University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares World Heritage Site

Official name

University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares | UNESCO

Country

Spain | Map

Continent

Europe

Location

Province and Autonomous Community of Madrid
40.4813° Lat, -3.3680° Lon | Map

Code

876

Time Zone

Europe/Madrid (CET, +0100)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 1998. Founded by Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros in the early 16th century, Alcalá de Henares was the world's first planned university city. It was the original model for the Civitas Dei (City of God), the ideal urban community which Spanish missionaries brought to the Americas. It also served as a model for universities in Europe and elsewhere.