Author: Redazione AEVF

The Via Francigena returns to Geo, the programme on Rai3, which explores nature, routes and slow tourism. The show is presented by Sveva Sagramola with Emanuele Biggi in charge of photography.

During the episode on Friday 1st March in the afternoon, the show will take viewers to discover the European route focusing on the Valle d’Aosta. Together with the director of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, Luca Bruschi, two other guests will also appear: Andrea Devicenzi and Jack Jaselli, to present their Via Francigena projects to the public.

“It was a lovely experience, personal and professional. The show, GEO, dedicated to walking routes is a great window which is able to reach millions of people – says EAVF director, Luca Bruschi – It’s an opportunity to narrate the European scope of the route, the association’s activity, the profile of those who chose to walk, the beauty of the Valle d’Aosta section and the suggestive Great St Bernard Pass: symbolic place of the Via Francigena at 2473m“.

 After his experience from La Verna to Rome last year, the 45 year old mental coach, Andrea Devicenzi, returns to the road for a new challenge, this time on the Via Francigena. The Paralympic cyclist and triathlon runner will begin to travel the Italian section in March. Jack Jaselli, 38 year old guitarist from Milan, will begin his journey in April. A month from Pavia to Rome, at a slow pace with his guitar across his shoulders; 34 rest-stops of a walking tour with live stops to promote his fourth album (but first entirely in Italian) named “Torno a Casa”.

 To find out more, just tune into the GEO episode on Friday 1st March! Discover the route from different perspectives: spiritual, social, cultural and enogastronomical.

On Sunday 17th February, a group of volunteers travelled the Roman section of the Via Francigena in agreement with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) with the aim to refresh the signage between La Storta and San Pietro.

 Stefano Cardarelli, Marco Petrelli (president of Valorizziamo Veio), Flavia Mirolo, Luciano Naticchioni and Ugo De Cola took to the road to improve visibility along the route, given the beginning of the season which will attract many pilgrims from all over the world to the tomb of St Peter.

Armed with rucksacks and EAVF red and white stickers, the pilgrim volunteers checked the state of the historic route, adding new signage where necessary. A monitoring system of the territory put in place by a group of friends passionate about hiking and the Francigena together with the association Valorizziamo Veio. The areas involved include: Via Cassia in the section between La Storta and La Giustiuniana to the entrance of the park of Insugherata, Via Trionfale and the parks of Monte Mario, via Gomenizza and viale Angelico.

 “As we travelled we me many local people who were very enthusiastic about our initiative – say the organisers – we also had the chance to speak to teachers from “Stefanelli” middle school who are planning a project along the Via Francigena“.

 As well as refreshing the signage, the group of volunteers also checked the state of the route. “We made the competent authorities aware of a part of the route which had been flooded with water in Insugherata, we advise that pilgrims skirt around the area“.

 Our monitoring of the area will continue with other initiatives in collaboration with Valorizziamo Veio and many pilgrims passionate about the Francigena.

At the last edition of the “Comuni in Cammino” Forum Monteriggioni several accessibility projects along the Via Francigena were shared. Among these initiatives was the “Never Stop!” project by Toscana Hiking Experience.

The amateur sporting association with headquarters in Castelfiorentino introduced the “Joëlette“, an off-road wheelchair. The project was realised thanks to locals, public and private institutions and the support of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways.

“The aim of our association has always been that of enabling more people to get to know our territory. The “Never Stop!” project thus came naturally to us, with the objective of gaining health assistance. – explains Nicola Dainelli, president of Toscana Hiking Experience – We presented our first result at the Forum: the Joëlette, an off-road wheelchair. It’s not over yet, we’re just at the beginning, the funding collection continues; also because we’d like to obtain a very important ‘extra’ for the Joëlette, especially given its use on the Via Francigena“.

 The Joëlette is an off-road wheelchair produced by the French firm Ferriol Mattrat, which allows anyone with limited mobility, both adults and children, to hike in mountains, but also to participate in sports races and competitions with the assistance of at least two escorts. To find more information on the “Never Stop!” project, visit www.toscanahiking.it.

During the “Comuni in Cammino” Forum in Monteriggioni we also talked about the Via Francigena of the South.

Administrators and associations have shared plans and perspectives on the development of the routes which, from Rome arrive at the ports of Puglia. Angelofabio Attolico, EAVF technical manager of the Southern Via Francigena and delegate of the region of Puglia, updated on the state of the route and work conducted by the regions of Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and Molise.

 “The Francigena of the South is at a turning point -explains Attolico in a video interview with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways – After all this time we now have a single, precise, geolocated route from Lazio to Puglia, finally officially decided by the regions. Now that the main route and its variants have been decided, we are now working on safeguarding the route and adding signage through the CIPE funds and the Ministry“.

It will be hard work, but shared on the occasion of an important event, explains Angelofabio: “In Autumn 2019, Bari will host the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) General Assembly, where we will present the new route and propose our official entrance to the European family of the Francigena. We’re working towards the ‘arrival point’ of this project. The new guide of the Via Francigena of the South is due to be released in 2020“.

The videointerview: