Spain: Alhambra and medieval Granada
Score: 81
"The Alhambra itself is in very good condition. The Albaicin area, while being renovated, might loose its character due to invasive construction and the division of old major buildings into apartments. Attention should be paid to the preservation of open areas, such as gardens and squares, as well as to the height of newly-constructed or restored buildings. The aesthetic appeal of the historic areas is fantastic. Tourism is of appropriate character, and benefits the local city population."
"Old Granada is a wonderful tangle of spice-scented alleys where ancient and modern cultures coexist. It's one of those rare places where the day-to-day existence of the modern residents doesn't interfere with the underlying sense of history. As a gateway to the Alhambra, it succeeds in connecting the preserved relic with a living, breathing extension of that era."
"Visitor management seemed to work OK. But the Alhambra needs better interpretation and signage throughout. It was hard to know exactly which room you were in even with a guidebook. The rest of the town held much of interest. Great for walking the old streets."
Spain: Historic Córdoba and mosque
Score: 79
"The mosque is well-preserved, and the local inns and restaurants harmonize with the mosque. Ecological quality appears to be high for an urban environment.Streets are well-maintained with little garbage or runoff.Many of the streets are unmarked, making it difficult for the first-time visitor to navigate the mosque area."
"This is one of Spain's most important tourist attractions. It is impeccably looked after and the arrangements for tourists are excellent. One is allowed to wander around the vast interior without hindrance."
"The historic town and mosque retain their local character, but suffer from excessive tourism at peak periods. Further tourism-related development could begin to erode the local character."
"The unique mosque alone is well worth the visit to this historic place, especially as it represents a high point of Islamic civilization and a period of unusual religious tolerance. Gardens outside the mosque provide aesthetic appeal. The medieval wall around the old core helps provide historic context."
"Redevelopment of the city over the past 20 years has been broadly sympathetic to the ancient Moorish core, and although the number of outlets catering for tourist trade has increased noticeably, the city does retain a coherent Andalusian character."
"The central area has retained intact its essential character, unmarred by modern, inappropriate developments. There is, however, some fairly unsightly development outside the walls towards the train and bus stations. The old town area has all a visitor needs."
"Toledo has managed to control massive visitation very well. Most of the walled city is intact and vistas from the ring road across the river are largely unimpeded. While some traffic problems are found in the city, and further limitation to access for private vehicles should be considered, it is generally well done. Commerce has been reasonably well integrated into the old city, with minimal alteration to shop fronts, etc. Use of old buildings as accommodations has been well done."
"Toledo is over-commercialized and makes the visitor feel as if he/she is in a history-based shopping mall rather than at a World Heritage site. The mixture of cultures is good, and Toledo is finally beginning to deal with its Jewish past and the injustices that its former Jewish citizens suffered at the hands of the Inquisition."
