Author: Redazione AEVF

The Francigena, the road that connects Canterbury with Rome in an about 1800 km path, is very appreciated on social networks in its Siena section. According to a study of the French University of Lille, in collaboration with the European Association of the Vie Francigene, which launched the project “The typologies of numerical cultural heritage. The case study of the Via Francigena” there is a boom of posts of travellers along this ancient route.

The research analysed the posts and interactions of pilgrims, walkers, tourists, institutions published between August 2015 and the end of June 2016 on Instagram and Twitter, from which it appears that the posts dedicated to just the Siena section of the via on Instagram are 4619 and the tweets are 7188. The study has been presented this morning at the museum of Santa Maria della Scala, one of the landing points of travellers of the road, by the president of the European Association Massimo Tedeschi and the executive director Luca Bruschi.

The study highlights another fact. The one that says that the Tuscany Francigena, a total of 380 km, is strongly growing in fame on social networks and that Siena has indeed a particular important role. During the occasion, the assessor for tourism of the Municipality of Siena Sonia Pallai displayed the enhancement initiatives of the via. Each Sunday, from the 7^th May to 25^th June and from 3^rd September to 15^th October, #Siena Francigena comes back, the urban trekking within the walls in 10 stages in just as many places crossed by the via. Moreover, two trips outside the walls of the County Seat are planned: the first in Monteriggioni, North from the city on the 6^th May and the second one in Ponte d’Arbia, South from the city on the 27^th May.

Source: Agi.it

Attached it is possible to find the press release on the project with the University of Lille and the Siena section

“So many pearls that keep together this beautiful necklace made of a dense network of people and villages. And there’s so much passion! And then the communication afterwards!’

These sentiments expressed by Luca Bruschi, Director of the European Association of the Via Francigena, capture the essence of the pilgrimage.

The Via Francigena route is based on a travel diary written in 990 AD by Archbishop Sigeric. He travelled from Canterbury to Rome to receive his Pallium from the Pope and on his return noted 79 places where he rested.

Last year I made the entire pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome and received the Pilgrim’s Testimonium. But, my pilgrimage was not just about receiving this treasured document. As Luca says the real joy is in being part of the network of people and the communication afterwards. For me, it is like a new beginning!

When I returned to Australia after my pilgrimage my passion for the Via Francigena intensified. So, I ended up back in Italy and Switzerland a mere four months later. My aim was to spend more time in the 7 places where Sigeric rested in Switzerland.

The itinerary map rather beautifully displays, like pearls on a string, the towns and villages that run through the Swiss Via Francigena.

Orbe

Orbe was the last place in Switzerland (LV or 55) where Sigeric rested on his way back to Canterbury. It is an ancient Roman and Medieval town that still has Roman mosaics, ancient Swiss bridges and my favourite Swiss wine, Gamay.

On my recent visit, I walked for several hours along the Via Francigena pathways near Orbe and enjoyed the solitude of the Swiss countryside. My only companions were green and golden pastures dotted with tiny villages and the purple glow of the distant snow clad Jura Alps!

In Sigeric’s day, major crossroads passed through Orbe and would have been packed with travellers, and a few centuries later, with pilgrims. But, I had it all to myself!

Romainmôtier Abbey

Eventually, I ended up at Romainmôtier Abbey! It has the oldest Romanesque church in Switzerland, and was established in the10th century by Cluny monks. But, there is evidence that the church was built in 10 stages going right back to the 1^st century. I did enjoy seeing the amazing Romanesque columns, capitals and frescoes!

After my walk I was badly in need of a cup of tea! So, I headed straight for the orange Tea House building – once the Abbey Priory. My pot of tea was truly refreshing, alongside a big bowl of local Swiss vegetable soup with bread and a huge plate of cheese.

I had true insight into how grateful medieval pilgrims must have felt to sit and eat this same fare!

Lausanne

Lausanne, Sigeric’s resting place (LIV or 54), is located on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). So, I decided to walk up the steep slopes from the Lake to the Cathedral. The walk is well worth it for the vistas of the city and views to the Lake and Alps – but did result in blistered feet!

Lausanne’s 12th Century Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral is as popular today as it was for medieval pilgrims. It has many amazing features. I love the polychrome figures in the Painted Portal, the belfry and 13th century rose windows.

I managed to locate the Church of St Francis and feeling very weary after the walk, I was reluctant to go in. I tried to take a photo of the labyrinth on the door, but it kept opening. I figured St Francis was inviting me in to pray!

Later in the afternoon, I decided to walk to Vevey (Sigeric’s 53rd resting place). This was a little ambitious given the blisters and the fact that it is a four-hour walk. Fortunately, I had my sketchbook and pencils. So, I found a great spot to sit and sketch the Alps and watch the sun set.

Vevey glowed brightly in the distance, as did the vineyards of Lavaux. Then, as the light faded, I headed off to sample the local Lavaux wine and some Swiss-Italian cuisine!

Aigle

Leaving Lac Léman the Via Francigena goes through the Alp encased Rhône valley. Sigeric rested in a small village near Aigle (LII or 52). This village is beautiful with its winding streets, the Napolean Bridge, Castle and surrounding vineyards and towering Alps.

The Abbey of Saint-Maurice

Another place in the Rhône Valley where Sigeric rested is the Abbey of Saint-Maurice (LI or 51). It is mid-way between Canterbury and Rome and has been a place of continual prayer, ‘laus perennis’, for over 15 centuries. In 2015 there were big celebrations for its 1500th anniversary.

