Alcázar de San Juan seeks cultural heritage status for Don Quijote legacy

The Sociedad Cervantina de Alcázar de San Juan has submitted a formal dossier to the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha to request that the legacy of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza be declared an Intangible Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC).

The proposal, presented to the Vice-Ministry of Culture and Sports, argues that the literary, human, and cultural values established by Miguel de Cervantes’ characters constitute one of the most universal intangible manifestations linked to the region. The documentation highlights the characters' influence across various disciplines, including literature, theater, opera, cinema, painting, sculpture, and comics.

Furthermore, the dossier notes the characters' impact on science, citing the naming of the Cervantes star and biological species such as the plant Carex quixotiana and the beetle Pimelia quixotiana. The Sociedad Cervantina views this regional recognition as a preliminary step toward seeking UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.