Author: Redazione AEVF

The parts of Europe crossed by the Via Francigena are meeting in Monteriggioni for the sixth edition of the Forum “Comuni in Cammino“.

The event is scheduled for Friday 1^st and Saturday 2^nd February in the monumental complex of Abbadia Isola and will be dedicated to the theme “Francigena – Routes – Europe” with the attendance of guests from Italy, Switzerland, France and England. The Forum, organised by the municipality of Monteriggioni, in collaboration with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) and with the support of the region of Tuscany, will also be an opportunity to greet the official registration of Sigeric’s Way in the ‘National Proposed List’ (Tentative List) of UNESCO heritage.

The guests. The day of Friday 1^st February will be reserved for the EAVF Executive Board meeting, while on Saturday 2^nd February the meeting will be open to all, beginning at 9.30am. Institutional greetings will kick off the Forum; with Raffaella Senesi, mayor of Monteriggioni; Stefano Ciuoffo, Councillor of Tourism for Tuscany; Monica Barni, vice-president of the region of Tuscany and Massimo Tedeschi, president of the EAVF. The European dimension of the Francigena and of the paths will be witnessed by the presence of MEP Silvia Costa and by the attendance of a representative of the Council of Europe.

The main events. During the meeting the AEVF project and collaboration with Trenitalia will be presented, with Cristina Bruno of the Tuscany Regional Direction – Trenitalia Spa, before leaving room for the different experiences of protection and enhancement of the Via Francigena, promoted by the municipalities along the pilgrimage route in the four European countries. The programme also includes cultural moments, including the presentation of the finalists of the second edition of the literary award dedicated to the Via Francigena “Intanto parto“, created by Betti Editore, and the awarding of the Sigeric Award, which the municipality of Monteriggioni will give to people who have distinguished themselves in the enhancement and promotion of the Via Francigena. The Forum will give space, once again, to the European Festival of Vie Francigene, with a speech from the director Sandro Polci and the award for the most creative initiatives of the last edition. The Forum will be followed by Radio Francigena.

“Monteriggioni – says mayor, Raffaella Senesi – once again welcomes the International Forum dedicated to the Via Francigena with great pleasure. This event is strengthened as a moment of comparison and analysis of the current state of the Via Francigena and future objectives for the growth and enhancement of the ancient path of Sigeric, still full of many potential developments through uniting the forces involved. The programme will be full of guests, experiences and cultural events and give us a boost, especially as the Via Francigena has very recently joined the Tentative List of UNESCO heritage in Italy. This is an important step forward and a precious and fundamental step for every action to promote the Via Francigena“.

“The annual ‘Comuni in cammino’ Forum, which takes place in Monteriggioni – adds Massimo Tedeschi, president of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways – is always a precious moment to share new projects, exchange good practices, bring together ideas and renewed energy in favour of the Via Francigena, an ever-developing route in its international dimension with the four countries involved: England, France, Switzerland and Italy. The beating heart of the Via Francigena is precisely the thousand municipalities crossed by the route that goes from Canterbury to Rome and down to Puglia. Today, the Francigena proves to be a formidable lever for the socio-cultural development of territories, it creates jobs and fosters a sustainable economy on a local scale“.

AEVF joint press release / Municipality of Monteriggioni

There’s been a new development in the Pavia town of Gropello Cairoli. The Lombard municipality, member of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), has launched a new, free Wi-Fi access point near the main square and town hall.

The initiative aims to benefit pilgrims along the route and also follows other walking activities created by the municipality. Last summer a touristic brochure was released, titled “Gropello Cairoli sulla Via Francigena”which contained helpful directions for pilgrims pausing in the little town, cited in Sigeric of Canterbury’s journal on his way back from Rome along the Via Francigena in 990.

An information panel has also been placed in the town centre, which was realised by the EAVF in collaboration with the region and other municipalities of the Lombard section. The Via Francigena is also a main feature in the “In Comune” newsletter of the Lombard town.

The Board of Directors of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO has expressed a positive opinion on the inclusion of the candidacy of the “Via Francigena in Italy” in the National Tentative List. Confirmation arrived on Tuesday 24^th January at the meeting of the Board of Directors.

