The act of pilgrimage is a global phenomenon, undertaken by people for diverse reasons. Traditionally examined from historical and geographical perspectives, pilgrimage has more recently become the focus of interdisciplinary research, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
One such research project within the EUniWell Alliance is led by the University of Santiago de Compostela, with partners from Semmelweis University’s Institute of Mental Health, the University of Florence, and the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The project called the PILGRIM-APHY-TOUR project envisions pilgrimage walks as a form of therapy tourism that could be openly prescribed to people of all ages and backgrounds, offering new opportunities for inclusive and sustainable development.
As part of this research project, the Institute of Mental Health at Semmelweis University organizes an international professional afternoon on 28 March, between 14:00 – 18:00 PM (CET). The aim of the event is to evoke diverse experiences of pilgrimages and scientific perspectives.
During the event, participants will gain insight into the background of the research, its preliminary results, and the characteristics of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Via Francigena in Italy, the Camino Podolico in Ukraine, and the experiences of pilgrims in Hungary and neighboring countries.
The event is open and free to interested attendees, but registration is required. You can also find the event on Facebook.
Date: March 28, 2026 (Saturday afternoon, 14:00 – 18:00 PM CET)
Language: English
Venue: Budapest (Exact location to be confirmed based on the number of participants)
Registration: Please read and fill out the form (deadline: March 22, 2026)
The project was submitted to EUniWell’s 8th Seed Funding Call and was chosen for funding along with 10 other forward-thinking, transdisciplinary projects that aim to foster well-being across research, education, and everyday campus life. The PILGRIM-APHY-TOUR project was selected from over 50 high-quality proposals.
About EUniWell’s Seed Funding Programme
The EUniWell Seed Funding Programme aims to promote collaborative, grassroots projects initiated by researchers, students, teachers, and administrative staff from our universities. The scheme supports initiatives which are in line with EUniWell’s core mission: to understand, measure, rebalance and improve the well-being within universities and society as a whole.