The Sensory Landscapes of Hygeia in Europe. Act I: Spices (taste, smell & memory) ACRONYM: Hygeia Legacy-Spices is a European Cross-Frontier Cooperation Project within the framework of the European Heritage Days joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Union EAC-2023-0345 – BH4938 – PMM 3605. The leader of the project is the Association Aromas Itinerarium Salutis – The European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens-Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. The general aim is to preserves and values the importance in Europe of the materia medica as a natural and cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible.

The name Hygeia refers to the goddess of hygiene and health in the Greco-Roman world, daughter of Asclepius-Aesculapius, depending on its Greek or Roman name. With this, the title alludes to three aspects that will be crucial in this research:

1. apply the gender approach in the analysis of the sources and the dissemination of the results – due to the important role that lay or religious women played in the reception, the use and transmission of materia medica in Europe through the centuries. 
2. that the history of the reception, use and transmission of materia medica in Europe is, fundamentally, of Mediterranean roots, a statement that we base on results that we have gathered in research prior to this proposal. 
3. the intergenerational approach that we also dare to the project.

The project involves three countries: Italy, Romania and Spain.

Showcookings, artistic activities and other community participation actions for the audiovisual documentation and safeguarding of the use of spices at culinary, medicinal and ritual levels.