On 27 September, the ceremony certification of the “Leonardo da Vinci Route” and the “European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens” as “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe” was celebrated at Pesti Vigadó in Budapest, Hungary. The ceremony took place in the framework of the closing of the 13th Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Annual Advisory Forum. The Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) awarded these 2 certifications at its 2024 meeting as part of the 2023-2024 Certification Cycle.
Leonardo da Vinci, an emblematic figure of the Italian Renaissance, left a permanent mark on art, science and engineering in Europe and throughout the world. His works and notebooks bear witness to an inventiveness and scientific vision that were ahead of their time. A true polymath, Leonardo da Vinci embodied the humanist ideal of the Renaissance, where art and science come together to expand the limits of human knowledge and creativity. Today, his legacy remains a universal source of inspiration, celebrated for his vision, his desire for knowledge and his dedication to innovation.
European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens
The European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens traces the development of botanical and pharmaceutical medicine in Europe through sites that have played a crucial role in the history of medical knowledge. Combining cultural and natural heritage, this route invites visitors to explore exceptional botanical landscapes while delving into the history of medicine. This journey through the monasteries, convents, hospitals, towns and communities that house these historic pharmacies and medicinal gardens is a reminder that the history of materia medica is inseparable from that of humanity.
At the occasion of certification ceremony, both new certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe had the chance to present their networks to the EPA member States, to other Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, as well to representatives of International Organizations, academics from the Cultural Routes University Networks and tourism professionals.
Picture: (from left to right) Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement, Director of the European Institute of the Cultural Routes; Mrs. María Luisa VÁZQUEZ DE ÁGREDOS, Director of the European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens; Mr. Daniele VANNI, President of the Leonardo da Vinci Route and Mrs. Meltem ÖNHON, Chair of the EPA Governing Board.
