Cultural landscapes and historic gardens
Cultural landscapes are a testimony to man’s imprint on the natural environment along time. This mutual interdependence created landscapes that bear testimony to the way of life of different human societies and the way they have dealt with natural values.
In this context, landscape conservation is crucial, be it a simple domestic garden, a public garden and convent precinct or a large scale cultural landscape such as Sintra or the Alto Douro Wine Region.
Conservation and safeguarding of the landscape requires a systemic and integrated approach that will bear in mind the territorial expression of such landscapes, their inert and built components, their living and natural fragile components and different social and economic contexts.
mes New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: PT'>It is also up to the DGPC to appraise public land use projects such as those involving forecourts and advertisement signs on building façades so as to ensure an adequate urban integration and subsequent enhancement of the built environment.