IT NEED TO REFLECT ABOUT SAFETY AND SELF-PROTECTION TO THE SPANISH HISTORICAL HERITAGE.

Abstract

Historic buildings, monuments, gardens, parks, complexes and historic sites in general are exposed to foreseeable risks. These risks, traceable to natural disasters, fires, speculation, spoliation, vandalism and sundry antisocial acts in general, could turn a good portion of Spain's rich historic heritage into a midden or a mere backdrop for graffiti. Things have become worse in recent years, and there is mounting evidence to show that today's society has a sad lack of any culture of security and prevention, despite a welter of laws and regulations. Since Spanish Act 16/1985 of 25 June on the Spanish historic heritage and Regulation 111/1986 of 10 January (the latter, in partial implementation of Act 16/1985 in points of procedure and organisation) were passed, they have been followed by rule after rule aimed at preventing damage by natural disasters, fires, speculation, spoliation, vandalism and sundry anti-social acts in general. These rules directly or indirectly influence the protection of the Spanish national heritage. This paper shows, through examples, that existing legislation is too unfocussed to be effective and therefore requires reorganisation and revision. Applying the culture of prevention to Spain's rich historic heritage calls for efforts in the way of interpretation that go beyond mere legal requirements. In order to maintain and preserve the Spanish national heritage, security and prevention are more effective than mere repair. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.