During the EAVF General Assembly held in Troyes (Aube, France) on 16 May 2025, new institutional members were officially welcomed into the EAVF network, which now includes 250 municipalities, provinces, and regions across the four countries of the Via Francigena!

This significant new milestone was achieved thanks to the membership of the municipalities of Ballaigues and Sainte-Croix (Vaud), Poggibonsi (Tuscany), Monterosi (Lazio), Santa Cesarea (Apulia), and the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve (Apulia).

A symbolic and meaningful achievement for the EAVF, which in the Jubilee Year is welcoming an ever-increasing number of municipalities, public bodies, and private organisations from Italy, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, all committed to walking together along the 3,200 km cultural, historical, and tourist route of the Via Francigena through Europe.

A key moment in the recent international development of the network was undoubtedly the relay “Via Francigena Road to Rome 2021. Start again!”, organised to mark the association’s 20th anniversary. This initiative gave new impetus to the growth and sharing of the Via Francigena project, particularly thanks to the many meetings chaired by founder Massimo Tedeschi with mayors, local authorities, associations, and organisations along the route.

Looking to the future

Being part of the EAVF network means actively contributing to the building of a more connected Europe — one made up of people, ideas, and opportunities. This shared commitment is also reflected in European projects such as Detour, aimed at developing SMEs along the Francigena route by enhancing the local economy and the areas it traverses.

The EAVF membership network allows for the coordinated development of services for pilgrims, strengthening the visibility of the regions involved and supporting the path toward a major shared goal: the recognition of the Via Francigena as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.