On 29 June, the Certification Ceremony of the Aeneas Route as “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” was celebrated in Edremit (Türkiye) and organized by the Edremit Municipality, founding member of Aeneas Route Association. The ceremony took place in the framework of the closing meeting of the project "On the Steps of Aeneas", organized by the Aeneas Route Association, the Edremit Municipality and the Sapienza University. The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) awarded the certification to the Aeneas Route at its annual Governing Board meeting in May 2021.

The Certification diploma was handed to Mr. Selman Hasan ARSLAN, Mayor of Edremit, on behalf of the Council of Europe by Mr. Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the EPA. The Ceremony was attended by all the Turkish members and Representatives of the Governorate of Balıkesir, the Metropolitan City of Balıkesir, the Municipality of Çanakkale, the Regional Directorate of Balıkesir for Culture and Tourism, the University of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart, the University of Balıkesir, the Agency for the Development of the South Marmara Region, the Directorate of the Museum of Troy, the Directorate of Excavation of the City of Troy (UNESCO) and the Chamber of Regional Touristic Guides of Çanakkale. The Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park attended the ceremony as well.

The meeting was also an occasion to present the touristic and educational digital platform of Aeneas Route, A.R.I.S.T.E., that enriches the regions Lavinium (Italy) and Antandros (Türkiye) with virtual tours. An academic publication with articles from Turkish and Italian archaeologists regarding the connections between the Troas and Latium regions, was also presented during the meeting.

The Aeneas Route is an archaeological Route which stretches from the coasts of Turkey (North-West Aegean Sea) to the shores of Latium Vetus in Italy and traces the journey of the legend of Aeneas, as narrated by the Latin poet Virgil in the Aeneid epic. Throughout the centuries, the narration of Aeneas became a common cultural heritage that unites many Mediterranean countries and civilisations and is the subject of countless paintings, mosaics, sculptures and works of art. It connects the most important sites in Europe associated with the mythical hero.