Autore: Redazione AEVF

In light of their positive experiences concerning the Via Francigena and the Camino de Santiago, we have invited two Italian organizations – the Social Cooperative Acca of Aosta and the Association of Free Wheels Lombardy (Varese Somma) to an interesting meeting in Strasbourg, dedicated to the accessibility of Cultural Routes in Europe.

The Aosta Valley delegation attended the meeting in Strasbourg dedicated to the accessibility of Cultural Routes in Europe, June 2016.

A meeting was recently held in Strasbourg organized by the European Institute of European Institute of Cultural Routes, in collaboration with CAST (the Centre for Advanced Studies in Tourism at the University of Bologna) and with the contribution of students in the Degree programme ITALI (International Tourism and Leisure Industries) at the University of Bologna (Rimini Campus), operating within the spheres of the projects Erasmus and Hector.

The meeting was attended by over a hundred people, including twenty-five managers of Cultural Routes which are currently recognized by the Council of Europe, and also representatives of the nine itinerary candidates seeking this important certification.

Through interactive methods and group work, participants addressed issues related to communication (new media, corporate communications, how reach different audiences etc.) and held, among other things, a workshop entitled ‘Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and accessibility’.

The last meeting addressed the issue of accessibility to the Routes of Europe, and included some organizations from European states, such as the French Braille & Culture Association, the German Via Regia, the British In the Footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson, and, for Italy, the Cooperativa Sociale Val d’Aosta and the Lombard Association of Free Wheels, selected for their experience in recent years in relation to the Via Francigena and the Cammino di Santiago  di Compostela.

The Via Francigena is the ancient road of the pilgrims going from Canterbury in England – from where Archbishop Sigeric departed for Rome in the tenth century – on through France, Switzerland and Italy, all the way to Rome, continuing on to the Holy Land .

The experimental project referred to as ‘the Via Francigena for everyone’ concerns the implementation of operations on a section of the Aosta Valley of about 2 km, from the Monastery Mater Misericordiae to the Castello di Quart, near the regional capital.

A proposal by the local Lions Club, the initiative has two goals; first, to involve people in  economic difficulty in the necessary work of adapting the route,  and secondly, to implement interventions aimed at improving accessibility , particularly for people with sensory disabilities, mild motor disabilities and people with intellectual disabilities.

For its part , the Cooperative Acca has collaborated the analysis and individualization of the various adjustments (guiding aids, fences, handrails and an audio guide for visitors  with visual impairments or with minor physical disabilities), which are taking place at this time along the Francigena. In addition, also by Acca, and in collaboration with the Association Girotondo of Aosta, the first guide developed in the Region has been published, addressing in particular people with intellectual disabilities.

The Association of Free Wheels of Somma Lombardo (Varese), founded by Peter Scidurlo, has been particularly involved in recent years on the Routes, including the famous, Santiago de Compostela .  Scidurlo , together with Luciano Callegari, has also produced  the Guide to the Camino de Santiago for Everyone, published by Terre di Mezzo, and he now plans to produce one for the Via Francigena.

Drawing from their experiences, the organizations present in Strasbourg were asked to give feedback on projects that have already been realized, or on ones that are currently underway, in order to define a common set of standards on accessibility, but also to identify best practices in disseminating and promoting the routes. It was therefore, a first positive exchange on these issues, based on common interests to maximize the potential of existing assets through accessibility.

Cultural Routes, although they are all very different, they are linked by the same objective, which is to enhance the memory, history and European heritage, highlighting the cultural diversity of each country. This is an integral part of our European heritage and it is therefore, more important than ever that the issue of the use and accessibility also concerns the Routes and cultural aspects related to them, thus moving in the direction of effective participation and equal opportunities for all citizens and highlighting above all, the economic development opportunities related to accessible tourism, which allows an increase in potential participants.

 ( Maria Cosentino and Stefano Borgato )

Source: superando.it

website: http://www.superando.it/2016/07/06/gli-itinerari-culturali-deuropa-e-laccessibilita/

 

After the latest agreement between the Region Emilia-Romagna and the Episcopal Conference Emilia-Romagna, it has been decided to establish a permanent round table on the theme of religious tourism. Tomorrow the new workgroup, to which the European Association of the Vie Francigene takes part, will take office in Bologna.