An important step for the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in the application process to World Heritage list. The first phase of the application provides the request for registration on the National Tentative List, with which the country highlights the reasons why it should be included in the World Heritage List at the World Heritage Centre.

The path of the Via Francigena UNESCO application started in 2010, but was then suspended the following year. Since 2017 a new operational phase has been involved, linking MIBAC (Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities), the Italian regions and the European Association of Via Francigena Ways. The preliminary analysis phase of the Italian section, presented in the spring of 2018, thanks to the joint work of the seven Regions (Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Lazio, with Tuscany as the leader) with MIBAC and the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, thus concludes positively with its insertion in the tentative list.

In the meantime, the second phase begins with the development of the European feasibility study involving England, France, Switzerland and Italy. Within this study, an application strategy of the Via Francigena will be developed including a general proposal of the entire route, underlining how its distinct sections can be individually and separately submitted for the World Heritage List, thus nevertheless leaving the universal value of the route unquestionable.

“The European route deserves to see its exceptionality and importance recognised, both from a cultural and natural point of view. – comments the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, tasked by the Tuscany region to play a technical and institutional support role to the UNESCO application project – The Via Francigena represents a great opportunity for growth and development for the territories, but also for all the communities involved in this project. This is a complex asset, a heritage of humanity, to be protected and enhanced within the UNESCO network, to join the Council of Europe which has supported the Via Francigena since 1994.“

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A cycle path to safely travel the route, a hostel for 25 pilgrims and a museum dedicated to the Francigena. Felegara, fraction of the municipality of Medesano, is ready to bet on slow tourism thanks to the realisation of important projects.

The synergy between private and public entities will transform this small town in the province of Parma in an important rest-stop along the Emilia Romagnan Francigena.

The project which will restructure the Casa Torre and Casa Colonica was presented on Friday 18^th January in the “G. Corradi” theatre of the municipality of Medesano (promoter of the initiative), with the mayor, Riccardo Ghidini; vice-mayor, Michele Giovanelli; priest of Felegara, Don Enzo Salati, and architects Giacomo Beranelli and Filippo Turchi of Draftarch. Others present include: the regional counsellor, Barbara Lori; vice-president of Fondazione Cariparma, Anna Mazzucchi and the president of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, Massimo Tedeschi.

It will be a new integrated service along the Francigena, as well as a positive outcome for both public and private entities and the territory businesses that believed in the project. The investment, equal to 1,239,600 euro, is divided into three parts. The first step is the realisation of a route of an almost 2km long cycle route.

“This part of the cycle route will make this section of Carnevala to Felegara safe for pilgrims to cross in the area of Medesano. Works began on the 14^th January – explains vice-mayor, Michele Giovanelli – The funds which will probably come from the government will allow us to realise a secondary cycle route.”

The second step will be the realisation of the hostel in the Casa Colonica of the parish. “Here, pilgrims will find an important rest-stop. There will be 25 beds and the hostel will be advanced even from a technical perspective – confirms the vice-mayor – there will be a public competition for management. The works carried out will be assumed by the municipality for twenty years; we intend to begin works by the end of spring”.

The project will also redevelop the Casa Torre, historic and cultural architectural structure of Felegara: “We will have teaching classes, labs and a museum dedicated to the Francigena and teacher Adolfo Tanzi, a very important figure of our community” adds Giovanelli.

A big project for a small community, which has touristic opportunities as its goal. As well as an administrative contribution of 428 thousand euro, the restoration project will be carried out thanks to the generosity of the region of Emilia Romagna with the European funds of POR-FESR, equal to 452 thousand euro; the support of Fondazione Cariparma with 230 thousand euro and 50 thousand euro from the diocese of Parma and the direct participation of the area. Six businesses of Felegara (Socomec, New House, Pietro Montecchi, Acmi, Vergalli Acciai and Tecsal) will also contribute to financial coverage with funds equal to 79 thousand euro.

“To promote tourism in Medesano we need to bet on the Francigena and its enogastronomic riches – confirm the vice-mayor – The Francigena is a magnificent asset and should be enhanced; pilgrims will be able to stop in Felegara and find a nice rest-stop. We are very happy, we’re talking about a project which began in 2015 and now with this funding we can finally realise our dream. The Forum planned on 2^nd February in Monteriggioni will be the perfect place to share this important project”.

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