What it means to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is more than just a prestigious title: it is a global commitment to protect, value and pass on a cultural or natural asset to future generations. Inclusion on this list means that a place has what UNESCO calls Outstanding Universal Value—a significance that transcends national boundaries and speaks to all of humanity.

Outstanding Universal Value: more than just beauty

UNESCO designation isn’t based solely on aesthetics or age. To be listed as a World Heritage Site, a location must meet at least one of ten official criteria, which include architectural importance, biodiversity, symbolic meaning, and historical testimony. Sites can be cultural, natural or mixed and they must also have effective safeguarding and management plans in place to ensure long-term preservation.

A global network of unique places

Today, more than 1,000 World Heritage Sites exist across over 160 countries. Being part of this network means becoming one of the world’s most cherished places, each with its own story to tell. The designation often leads to increased international awareness, preservation support, and opportunities for more sustainable, conscious tourism.

A living heritage: involving local communities

UNESCO also emphasizes the importance of local community involvement. A heritage site is not just a monument—it is a living place, made vibrant by those who inhabit it. Preservation goes hand in hand with inclusion, celebrating the memory, identity, and traditions of the people who bring the site to life.

Camagüey’s candidacy journey

The UNESCO recognition Camagüey received in 2008 was neither sudden nor accidental. It was the result of a long journey of preservation, enhancement, and cultural resilience, involving years of study, commitment, and collective participation. Becoming a World Heritage Site means undergoing a complex candidacy process, involving local experts, national authorities, and international bodies.

A discreet but precious city

Camagüey is not among the most touristic destinations in Cuba, and perhaps this has helped it preserve its authentic character. Away from mass tourism, the city has kept its colonial urban structure and nurtured a strong sense of identity. In the early 2000s, Cuba’s Ministry of Culture and the City Conservator’s Office launched a systematic effort to catalogue, restore, and promote the city’s historical heritage, aiming to present a candidacy dossier to UNESCO.

The candidacy dossier

The official dossier focused mainly on the historic center of Camagüey, highlighting its rare example of organic colonial urbanism—a labyrinthine layout that remains remarkably intact. The submission included detailed inventories of buildings, photographs, maps, and preservation plans, along with comparative studies with similar Latin American sites. What truly made the difference was the exceptional conservation of the city and its living cultural value, still tangible in its vibrant community life.

A collective process

The candidacy wasn’t just a bureaucratic operation; it was a collective cultural movement. During those years, Camagüey saw a surge of public events, historic festivals, community-driven restoration projects, and educational initiatives. The goal wasn’t merely to achieve international recognition, but to strengthen the citizens' bond with their city, fostering pride and a sense of stewardship.

This spirit of community-led preservation, combined with institutional work, convinced UNESCO to add Camagüey to the World Heritage List. But what exactly made this city so unique in the eyes of UNESCO?

Why Camagüey is unique for UNESCO

Camagüey’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 was based on two specific criteria: criterion (ii) and criterion (v). Together, these criteria highlight the uniqueness and cultural vitality of this extraordinary Cuban city.

Criterion (ii): exchange of human values

Criterion (ii) recognizes sites that demonstrate significant exchanges of human values in architecture, urban planning, technology, arts, or landscaping.
Camagüey is a remarkable example of creative adaptation: its non-geometric, labyrinthine urban layout is the result of merging Spanish colonial traditions with practical defensive needs against pirate attacks. The twisted streets and intimate alleyways reflect a dynamic urban culture that reinterpreted European models to meet local demands—a rare and original example in the Americas.

Criterion (v): a living cultural tradition

Criterion (v) honors sites that exemplify traditional human settlements representative of a living culture.
Camagüey is not a frozen historic center: it is a vibrant organism, continuously inhabited and alive with tradition.
The pastel-colored houses, baroque churches, small plazas, and iconic tinajones (large clay jars) narrate a story of ongoing cultural continuity.
Walking through Camagüey, visitors do not simply admire monuments: they become part of a community still deeply connected to its past.

A model of authentic conservation

Another key strength of Camagüey’s candidacy was its authentic conservation approach: Camagüey has succeeded in preserving its identity without becoming a museum city. Restoration efforts preserved traditional materials and techniques, avoiding artificial reconstructions.
This delicate balance between protection and everyday life has made Camagüey a model for sustainable heritage management, especially in a world where many historic cities risk losing their soul to mass tourism.

The 2008 recognition: a milestone for all of Cuba

On July 7, 2008, Camagüey was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List during the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Québec, Canada.
That day was not just a recognition for a single city: it became a national celebration, a symbol of the cultural richness that Cuba, a true crossroads of stories and civilizations, continues to preserve and pass on.

An honor that involved the entire Country

With the inscription of the Historic Center of Camagüey, Cuba expanded its World Heritage portfolio, confirming itself as one of the Latin American countries with the highest number of UNESCO sites relative to its size.
This recognition not only brought international visibility to the city but also strengthened the national cultural identity, showcasing that beyond well-known places like Havana or Trinidad, lesser-known cities also guard genuine treasures of humanity.

A tangible impact on the city

From that moment, Camagüey embarked on a new phase of respectful restoration, educational programs and sustainable tourism initiatives.
The UNESCO designation attracted funding, international cooperation projects, and new economic opportunities for the city, all while paying close attention not to compromise the authenticity that had earned it this prestigious status.

A shared responsibility

Being a World Heritage Site also means taking on the moral and practical responsibility of preserving what has been inherited. In Camagüey, this awareness has engaged institutions, cultural operators, and everyday citizens.
Today, every stone, every callejón, every tinajón speaks not only of the past but also of the present of a city that lives its heritage with pride and care.

And for those arriving from afar, the journey to discover this treasure has only just begun...

Experiencing Camagüey today: a heritage to discover with Apodaca 12

Today, walking through the streets of Camagüey means entering an authentic and vibrant world, where every alley tells a story and every square welcomes the traveler like a friend.
The city has not lost its original spirit: it continues to be a lively, creative place, deeply connected to its traditions, while opening up to the world with elegance and respect.

In the heart of Camagüey’s historic alleyways, Apodaca 12 Hotel Boutique welcomes you like a family home. In a lovingly restored residence, every detail tells the authentic soul of the city—through living traditions, genuine encounters, and moments to remember.

Discover the true heart of Cuba. Book your stay at Apodaca 12 and let yourself be embraced by the magic of Camagüey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explore