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The San Donnino Hostel in Fidenza (Parma, Emilia-Romagna), a facility dedicated to welcoming young people and pilgrims, is reopening after being closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Located in the heart of the historic center, it is just a few steps from the Cathedral of San Donnino, Piazza Garibaldi, and the commercial area, surrounded by numerous services and dining options.

Technical Details

The facility offers 10 beds in multiple rooms of 2, 3, or 5 beds. The overnight stay is priced at €20.00 per bed per night (including bed linen) + €0.50 per night for the tourist tax. The supply of shower linen is excluded and costs €2.50 (to be requested at the time of booking).

Guests have access to bathrooms with showers, a simple but fully equipped kitchen, and a laundry room with a washing machine, dryer, and drying rack. The building also has a stairlift for access by people with disabilities and a dedicated bathroom.

Check-in is from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Check-out is by 10:00 AM. Payment can only be made in cash upon arrival. Breakfast or meals are not provided, but there are numerous dining options near the facility.

Fidenza, the Beating Heart of the Via Francigena

Fidenza is a place rich in significance for the Via Francigena!

The town in the province of Parma is located exactly halfway along the Via Francigena route from Canterbury to Rome and represents one of the vital hubs of the path, where various initiatives are organized to celebrate and promote it, such as the Francigena Fidenza Festival.

On this occasion, last April, the San Donnino Hostel in Fidenza was inaugurated, and it has already begun to take reservations. This is an important milestone that fills the gap for a pilgrim-friendly facility in the city!

➡️ Visit the technical details on our website ⬅️

On April 17th, Nicole Franciolini and Simona Spinola, respectively Social Media Manager and Communications Manager for AEVF, were welcomed by Gaëtan Tornay, Vice President of EAVF, President of the Swiss Association of the Via Francigena (SAVF), and Director of the Tourist Office Au Pays du St-Bernard based in Orsières, to discover the secrets of the winter Via Francigena in Switzerland.

The town, located in the Canton of Valais, is situated at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, on the road to the Col du Grand Saint-Bernard, which, at 2,473 meters in altitude, marks the highest point of the entire Via Francigena route, as well as the border between the Swiss and Italian sections of the path, which enters the Aosta Valley from the Col. 

The staff thus traveled part of the eleventh stage of the Swiss Francigena, from Bourg Saint-Bernard to the Col du Grand Saint-Bernard, the gateway to the Italian Alps, in a magnificent winter panorama: abundant snowfall and sub-zero temperatures required the use of snowshoes and all necessary safety equipment – shovel, probe, and ARVA – under the careful guidance of an expert. Along the way, two small shelters offer a safe resting point for ski mountaineers and travelers, with a ready-to-use fireplace, a kitchenette for tea or a quick hot meal, and a phone to call for help if needed.

An unforgettable experience, made even more special by the overnight stay at the Hospice du Grand Saint-Bernard, open 365 days a year, which welcomes travelers and enthusiasts of ski mountaineering and winter sports. The structure, built in 1050 by the canons of the order of Saint Augustine, has 120 beds and offers various lodging options with the possibility of having breakfast, lunch (also packed) and dinner in a context of sharing and simplicity. Connected to the Hospice is a hotel that opens in June when the valley in front, completely frozen during the colder months, reveals the picturesque lake. A few meters from the complex, the customs mark the border between Switzerland and Italy, where the statue of Saint Bernard watches the passage of pilgrims.

The Col du Grand Saint-Bernard has always been a place of particular importance since the time of the ancient Romans who worshiped Jupiter Penninus, protector of travelers, while in the Middle Ages, Saint Bernard of Menthon had a monastery built there to provide hospitality to pilgrims heading to or returning from Rome. The imposing monastery was further expanded in the nineteenth century and now houses a museum dedicated to the history of the pass, open during the summer months. 

The entire complex of the Hospice and adjacent structures is easily accessible by car during the warmer months by taking the SS27 road, which is closed and impassable due to snow from October to early June.

It is impossible to talk about Saint Bernard without mentioning the famous dogs originating from Central Asia, which have served at the pass since 1650 as guard and rescue dogs in case of avalanches. These splendid specimens, present at the Col 12 months a year until 2005, spend the coldest months at Barryland, the foundation that traces the history of the pass and the Saint Bernard breed with a permanent exhibition: currently, the foundation is being expanded and by 2025 will offer visitors new themed areas.

The snowshoe hike at minus 10 degrees confirmed to the staff that the Swiss Francigena can be traveled year-round, even on its most challenging stages, as long as one carefully checks the weather and prepares for the ascent with appropriate equipment, suitable physical preparation, and the company of a certified guide who can assess the risks and dangers of an area of unique beauty, where nature dominates among breathtaking valleys and slopes.

