The V “Comuni in cammino” Forum will be the perfect opportunity for the presentation of the 44th edition of the “Via Francigena and the European Cultural Routes” magazine.
The cover of the official European Association of the Vie Francigene (EAVF) magazine is dedicated to the Tuscan municipality, which on the 26th and 27th January will host the important international event “Europe and the Via Francigena: an intercultural dialogue”. The biannual magazine represents a journey along the Route of the Council of Europe through images and words, it is an appreciation of culture, tourism and exceptional food and wine. As well as the headline on the area of Monteriggioni, with its castles and operas of art, the new edition will also explore and narrate the Lombard identity of the Via Francigena, its developmental project and maintenance activities promoted by the EAVF and the region, with the participation of many volunteers walking with “I love Francigena”.
The third headline of the magazine involves the Vie Francigene of the South and one of the pilgrimage destinations in Puglia, San Giovanni Rotondo. The municipality in the district of Capitanata inaugurated a pilgrim hostel in December 2017, and last summer organised an international convention on cultural and religious routes, gaining the title of the ‘capital of walking’ for three days.
The publisher of the magazine, attended by the EAVF vice-president and vice-Director General of Canterbury City Council, Velia Coffey, recalls the 30th anniversary of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme which was celebrated in Lucca September 2017. The event, which united 400 people from over 30 countries, brought the theme of accessibility to the attention of those present, with a statement from Pietro Scidurlo, president of Free Wheels Onlus.
Photographs and emotion accompany the Anglo-French journey of Martine Gautheron, EAVF vice-president, in the guise of a pilgrim in this edition of the magazine. Three years after her journey to Rome she completed Sigeric’s ancient route, traversing the missing tract from Canterbury to Champlitte. The fight for the future of European routes begins at the km zero point of the Francigena. As the leader of the Canterbury City Council, Simon Cook, confirms in his article, “We welcome all who come to start their travels here or just to visit. I hope to greet you all here one day”.
The magazine also contains the latest updates on promotional and coordination activities carried out by the European Association of the Vie Francigene. Sami Tawfik and Christian Schülé have been absorbed in a week of meetings in Switzerland in order to implement the development of the European route. Lots of news, information and interviews to read step by step and in three languages: English, French and Italian. The magazine, edited by Studio Guidotti, publishes five thousand copies, and may be accessed online at www.rivistaviafrancigena.it or bought at the online shop
