A Romanesque church in Aragon with Bien de Interés Cultural status
A Bien de Interés Cultural (Basque: Kultura Intereseko Ondasun, Catalan: Bé d'Interès Cultural / Valencian: Bé d'Interés Cultural, Galician: Ben de Interese Cultural) is a category of the heritage register in Spain.[1] The term is also used in Colombia and other Spanish-speaking countries.
In Spain, the Bien de Interés Cultural category dates from 1985 when it replaced the former heritage category of Monumento nacional(national monument) to extend protection to a wider range of cultural property. The category has been translated as "Cultural Interest Asset."[4]Monumentos are now identified as one of the sub-categories of Bien de Interés Cultural.
The movable heritage designated as Bienes de Interés Cultural ("Cultural Interest Assets") includes archeological artfacts, archives and large works of art. Such protected objects may well be kept in a building which is itself a BIC.[5]
Non-movable heritage is divided into the following classifications:[4]
This village is recognised as a Conjunto Etnológico.[6]
Under the Spanish system, regions maintain their registers of cultural heritage (see Patrimonio histórico español). There have been some differences in approach between autonomous communities.
An example is bullfighting (which at a national level is now regulated by the Ministry of Culture).[7] Madrid's regional government considers that bullfighting events should be protected as cultural heritage.[8] In contrast, in Catalonia a ban on bullfighting came into effect in 2012, although this was later overturned by the Supreme Court.
