Author: Redazione AEVF

Our meeting for the “Comuni in Cammino” forum returns to Monteriggioni. The 6^th edition planned for Friday 1^st and Saturday 2^nd February, at the monumental complex of Abbadia Isola, dedicated to the theme “Francigena-Routes-Europe”.

The meeting, 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 be a new occasion to meet the representatives of European Routes and the areas crossed by the route.

The event will enable us to give an update on the candidacy project “Francigena UNESCO Heritage”and of the development of the route, with focus on the small, great municipalities, associations and a comparison of the different regions’ experiences. The European scope of the Francigena and the routes will be shown by the presence of Gabriella Battaini Dragoni, Vice Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, and that of Silvia Costa, Member of the European Parliament.

After the meeting on Friday 1^st February, reserved for the EAVF Executive Board, the Forum will officially begin with institutional greetings on Saturday 2nd February at 9:30. Beginning the speeches will be Raffaella Senesi, mayor of Monteriggioni; Stefano Ciuoffo, councillor of Tourism of Tuscany; Monica Barni, vice-president of Tuscany and Massimo Tedeschi, EAVF president.

During the morning meeting, the EAVF vision and collaboration with Trenitalia will be presented, represented by Gianluca Scarpellini, director of the Regional Directorate of Tuscany – Trenitalia Spa.

Various cultural moments will also take place, beginning with the presentation of finalists for the second edition of the literary award dedicated to the Via Francigena “Intanto Parto”, created by Betti Editore. During the forum the “Sigeric” Award will also be given by the municipality of Monteriggioni for the second year running, which awards those who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the Via Francigena.

In the afternoon we give room to the European Festival of the Vie Francigene, with the director Sandro Polci, who will coordinate this section and award the most creative initiatives of the last edition. The forum will be followed by an insert from Radio Francigena.

(Download the poster and programme below)

Press release EAVF/municipality of Monteriggioni

The European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) members package 2019 is now available online. The booklet, available in the “About Us” in the “How to become a part” section on the website, illustrates the services available to member entities for the development of the Via Francigena.

Joining the EAVF network means having access to many advantages. Today, we have 146 members who create the network of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, réseau porteur of the Council of Europe and single association qualified to enhance the cultural route on a European level.

How to join: municipalities, provinces, regions, GAL (Gruppi di Azione Locale) and Italian Comunità Montane can become members, as well as all public entities established in accordance with the laws of the various of belonging, and on the basis of the institutional principles of the European Union.

EAVF member advantages: the members package includes important tools and gives access to useful resources for theinternational promotion of the route. From the direct relationship with European institutions to competitions, from training and consultancy to promotional projects: the EAVF assists and facilitates relationships between entities, giving them the capability toplan on a national and European level.

Planning, but also communicating on behalf of the entities. Through the multilingual portal of the Via Francigena with news and events,social media, themagazine “Via Francigena and the European Cultural Routes” and the smartphone app, the EAVF guarantees visibility on all their means of communication.

Another advantage for EAVF members is the possibility to receive, upon request, a supply of Pilgrim Passports, promotional brochures, the official guide “Via Francigena, 1000km on foot from the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome” published by Terre di Mezzo (in Italian, English and French) and EAVF memorabilia. Starting from 2019, a new map of the Via Francigena will be available at a reduced price, the entire European route drawn in graph form.

There are many projects and services to develop along the European route, because the Francigena grows with its members.

– For more information download the members package 2019 online.

– For more information on how to sign up click here.

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Welcoming pilgrims and tourists of the Francigena with typical products of the area. This is the philosophy of “Ristorum”, the rest-stops created by Andrea Ceragioli in Tuscany. The entrepreneur, originally from Camaiore, decided to bet on the local enogastronomic heritage, giving life to a project that embraced the slow tourism of the Francigena.

“Ristorum” is expanding. Originating from a website, “Ristorum” quickly materialised into the first rest-stop born in 2016 inMontemagno, Camaiore, and was then replicated in the historical centre ofCamaiore, Pietrasanta, Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi (the latter is open in the summer period).

From sweet to savoury, from wines to liqueur: Ristorum offers a journey in the traditions of the area, in the authenticity of ingredients in a typical place that “restores” the palate and heart. “Before Ristorum, I tried everything – explains Ceragioli – I wanted to give a hand to small businesses that were closing due to the crisis, so I launched a website to help them. Not long later, I decided to open a rest-stop where we could offer tasters of these products and, when I learned of the Francigena, I saw an opportunity. I requested use of the official pilgrim logo of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways and offered products with the logo “Ristorum – Via Francigena”.”

