After the big success of last year, the European Association of Via Francigena ways has decided to organize the second edition of the competition, which is open to public administrations, associations, tourist accommodations, and individual enthusiasts along the entire route of the Francigena.

The initiative celebrates the innovative management of cultural heritage by rewarding forward-looking cultural projects along the 3200 km long Via Francigena from Canterbury to Santa Maria di Leuca. The award aims to improve the visibility of the European cultural route and promote networking between the EAVF members and the territories crossed by the route.

Anything that can be considered a “good practice” is eligible: weekend walks, moments of discussion and reflection during conferences, actions involving schools, festivals, meetings, tastings to promote the food and wine of the Francigena territories, and much more. There are no limits to good examples!

Last year, the three winning “Good Practices 2019” were awarded with the “wooden pilgrim”, a handmade statue by Artio Design:

• “Grand Prix” awarded to the “Passeggiate nella storia”: re-enactment walks from Abbadia a Isola to the walls of Monteriggioni, organised by the Associazione L’Agresto with the support of the Tourism Office of the Municipality of Monteriggioni (Tuscany).
• Special Mention for Festival de Besançon/Mountfaucon: “Festival Européen de La Via Francigena”, between the Canton of Vaud (CH) and the Département du Doubs (FR), organised by the “Association Musique e Perspectives” in the summer period.
• Special mention for the “enhancement of the Vie Francigene del Sud” project, organised by the Association ITINERA Onlus and Lions District 108 AB. This project consists of a series of animation events involving schools, citizens, and museum structures in the Apulian territory following the extension of the Southern Via Francigena to Cultural Route of Europe.

The information gathered through the Good Practices competition will also be used to create a database containing all the beautiful and important initiatives taking place along the Via Francigena. This database will be made available to all members of the EAVF network.
The Via Francigena depends on the territories it crosses and the people who take care of it along the entire itinerary, which is why it is so important to us to give more visibility to everybody involved in these initiatives.

Eligible practices must have been active throughout 2020. In order to register, please click here. Registrations are open until 19 March 2021.