The University celebrates this Friday the official certification ceremony of The European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens

This recognition has been given in conformity with the certification criteria established in the Resolution CM/Res (2023)2 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The decision was made official on 27 June, 2024 by the Governing board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) through a written procedure.

Currently, the AIS is represented by the consortium of institutions of 13 countries, 12 European an another from Argentine. The UV leads and is the official headquarters, since it was the promoting and foundational member of this association, recognised by the GoverningCouncil of the UV in 2021. It is presided by the Principal of the UV, who delegates in the Vice-Principal for Culture and Society, Ester Alba, and led by the Director of Heritage of the UV, Marisa Vázquez de Ágredos. Her presidency office, Scientific Committee and Technical Committee counts with representatives of attached entities in many countries that participate in this international consortium, that has reunited for two days in the Universitat de València.

The ‘European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens’ is a unique pathway that links emblematic places such as monastic pharmacies, old and laic hospital pharmacies, historical libraries and botanic and medicinal gardens. In this places, the transmission of knowledge and traditional practices related to the therapeutic, hygienic, cosmetic, ritual, artistic and culinary use of medicinal plants has increased the past centuries intercultural and interreligious dialogue. We are talking about a living natural and cultural heritage that promotes intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and human sustainable development.

Currently, the Itinerary of the Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens os represented by 12 European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Spain, France, Hungry, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland) and Argentine.

This international Route promotes research, communication and education activities, and push forward a sustainable and inclusive cultural tourism model in Europe, compromised with the gender and intergenerational perspective, and the rural environments with risk of depopulation. In them is possible to identify ancestral prevalence about the use of medical matter such as medicine, food and ritual elements. It is that way how medical matter is presented as an important cultural and natural patrimony that connects the European memory and identity.

During this ceremony of certification they watched the documentary ‘Spices’, thst will be presented for the first time as part of the Certification Ceremony of the European Route. We are talking about an audiovisual production done inside the frame of the European Heritage Days, financed by the European Council and the EuropeanUnion. It is mostly filmed in rural areas of Romania, Italy and Spain. ‘Spices’ has as a goal to preserve essential live practices for the conservation of biodiversity, the territory and cultural heritage through medical matter that can lead to sustainable models of social cohesion and human development.

The certification as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe confirms the importance and relevance of this project within the European cultural landscape. At the same time, it is the result of an excellent collaboration and cooperation job of the members from the International Network Aromas Itinerarium Salutis (AIS).