“Reaching the hospice of Grand Saint Bernard in winter is a unique experience, and the contrast with the busy road during the summer and the numerous tourists who visit the place is surprising. Personally, I greatly appreciate the winter atmosphere, especially in the truly special setting of the hospice”. 

Gaëtan Tornay

For 2024 as well, the Via Francigena renews its collaboration with the Sales Unit North West, coordinated by Alessandro Mauri of Banca Generali, who shares with our Association values related to environmental responsibility and ecosystem protection. The financial group, at the forefront of promoting a sustainable future, operates every day on multiple fronts to encourage investments that integrate environmental, social, and good governance factors: in other words, it offers concrete support to help citizens take care of their life projects.

Environmental protection, understood as a daily responsibility that concerns all of us, is at the heart of the photographic project BG4SDGs – Time to Change, through which Banca Generali concretizes its commitment to the fight against climate change and more conscious use of natural resources. Through the shots of photographer Stefano Guindani, Banca Generali aims to investigate the implementation status of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that make up the UN Agenda 2030, and which constitute fundamental guidelines for developing peace, justice, and equality at all levels: from corporate governance of large companies to responsible lifestyles for individuals.

Poverty, education, nutrition, hygiene, and gender equality appear in the Agenda’s roadmap, alongside clean and accessible energy, water availability, responsible production and consumption, and industrial innovation. This results in a complex picture, rich in difficulties and delays, but also in virtuous actions from which to draw inspiration, each in their own context. EAVF embraces the cause, actively committing to the enhancement of territories and the creation of tangible environmental awareness: the Via Francigena thus emerges as a message of peace, facilitating sustainable mobility, intercultural dialogue, and the spread of common ideas and values for a greener and more cohesive Europe.

The most representative photos of the BG4SDGs – Time to Change project have been selected for a traveling exhibition inaugurated in Venice, which will be set up in major Italian cities throughout 2024. The goal? To generate reflections related to the environment, work, and communities that must continue to concern each of us, without exception.

The “Stop & Taste”, the initiative featuring parmesan cheese as a protagonist, also returns for 2024 to discover local flavors along the Via Francigena, thanks to the agreement between the European Association of the Via Francigena ways (EAVF), the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano, and the Official Magazine of the Via Francigena curated by Studio Guidotti Editore. This partnership allows pilgrims who join the Consortium’s community to taste single portions of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, discovering its characteristics and various aging processes.

The initiative, born in 2017, is the result of collaboration between two protagonists of the good life: on one hand, the Via Francigena, a UNESCO heritage candidate, and on the other hand, the excellence of Parmigiano Reggiano, universally recognized for its uniqueness and useful ally for those who love outdoor activities, thanks to its extraordinary digestibility and readily available energy.

At the moment, it is possible to “stop and taste” in 5 markets, 41 restaurants, 20 dairies, as well as in some IAT (Tourist Information Office) points distributed throughout the province of Parma:

• Fidenza: Tourist Office IAT Casa Cremonini Piazza Duomo, tel. +39 524 83377
  From April to October: every day, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
  From November to March: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Closed on Mondays. Closed on December 25th and 26th and January 1st.
• Fornovo di Taro: Tourist Office IAT Via XXIV Maggio 2, tel. +39 346 9536300 Open all year round from Monday to Sunday.
  From Monday to Friday 8:30 am/12:30 pm – 3:00 pm/5:00 pm; Saturday 8:30 am/12:30 pm; Sunday 9:00 am/12:00 pm.
• Berceto: Ostello Passo della Cisa, Strada Statale della Cisa 89 Berceto PR. Tel. 0525 64153

Starting this year, pilgrims registered with the Consortium community will receive complimentary single portions of MITO Parmigiano Reggiano, the list of affiliated IAT points, and many surprises such as discounts and recipe books!

From April 25th to 27th, the European Association of the Via Francigena ways held its annual General Assembly in Vevey, Switzerland, with the presence of numerous members from the four countries crossed by the Via Francigena: the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, and Italy. This highly attended international meeting took place within the prestigious salle del Castillo, overlooking Lake Geneva.

Following the official greetings from Mayor Yvan Luccarini and Vincent Bailly, representative of Lavaux Patrimoine Mondial, the assembly commenced with the presentation of a diploma by EAVF Vice President Francesco Ferrari to the municipal administration of Vevey for joining the association.