This place is definitely a ‘pearl’ with so much to see! I loved visiting the Basilica, the archaeological site, the catacombs, the treasury and the cloisters.

Visiting this Abbey made me think of the fellow pilgrim I met last year. During that visit, I expressed that I was hoping to go back to France to see places I had missed. But, he very sternly reminded me that the way forward to Rome was so much better. I carried this piece of advice all the way to Rome, and into my daily life, making decisions that move me forward, not backwards. This has been a very big change for me!

Orsières

The Via Francigena ascends steeply into the Alps at Martigny, arriving at Orsières (Sigeric’s rest place L or 50). I do enjoy wandering through the ancient streets, eating in the Café des Alpes and admiring the medieval belfry of the Saint-Nicolas’ church.

Bourg Saint-Pierre

Bourg Saint-Pierre, at an altitude of 1632 m is the next place (LIX or 49) where Sigeric rested. In 810 it had a monastery dedicated to Saint Peter catering for pilgrims. The Romanesque belfry and the hotel where Napoleon dined are great to see.

At Bourg Saint-Pierre there is a tunnel through to Italy. At an altitude of 2473 m, Grand St Bernard Pass is only accessible 2 to 4 months of the year. So, walking the Via Francigena is quite limited here.

Grand Saint-Bernard Pass

I have been fortunate to visit Grand Saint-Bernard Pass several times. Last year, in October, we had our Pilgrim Credentials stamped at the Hospice. We received a true pilgrim’s welcome, with a warm bowl of soup, and a visit to the Chapel and Museum.

Outdoors, there is an ancient Roman road and a lake beyond which marks the Italian border and of course, St Bernard standing guard over the path to Rome and St Peter’s!

Carol Neville

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Travelling the Via Francigena

For more information on the Via Francigena visit the official website https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/.

There are more photographs and information on Carol’s website http://www.carolneville.com.au. Please contact Carol through her website if you wish to join an event in Italy or attend an information evening.

Discovering the Via Francigena integrating the travel by foot and bike with the train, thanks to specific favoured rates on the Trenitalia regional transports.

Trenitalia and the European Association of the Vie Francigene signed an agreement to enhance this integration, therefore subsidizing the knowledge of a tourist and spiritual route, which crosses territories with a great historical and landscape wealth. An answer that has been made possible by the fact that in Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Lazio, the Italian section of the ancient path intersects or runs side by side with railway lines served by Trenitalia regional transports.

The agreement between the transport society of the Italian FS Group and EAVF provides for the use of regional trains with a special 10% reduction on the ordinary fare – effective every day, both for 1^st and 2^nd class – for pilgrims who own EAVF’s official credential. The special discount can be combined with the 50% reduction reserved for children from 4 to 11, except for different regional regulations. The number of tickets that can be purchased by each pilgrim with their credential is limitless. Special attention will be regarded to implement the integration of means between train and bike.

21 is the number of Italian railway stations that crosses the Via Francigena, a place that periodically attracts an increasing number of walkers, visitors and enthusiasts from all over the world. A smart and original occasion to discover the fascinating villages scattered from Canterbury to Rome, through England, France, Switzerland and Italy.

Further information can be found on the Regulations published on EAVF and TRENITALIA websites.

A new step for the extension project of the certification of the Via Francigena in the South as “Cultural route of the Council of Europe”. The 5 crossed regions (Lazio Campania Molise Basilicata Puglia) meet in Rome to put into effect the collaboration protocol.The Via Francigena and the Via Appia symbolise the spines and the primary axis of the walks on a national scale, around which to develop networks of cycle-pedestrian routes, in collaboration with the regions.

The technical workgroup gathered in Rome, at the Puglia region headquarters, with the purpose of carrying out the agreement protocol between the 5 regions and the European Association of the Vie Francigene for the enhancement of the Via Francigena in the South and its validation. Aldo Patruno and Paolo Mauro Bruno (Puglia region), Simone Quilici and Maria Vincenza Zongoli (Lazio region), Domenico Di Nunzio and Cristian di Paola (Molise region), Nadia Murolo, Roberto Fiorentino, Barbara Mancusi Barone, Alfonso Bonaiuto (Campania region), Emanuele Nicoletti (Basilicata region), Massimo Tedeschi, Luca Bruschi, Silvia Lecci (European Association of the Vie Francigene) took part to the meeting.

The communal goal is the accurate definition of the track and of the information about it,firstly and foremost the Vademecum and the Abacus of the signage, both of which have been recently developed by the interregional coordination with EAVF, and the planning of the operation program for the triennium 2017-2019 on route, signage, infrastructure, entertainment, maintenance.

The first point is the definition of a shared track Rome/Santa Maria di Leuca through a specific analysis, as it has been requested by the European Institute for Cultural Routes. As a matter of fact, the validation of the track Rome/Puglia can only happen on the condition that appropriate infrastructural and entertainment actions are programmed by regional and local authorities, in the field of the Coordination for the Via Francigena in the South, in agreement with EAVF and the regions.

“The shared definition of said picture between crossed Regions and EAVF, as réseau porteur of the Via Francigena, is a necessary premise for the ratification of the validation extension of “Cultural route of the Council of Europe” to the Via Francigena in the South, by the assembly system of EAVF. Ratification which, if the work is rapid, may happen within the end of the year” – concluded EAVF’s President Massimo Tedeschi.