What does Ristorum offer? “We offer hospitality to pilgrims and dedicated dishes with seasonal ingredients. Whoever comes the Ristorum is presented with a unique, quality menu – confirms the entrepreneur – wines, liqueurs, artisan beers, saffron, cheese, cured meats, jams and typical deserts: we work with over a hundred Tuscan producers. Then we add our own ideas. For example, the “Fico della Francigena”, made from the fig orchards along the route, we also made a snack with vacuum-sealed, boiled chestnuts, which give pilgrims a lot of energy. We also offer an assortment of wines dedicated to hotels and restaurants along the route.”

From enogastronomy to gadgets: Andrea Ceragioli also bet on Francigena merchandise, with the “Pilgrim Shop”. The project, just launched, has three points-of-sale in Viareggio, Pietrasanta and Pisa, where tourists and pilgrims can buy products and merchandise, including a copy of the real cross of the Zecca di Lucca.

“The Via Francigena enabled me to get to know many people, it opened a window to a world I didn’t know. – concludes Ceragioli – Pilgrims from all over the world arrive in my bars. Slow tourism is definitely a growing sector and represents an opportunity for the area. We are expanding and available to open new sale-points, this also goes for the “Pellegrino shop” along the route. Find more information on our website: https://ristorum.com/”

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Spreading walking culture, moving to rediscover contact with ourselves and the world, in the sphere of responsible tourism. The Compagnia dei Cammini is one of the most important reference points for slow tourism experiences in Italy and the Mediterranean.

Whether it’s trips on foot, peaceful walks, sailing trips, walks with donkeys, meditative hikes (Deep Walking): the Compagnia dei Cammini programme is varied and also looks to the Via Francigena. The Cultrual Route of the Council of Europe is included in the travel catalogue of the company. A series of experiences, also avaialbe in the “Organised Trips and Excursions” section on the official portal of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF).

“The work along the Francigena interests us because we believe in all routes. As an association we also try to enhance several small routes (such as the Spallanzani trail, the Via Cretese) and we are trying to establish a network of smaller routes. It is a pleasure to collaborated with the EAVF as the Via Francigena will become ever-more important.” Confirms Luca Gianotti, coodinator of Compagnia dei Cammini.

How does Compagnia dei Cammini move along the Francigena? “With it being a “greater” route, hikers often move independently and experiment alone. We traverse it regularly in sections, with our groups and in our own way, attempting to maintain the spirit of wayfarer, with readings and cultural insights. Experiencing the route internally.”

Excursions, trips and events. Spreading route culture is Luca Gianotti’s, one of the founders of Compagnia dei Cammini, mission through the association born in 2010, after the “La Boscaglia” experience. As an guide of environmental excursion, author of several texts dedicated to hiking (such as L’arte del Camminare – Ediciclo 2011) creator of new routes (such as the Cammino dei Briganti between Abruzzo and Lazio), Gianotti made slow tourism his life philosophy.

“I feel rewarded by my work as a guide when, after a week of walking, I see people transformed. It’s nice to see the effects of walking on the faces of hikers – explains the coordinator of Compangia dei Cammini – it’s this that moves me and inspires me to share. Our mission is to share walking culture and we feel animated by this spirit. Together with Luigi Nacci (writer, journalist and excursion guide), I have been researching a new blast of culture and news for the future of the walking world. In our free time we organise events, initiatives and moments for meeting. I remember the first Festival of Berceto many years ago, which marked the beginning of walking culture in Italy.”

In 2018, the Compagnia dei Cammini organised 158 travel proposals.

What kind of experiences do participants have? “Based on hospitality, there are different possibilities. We try to generally avoid typically touristic areas and favour the small reality of places, with real meetings with people. – explains Gianotti – We offer tent hikes, walks where you sleep in the open air near vines of Sardinian farmers. Experiences which enable you to maintain ancient cultures, such as pastoralism. Returning the Francigena, we alternate two types of hospitality: in convents and in B&Bs, partly for organisational purposes and because it’s also nice to have two different versions. – concludes Gianotti – Depending on the trip, we always organise hospitality while being attentive to the values of the place. Accommodation must also first and foremost be an experience.”

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