In plenary session, numerous important agenda items were discussed, starting with the approval of the budget forecasts and the financial statements. Also highlighted was the quadrennial evaluation by the Council of Europe for the confirmation of the European certification of the Via Francigena, which, in 2024, marks its 30th anniversary of this recognition. A new section of the website www.viefrancigene.org is dedicated to these thirty years of history, featuring a timeline of the most significant events during this period and a collection of written thoughts and reflections. The page is also enriched with material that, work in progress, narrates the Via Francigena in a social media version. Lastly, the Vevey Declaration is included, affirming the AEVF Assembly’s commitment to continue the promotion, dialogue, and cooperation on the Via Francigena.

During the assembly, strategic projects concerning the Via Francigena in the national sections were shared: particular attention was given to the progress of the approval process for the Via Britannica, a historic itinerary from London to Canterbury within the AEVF network. Additionally, developments of the emerging Itinerary Committee, which will be officially launched on June 18, 2024, in Troyes, France, for better governance of the French stretch, connecting the eight departments and three regions involved.

An important moment of the GA was dedicated to welcoming new members joining the international network. Besides the Swiss municipality of Vevey (Vaud), the French municipality of Braux-le-Châtel (Haute Marne, Grand Est), and the Italian municipalities of San Rocco al Porto (Lodi, Lombardy) and Formia (Latina, Lazio) were welcomed. The total number of members now stands at 243, including municipalities, provinces, and regions. Two new “friendly” associations were also welcomed: Pro Loco Oriese APS (Orio Litta, Lombardy) and Accoglienza Pellegrina (Valpromaro, Tuscany), bringing the total to 92 members.

In addition to the assembly, participants had the opportunity to engage in various activities offering a comprehensive immersion into the cultural heritage of the Via Francigena, with a focus on the city of Vevey and this splendid Swiss stretch of the route.

The three-day program kicked off with the theatrical performance “Legend of Sigerico”, staged by the beloved company (Italian-French) directed by Carlo Boso. Spectators were transported back in time through the adventures of Sigerico, Bishop of Canterbury, in a captivating narrative crafted in the style of commedia dell’arte. Knowledge of the territory was also imparted through gastronomy, with a tasting of local wines and fondue, in a convivial and welcoming atmosphere. The tourist part included two significant moments: a guided tour of the city, in three languages, allowing participants to discover Vevey’s hidden treasures, from its charming architecture to its picturesque streets, offering a comprehensive overview of the city’s life and history. Particularly appreciated was the walk through the villages and vineyards along the beautiful stretch of the Via Francigena between Lausanne and Vevey. The cultural landscape characterizing this route is one of the most iconic and breathtaking points of the entire European journey: here lie the famous vineyards recognized by UNESCO for their perfect integration between the ecosystem and an authentic and dynamic civilization.

Among the cultural events, two were highlighted: the Conference on Cultural Itineraries in Switzerland, during which experts shared knowledge about the cultural itineraries traversing Switzerland, exploring their cultural, social, touristic, and economic implications; and the exhibition featuring panels on the Via Francigena, at the Market Square. Participants had the honor of attending the opening of the exhibition illustrating the history and heritage of the Via Francigena through a rich selection of photos with 16 informative panels aimed at the general public. This exhibition fits well within the celebrations of the thirty years of the Via Francigena, a European cultural itinerary.

The three-day event was organized with the support of the Vevey municipal administration and the Association Via Francigena Suisse.

Members will reconvene in Monte Sant’Angelo, Puglia, for the next AEVF autumn assembly.

From 4 to 7 June, more than 80 representatives from 21 countries and 37 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe will participate in the European Cultural Routes Training Academy in Brindisi.

The Region of Apulia and the City of Brindisi as Capital of the European Cultural Routes

The 11th edition of the Training Academy on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe will take place in Brindisi, at the Accademia degli Erranti – Statio Peregrinorum, from 4 to 7 June 2024, organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) and the European Association of the Vie Francigena ways (EAVF), the supporting network of the Via Francigena, with the support of the Region of Apulia, the Municipality of Brindisi, and in collaboration with the Association ‘Brindisi e le Antiche Strade’.

This event is organised as part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Via Francignea, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe 1994-2024. The theme of the Training Academy 2024 will be “European cooperation and sustainable development”, with an important focus on the best practices of the Via Francigena presenting good practices along the route.

The aim of the Training Academy in Brindisi is to provide operators of the Cultural Routes with training on specific topical issues in the field of cultural heritage management and tourism promotion.

The Cultural Routes Training Academy offers practical approaches through the participation of academic or professional experts with whom Cultural Route operators can exchange views. The four days of training and exchanges aim at enhancing cooperation between the operators and managers of the Routes.

Participation is limited to representatives of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

More than 80 representatives from as many as 37 certified Cultural Routes and 21 countries participate in this international event.

