Author: Redazione AEVF

The European Association of the Via Francigena Ways received a prestigious prize of the Best Destinations for Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2019 awarded by the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Brussels, Belgium.

The Via Francigena, the Council of Europe Cultural route, was given the second place in the category “Transnational Thematic Tourism Products including Cultural Routes“. The international jury took into consideration the development of the Via Francigena in the cultural, socio-economic, tourism and sustainable development areas along the entire route.

The awards ceremony took place on 25 October 2019 in Granada (Spain) within the XII International Conference on Cultural Tourism in Europe in the presence of representatives of the European Commission and other international organizations, regions and local authorities from twelve European countries.

The Prize, created in partnership with Europa Nostra, NECSTouR and European Travel Commission, is awarded by the ECTN since 2014 and is themed around cultural destinations, local communities, associations, businesses, citizens and tourists, the gastronomy and traditions contributing to the sustainability and ethical tourism.

“It was a very useful event to promote the “new ” 3,000 km European Via Francigena and an important opportunity to present the extension of the Francigena path to Apulia, Italy on the international level – comments the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF ) – The Via Francigena promotes the development of an ethical and sustainable route, supports cooperation and economic development of local communities and, finally, can be considered an excellent example of a destination that embraces the objectives of responsible tourism“.

The awards ceremony was attended by the EAVF President, Mr Massimo Tedeschi and the EAVF Director Mr Luca Bruschi.

To learn more: http://www.culturaltourism-network.eu/conference-2019.html

All rights reserved

The Routes4U project within the Alpine Macro Region (EUSALP) continues its development. In its framework, the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) produced information panels, maps and flyers for the regions involved: Bourgogne – Franche – Comté FR; Vaud and Valais CH; Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy and Liguria IT.

In particularly, the produced maps illustrate the Swiss – French intersection and the Italian section of the Via Francigena.  New flyers are added to the EAVF Pilgrim’s Passport distributed in the Alpine Macro Region. Recently, information panels have also been installed in Champlitte, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté FR; in Romainmôtier-Envy, Canton de Vaud, CH, in Pont-Saint-Martin, Valle d’Aosta and in Sarzana in Liguria IT.

Routes4U is the joint project between the European Commission (DG Regio) and the Council of Europe. It takes place from 2017 to 2020 with the aim of improving regional development through the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe that intersect four European Macro-Regions: Baltic Sea, Danube, Adriatic and Ionian, Alpine.

 For further information: https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/Routes4U/

A presented of artwork in the framework of the “Epifanie” project carried out the by the Quasar Institute for Advanced Design took place on Friday, 25 October 2019, at the Council Hall of the Municipality of San Lorenzo Nuovo, as part of the “Arte sui Cammini” initiative, supported by the Lazio Region in line with the guidelines of the Council of Europe.

It is a winner of one of the seven selected projects (out of 35 presented) that encouraged the Lazio Region to create and install contemporary artworks along the spiritual routes, thus enhancing the valorisation work, started few years ago.

The initiative involved artists and cultural operators, called to confront historic, artistic and spiritual values of various religious paths crossing the Region to create artworks capable to harmoniously interact with natural and urban landscapes.

The project, awarded by the Quasar Institute for Advanced Design, exclusively concerns the northern section of the Via Francigena – from the border with Tuscany to San Lorenzo Nuovo – and is carried out on a specific section of the Via Cassia.

The project “Epifanie“, organized by the Quasar, was realized thanks to participation of artists, in particular Renzogallo and Andreco, who created six artworks: one – in the municipality of Acquapendente, near the Porta della Ripa, former access to the city; and five pieces – in San Lorenzo Nuovo.

“With the inauguration of this museum of modern art on the Via Francigena comes a project that has involved several institutions – comments Mayor Massimo Bambini – first and foremost the Lazio Region which financed the works, the Municipalities of San Lorenzo Nuovo and Acquapendente which supported them, the Quasar Institute for Advanced Design which created them – the realization of this project is the tangible testimony of the results that can be obtained by collaborating. The Via Francigena is undoubtedly a force of Tuscia; we are fortunate to have this unique tourist and cultural resource; we cannot in any way leave it out, but rather we must work to strengthen and develop it with new ideas and spread the knowledge with ever greater incisiveness. ” Epifanie” embodies all of this: development, innovation and knowledge. “

On the second photo: from left, Simone Quilici (Lazio Region), Elisabetta Ferrari (European Association of the Via Francigena Ways), Mayor of San Lorenzo Nuovo Massimo Bambini, Municipal Councilor Sandra Pifferi of Acquapendente and the Scientific Director of the Quasar Institute for Advanced Design, Professor Benedetto Todaro.

The European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) participated in the Autumn Meeting of the Saint Olav Ways, which took place on 15 October 2019 in Hamar, Norway.

The Autumn Meeting is the biggest and most important event for the St Olav Ways in Norway, bringing together representatives of the route’s management, directors of regional pilgrim’s centres and representatives of local authorities.

The EAVF, represented by Ms Elena Dubinina, shared its experience of the tourism impact evaluation along the route and presented latest statistics and pilgrim’s profile. The EAVF suggested potential spheres of cooperation between the routes, such as environmental awareness and capacity building and development of indicators and statistical tools.

The EAVF also conducted technical visits to the regional pilgrim’s centres of Hamar and Granavollen, learning about their functions, objectives and importance for local community.

The Council of Europe Cultural Route of St Olav is a network of paths through Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, leading pilgrims to Nidaros Cathedral, in Trondheim, Norway, where Saint Olav lies buried.

Olav II Haraldsson, later known as St. Olav, was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. After he fell in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030 he was declared a martyr and a saint, which led to the propagation of his myth. For centuries after his death, pilgrims made their way through Scandinavia, along routes leading to Nidaros Cathedral, in Trondheim, where Saint Olav lies buried

The St Olav’s Autumn Meeting was a great success and represents a beginning of a cooperation between two pilgrim’s routes – in the North and South of Europe.

More information:

Saint Olav Ways Route https://www.acsow.org/en/frontpage/

Council of Europe Cultural Routes https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes/home