Among the various meanings of the term helmet , this time we are interested in staying with its meaning as a set of constructions that develops in a specific geographical space, generally of a small surface. Historical , for its part, is that linked to history (the past events that, due to their relevance, are considered worthy of studying and disseminating).
The idea of the historic center , therefore, refers to the core of the oldest buildings in a city . Also called the historic center, this town includes the first buildings that marked the birth of the town in question.
In general, a historic center has cultural, social and tourist value . It constitutes the roots of the city and the foundations from which the rest of the buildings, institutions, etc. emerged. That is why historic centers are usually protected by authorities through laws and regulations, preventing buildings from being demolished or restructured.
The historic center of the Peruvian city of Lima , for example, has been part of the World Heritage Site protected by UNESCO since 1988 . This area is developed between the districts of Rímac and Cercado . In the historic center of Lima are the Plaza Mayor , the Cathedral and the Municipal Palace , among other places of interest.
In Spain , one of the most important historic centers is Zaragoza , with neighborhoods such as La Magdalena , Tenerías , San Miguel and San Pablo . Among its main attractions are the Cathedral of the Savior , the Lonja and the Real Maestranza de Caballería .
In addition to Zaragoza, there are other historic centers in Spain that are true gems:
-Cáceres. Its historic center is known as the Old City and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This distinction was granted because it is one of the most beautiful and complete medieval and Renaissance urban complexes in the world. Among its most significant monuments are the Co-Cathedral of Santa María, the Arco de la Estrella, the Palacio de las Veletas, the Torre de Bujaco or the Palacios de los Golfines.
-Toledo is another of the Spanish cities that has a historic center declared a World Heritage Site. It was in 1986 that it obtained this declaration thanks to constructions such as the Elizabethan Gothic Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Cathedral of Santa María, the Mudejar Puerta del Sol, the Puerta Vieja de Bisagra, the Church of San Román or the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca.
-Córdoba is, in the same way, another of the cities in Spain that has a historic center declared a World Heritage Site. What's more, it has the second largest historic center in Europe without forgetting that it is the largest urban space in the world that has that declaration. It is a true pleasure to visit it and be able to discover some of its most special buildings and monuments, such as the Mosque-Cathedral, its Jewish quarter, the Roman Bridge, the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs or the House of Sefarad.