Holy Cities Reunite

The mayors of Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela - three of the most imporant pilgrim destinations - have renewed a deal to promote the artistic and cultural heritage of their UNESCO World Heritage cities.

A year since the launch of 'Holy Cities: A Common Project For The Future', the first concrete results are emerging. A new and dedicated website was launched mid-November for pilgrims and visitors, giving information on the broad spectrum of projects that the cities are jointly supporting.

Using a clever and attractive 'triptych' design, the portal also features a news section in which local authorities can draw attention to major developments. But the focus is above all on the beauty and history of these three key cities.

The images of Jerusalem include the Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Shrine of the Book; Rome is represented by the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's cupola; the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the clear focus of the last of the three, along with a pilgrim and knapsack viewing the cathedral from afar.

On the eve of the website launch, the City of Rome renewed the accord in the presence of Hoded Ben-Hur, the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See. The overarching aim is to boost all kinds of exchanges, encourage religious trips and tourism, and to publicise cultural services for pilgrims and visitors.

The mayors are also keen to ensure better protection for their historic centres, improve residents' mobility and quality of life and to lengthen the average stay for tourists. Another plan is to market the three cities in one package both within Europe as well as in countries like Japan, the US, Brazil and China.

Beyond these concrete goals, "the agreement is also an example of a dialogue between diverse peoples and cultures that can help contribute to peace and mutual respect, a vital benefit for us all at this time," said Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni.

Howard Hudson,
27 November 2006