Discover the programme:
https://rm.coe.int/2024-training-academy-draft-programme-21march/1680af084c

Contacts: training.academy@viefrancigene.org

“CASA DELLE BALIE” REOPENS. A NEW BEGINNING FOR HOSPITALITY FOR PILGRIMS AND HIKERS IN SIENA.

Sigerico SpA, in collaboration with the Municipality of Siena, is pleased to announce the reopening of the “Casa delle Balie”, the first and historic hostel dedicated to pilgrims walking the Via Francigena and the Via Lauretana, as well as to all hiking tourists. After a period of inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary hospitality offered to Ukrainian women fleeing the war, the facility will be active from Friday 29 March 2024, marking an important return to normality and tourism in close contact with nature, culture and art.

The “Casa delle Balie”, once a refuge for abandoned children and today a hub of hospitality for wayfarers, sportsmen and women of the Strade Bianche and temporary inhabitants of sustainability, is a landmark in Siena, located in the suggestive alley of San Girolamo, in the heart of the historic centre, a few steps from the Siena Cathedral and integrated into the Santa Maria della Scala complex. Its history, which sees it rooted in the social and cultural fabric of the city as a place of welcome, is renewed today with its reopening. An unmissable stop for those looking for an authentic experience in the heart of one of the most fascinating centres in Italy, a reference point for walks and slow tourism.

“Thanks to the work done in synergy with Sigerico, we are making available to pilgrims again a place of welcome and hospitality, which is a historic location full of strong symbolic meaning. Connected to the Santa Maria della Scala complex, the “Casa delle Balie” played a precise social and solidarity role for the city, welcoming children abandoned by their families. Over time the building has changed its original purpose becoming a refuge for wayfarers. In recent times, however, the welfare nature of this space has continued, hosting young Ukrainian women who have fled the war in this very house. Today a new cycle begins, a cycle dedicated to the traveller, to those who stop in our wonderful lands through a unique urban stretch of the Via Francigena”.

Nicoletta Fabio, Mayor of Siena

The Accommodation

With a capacity of 25 beds spread across five welcoming rooms, the accommodation offers a variety of services designed to guarantee comfort and functionality for its guests. The “Casa delle Balie” covers an area of 350 square meters and has two independent entrances: the main one on Vicolo di San Girolamo (number 2) and a second access from Via de’ Fusari (number 48), specifically designed to facilitate access for disabled guests, with a room equipped with a bathroom to regulations.

Guests can enjoy a range of state-of-the-art services and a warm and welcoming atmosphere, thanks to the advanced heating and air conditioning system, free Wi-Fi, as well as a well-equipped laundry room with a washing machine and dryer, refrigerator, bathrooms with coin-operated showers, a terrace and a recreation room. Open all year round, except for December 25th, until October the hostel will welcome its guests from 3pm with check-in from 1.30pm to 6.15pm (winter hours will be announced shortly). Registration and payment (if not made previously) must be made at the Museo Santa Maria della Scala, Piazza Duomo, 2 from 1.30pm to 6.15pm. After registration, guests will be given an electronic key or access code and directions to their accommodation (room name and bed number), and the times for entering and leaving the building.

In line with its commitment to providing a high quality service, the Municipality of Siena has updated the rates to 25 euros per person per night including bed linen.

The “Casa delle Balie” is more than just a hostel: it is a meeting point for travellers from all over the world, a place where history and hospitality blend to offer a unique experience. We are ready to welcome back pilgrims and travellers to the heart of Siena, offering them an unforgettable stay.

Information and bookings:

Telephone: 0577-228788
Email: ostello@casadellebalie.it
Website with regulations: www.casadellebalie.it

Just like previous years, slso this year the Via Francigena did not miss “Fa’ la cosa giusta!”, the trade fair in Milan dedicated to critical consumption and sustainable lifestyles organized by the publishing house Terre di Mezzo. The event, by now a solid point of reference in Milan’s green scene, attracts hundreds of operators, institutions and associations from all over Italy every year, as well as thousands of visitors interested in best practices linked to critical consumption and the enhancement of territorial excellence.

3 days of the fair in only 40 seconds: WATCH THE VIDEO

A double birthday: an edition marked by celebrations

This year, the “Fa’ la cosa giusta!” fair celebrated its 20th edition with very successful numbers: almost 40,000 visitors and 475 exhibitors throughout the three days at the Allianz MiCo exhibition space. Among the exhibitors, there were numerous stands in the area dedicated to “Conscious Tourism, Walks and Outdoor”, part of the third edition of the “Fiera dei Grandi Cammini“, the most important and unmissable event in Italy on walking and cycling.