The aim of the project is to start a round table on the theme of religious tourism, where to give value to the aspects concerning the construction of the product and its enhancement and promotion. a particular consideration will be given to the aspects concerning the development of the segment at a national and international level.

 

The table gives particular relevance to the theme of the participation of institutions and local communities, of Dioceses and tourism businesses, in order to achieve the following goals:

– exchange of information;

– creation of a network of representatives;

– collection of informative material;

– monitoring of the roads and the pilgrimage paths;

– realisation of focused and shared promo-communicational actions, which are coherent with the guidelines in the tourist field of the region Emilia-Romagna and with the spirit of the Commission for the CEER’s Pastoral of Tourism.

The Via Francigena is an historical path, which firstly lead from Canterbury to Rome and then to Jerusalem. It has been travelled during the Middle Ages by pilgrims and crusaders, and it passed through the whole region of Puglia, starting from the Dauni Mountains.

Let’s walk through it again on foot, just like the pilgrims used to do: it is the best way to get in touch with the idyllic landscapes, the little villages, the holy sites of Christianity.

We start from the San Vito passage to discover the French-Occitan area of Puglia, composed by the Villages of Faeto and Celle di San Vito. 

Along the way we will stop at the ancient Sant’Uite Tavern and at the ruins of the little rocky San Vito Church. A small deviation towards the south and we will find ourselves in Orsara di Puglia, where an Abby dominates the Cavern dedicated to San Michele.

We go back on the Francigena until we reach the Angevin Celle di San Vito, the smallest village of Puglia, which gives us timeless glimpses.

After we have passed the Buccolo Mountain and the territories of Casteluccio Valmaggiore, the descent starts towards Piana, which leads us to Troia. The holy road passes lengthwise through the city, moving along holy buildings of immeasurable beauty, like the Church and the Cathedral of San Basilio.

From Troia we can choose whether to proceed South-East towards the main Portuguese ports, or to travel the Lombardic Road to reach the HolyMountain and the Sanctuary of San Michele on the Sant’Angelo Mountain.

Source: ViaggiareInPuglia

The title of the event gives notice of the union between history and art. The event is organised and represented by the public Theatre of Puglia and it foresees the depiction, with the combination of music and dance, of the holy and profane theme (according to current vision of the pain culture) of the theatre mysteries. These had a great circulation during the Middle Ages, and were the representation of the holy themes of Christianity for the popular and uneducated class, according to the so-called “Biblia pauperum”.

A great project, the one of the public Theatre of Puglia, which is determined to combine art and religion, which have always been pulled both together and distanced. The project is represented by NACT (National Association Critics of the Theatre).

“Mystery and Flames” in Lucera. Art pilgrimages on the roads of the Vie Francigene of Puglia.

The decision of the locations has been instructed by stylistic and planning choices, too. The ancient itinerary of the pilgrimage towards the Holy Land winded along some stages of Puglia, among which also Lucera. An itinerary that the Region and the Province of Foggia, since many years, are trying to promote, thanks to the contribution of many studies about it.

The pièce that will be performed on the 26^th September is aimed to represent the theme of pain as a catharsis and research for perfection. A spiritual path, full of material and moral difficulties, that from our land leads to the physical place of Jesus’ martyr, Jerusalem.

The theme of the pilgrimage draws on the ancient routine, because of innate reasons. It is however reconsidered according to a modernising spirit, thanks to the help of modern art, which can be found from the set up of the shows, to visual art and dances, with an international cut.

Six great artists will perform in unpublished works, inspired by the traditions and with the addition of the spice of multiculturalism, both religious and linguistic.

Angélica Liddell, Shoja Azari-Mohsen, Namjoo-Shirin Neshat, Tamara Cubas and Armando Punzo. Six artists coming from four different geographical areas. Spain, Iraq, Uruguay and Italy, in four different cities of Puglia, joined by the ancient safety stretch.

Source: FoggiaZon.it