It’s an audacious move that is certain to put the little whitewashed town of Mijas Pueblo firmly on the map. Although many foreign residents can vouch for the splendour of this typical Andalusian village, it seems the mayor of Mijas would like to take it one step further by applying to have the historic centre classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). And to be fair you can see why. You only have to take a short walk around Mijas Pueblo with its whitewashed centre, picturesque cobbled streets and heartbreakingly beautiful squares where balconies overflow with flowers to see that Ángel Nozal has a point.
The move is aimed at protecting the village’s future image and its traditional Andalusian architecture. However, the process, like the history of this centuries-old village, is a long one. In order to become a World Heritage Site, the 1972 Paris Convention states that a nomination site should be an: “Outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture, or human interaction with the environment, especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.” Of course, Mijas is on a good footing to get the badge of honour because it was already recognised as an ‘Area of Historical and Artistic Importance’ back in 1969.
Following the announcement of the mayor’s plans, a beautification process has begun in earnest in the town. Traditional, brightly coloured wall-mounted flower pots are being put up in the streets, overhead cabling is being removed and unsightly external air conditioning boxes and TV aerials are being hidden from public view.
In total, Spain has 17 World Heritage sites with four of them in Andalucía – in Granada, Córdoba, Sevilla and Úbeda-Baeza. So fingers crossed the next one will be on the Costa del Sol. Good luck Mijas!