four world heritage sites. The Mosque-Cathedral, the old centre, the Medina Azahara, and the patio festival would all be in your back yard.
UNESCO World Heritage Day and TEFL? Study Spanish too!
If you want to take things a step further and learn more about the culture and the language of Spain, you could also join our Road2Spain programme. This programme allows you to take the 4-week online Trinity CertTESOL course and then study Spanish with a Spanish school for one year.
You would essentially be getting the best of both worlds because you’ll come in as a student, but will be allowed to work on the side. People with student visas in Spain are now allowed to work up to 30 hours a week. This means that you could learn Spanish while teaching English. Under the one-year Spanish course, you will learn a crucial aspect of Spanish culture–its language.
While you can study a language anywhere in the world, it’s a much different experience to learn while being immersed in the culture of the language you are learning. This way, you won’t just be learning in the classroom, but everywhere you go.
Furthermore, moving to Spain would mean that you would be fairly close to other UNESCO world heritage sites in Europe. Right up north, you have France, where you can find 41 of these monuments and sights. To the east, you have Italy, which has 58 sites!
Usually, when it comes to travel, the first thing many people often think of is money. If you’re not in Europe, chances are you think that it will cost an arm and a leg to visit a country like France and Italy. Well, the truth is, travel within Europe is fairly cheap. Yes, that means even weekend trips are very very doable.
Since you’ll be living and earning in Spain, it will be fairly easy to fund your own little trips. After all, traveling in Europe is quite affordable. Furtheremore, the Schengen Zone, which consists of 27 countries, is a free travel zone. Spain i one of them. This means that if you decide to study and teach in Spain, you can travel to any of these countries without having to apply for another visa.
While some European countries require one if you want to visit, it’s fairly easy to get one–especially if it’s a trip for tourism. Traveling to other countries may even help you broaden your horizons. After all, there is a demand for competent and effective English teachers all over the world.
Taking the Road2Spain programme will allow you to learn, teach, earn, and travel. Plus, you will get to be much closer to so many UNESCO World Heritage sites.
UNESCO World Heritage Day: Write your own story, carve your own path
On World Heritage Day, we celebrate humanity. Everything that makes us, as a people, unique. We are the only living beings capable of choosing our own path in life and carving out our individual destinies. Though we celebrate monuments and sites that have significance on a global level, in essence, it is the story of humanity that we celebrate.
What about your story? Everyone writes their own. Whether you’re a fresh graduate, wanting to see the world but feeling pressured to go the traditional route of getting an office job. Or whetehr you’re a seasoned English teacher, who has secretly been longing for a big break or a shift. If there’s one thing we want you to know, it is that your dreams are not as far off as you think. It is only a matter of finding a way to get there.
Our online Trinity CertTESOL course is a great way to start. Aside from learning a set of skills that are in high demand all over the world, it is a great door opener. It will expand your job opportunities and allow you to think bigger.
Our Road2Spain programme is also an option–especially if you want to move to Spain for a year. Trust us, turning your dreams into reality is really not that hard. Talk to us today, and we’ll prove it to you!
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Accredited TEFL Training Courses
- Accredited online TESOL certification course, a face-to-face live-streaming TEFL course
- TEFL course in Madrid Spain, accredited TEFL course, the Trinity CertTESOL
- Trinity CertPT CPD courses courses for practising teachers
- Accredited teaching Business English course, a Business English CPD course
- Accredited CLIL course – Content and Language Integrated Learning, a CLIL CPD course
- Accredited CLT course, Communicative Language Teaching, a CLT CPD course
- Accredited teaching English online course, a teaching English online CPD course
- Online TEFL certification course in TESOL & TEFL, a 200-hour course with trainer-marked assignments
- EBC short TEFL skills courses with certification