“If twenty years ago we had been asked to express a wish for the future, perhaps our imagination would not have gone so far. Instead, here we are once again during this long weekend in which the work of a whole year comes to fruition, in which the small steps that each of us has taken go to delineate a single Path,” said Terre di Mezzo in a press release at the end of the event.

Candles on the cake also for the Via Francigena, which in 2024 celebrates its thirtieth anniversary as ‘Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’, obtained in 1994. An anniversary that will be celebrated all year round, with an unmissable programme of events aimed at hiking lovers and the rich panorama of organisations, associations, operators and institutions gravitating around the Via Francigena.

Activities, visitors, and 2024 novelties at the Via Francigena stand

From Via Francigena “veterans” to curious people looking for information to organise their first adventure: there were many visitors at the EAVF stand, shared on this occasion with our partner sloWays.

Many were the activities during the three days of the fair, organised in collaboration with EAVF’s partners CAMCO, Ferrino, Garmont, sloWays, AllTrails, Coop, Flixbus and Trenitalia, which involved hundreds of participants. The luckiest ones – their names will be revealed on EAVF’s social media channels on 5 April! – will receive free hiking equipment by Ferrino, Garmont and CAMCO, or a voucher to the value of 100 euro on a sloWays trip.

And finally… maps, pins, brochures, postcards, and lots of questions about the Via Francigena, but not only: an important novelty at the stand was the calendar of free group hikes, starting in April with the walks of the Francigena Fidenza Festival and from May to October with the 2024 edition of “Coop Outdoor – I love Francigena“.

The perspectives of the Via Francigena: Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Ministry of Tourism

Il cammino della Via Francigena prosegue in discesa e il suo futuro passa anche da “Fa’ la cosa giusta!” 2024: durante la conferenza stampa di apertura dell’evento è stato presentato il protocollo di intesa tra AEVF e il Ministero del Turismo alla presenza della Ministra Daniela Santanchè e dell’Assessora al Turismo e Ambiente di Regione Lazio Elena Palazzo. Il Protocollo si affianca all’accordo operativo tra Ministero del Turismo e regioni che prevede lo stanziamento di un milione e 690mila euro per avviare tutti gli interventi necessari alla promozione del cammino. Ne abbiamo parlato qua:

During the opening press conference of the event, a protocol of understanding between EAVF and the Italian Ministry of Tourism was signed in the presence of Minister Daniela Santanchè and Lazio Region Councillor for Tourism and Environment Elena Palazzo. The protocol complements the operational agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and the regions, which provides for the allocation of 1.69 million euros to initiate all the actions necessary to promote the itinerary. We also talked about it here:

• Italian Ministry of Tourism and EAVF sign a protocol to promote and internationalize the Via Francigena
• Italian Ministry of Tourism, Regions and EAVF together for the Via Francigena

Also this year, the participation of the Via Francigena in “Fa’ la cosa giusta!” marked the official start of the walking season! Stay tuned to the EAVF communication channels for all the news and upcoming events!

The Italian Ministry of Tourism, Regions and EAVF are working together to promote the Via Francigena in 2024 and 2025, with a special focus on next year’s Jubilee.

On Friday 22 March 2024 in Milan, on the occasion of the “Fa’ la cosa giusta!” trade fair, the operative agreement with the Italian Ministry of Tourism for the implementation of a Communication Plan within the intervention called “Via Francigena – Transversal Actions” was signed in the presence of the Minister Daniela Santanchè and the Councillor for Tourism and Environment of the Lazio Region, Elena Palazzo. The allocation of 1.69 million euros is foreseen to start all the necessary actions for the promotion of the itinerary, which will see the Lazio Region in the role of leader.

The agreement was also signed by the other regions involved (Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Tuscany, Campania, and Puglia) with the Ministry’s General Directorate for Tourism Enhancement and Promotion.

At the centre of the activities is the promotional work, ranging from the launch of advertising campaigns aimed at various countries around the world to the setting up of dedicated stands at the most important international trade fairs. The improvement of the www.viefrancigena.org website where people can plan and organise their trip is also planned, as well as an update of the Via Francigena App. Press tours will also be organised for journalists, bloggers, and influencers who will be able to show the Via Francigena from their point of view.

The project is carried out in close cooperation with the European Association of the Via Francigena.

It is a project that connects, from north to south, 2,000 km throughout the whole of Italy: a fine example of cooperation between institutions committed together to supporting the Via Francigena itinerary in its infrastructural and international dimension.

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Italian Ministry of Tourism and EAVF sign a protocol to promote and internationalize the Via Francigena