“Francigena: Way to Rome, Santiago, Jerusalem” is the title of the conference scheduled on 11– 13 October 2019 in Monte Sant’Angelo, Apulia, Italy.

25 years after the certification of the Via Francigena as a “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” (1994), on the eve of the extension of this certification from Rome to Puglia on its way to Jerusalem and in the beginning of the application procedure to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the conference represents a crucial moment in the history of the Via Francigena and in the discovery of its universal value.

The event is jointly organized by the Apulia Region, the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), the Italian Center for Compostellan Studies and the University of Bari. Apulia, and in particular Monte Sant’Angelo, constitute a strategic place to affirm this new vision of Francigena.

The academic debates will take place in the Angelillis Municipal Library,  preceded by a number of events. On Thursday, 10 October 2019 at 9 pm there will be an evening dedicated to the “Monde Film Festival”, while on Friday morning 11 October the Monte Sant’Angelo Francigena Association offers an excursion to the hermitages of Pulsano and a degustation of typical products.

The mayor of Monte Sant’Angelo, Pierpaolo D’Arienzo together with the Budget Councilor for the Region of Apulia, Raffaele Piemontese and the Rector of the Sanctuary of  Saint Michael the Archangel, Father L. Suchy will open the conference on Friday 11 October at 3.30 pm. After the institutional greetings, there will be introductions by Aldo Patruno from the Apulia Region, Paolo Ponzio of the University of Bari and Massimo Tedeschi from the European Association of the Via  Francigena Ways.

The speakers of the meeting opening are as follows: Paolo Caucci Von Saucken of the Confraternity of Saint James of Compostela with a focus on “The Francigena and the major pilgrimages”, Giorgio Otranto “The path of Saint Michel from East to the Gargano, to Central and Northern Europe” and Renato Stopani “The Via Francigena: meeting point and welding of the itineraries of the major pilgrimages”.

The foreseen scientific debates aim to reflect on the very nature of the itinerary, which was born from the historic document – the travel diary of Sigeric from Rome to Canterbury. Today, we are rediscovering a network of historic itineraries linking Santiago de Compostela, Rome and Jerusalem, the three Peregrinationes Maiores (main pilgrimages) of medieval times.

The conference will enjoy participation of numerous experts, scholars and representatives of associations and institutions that will animate the conference, focused on the theme of Pilgrimage routes for Santiago, Rome and Jerusalem and a Round table on cultural itineraries: from history to the present day development.

After the official closing, Sunday afternoon will provide a possibility to discover the historic center of Monte Sant’Angelo with a guided tour. The after-dinner time is dedicated to the the Festival Mònde – Festival of Cinema and Routes and the closing ceremony.

Attached, downloadable, the Save the Date and the program. 

More information https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/resource/news/il-convegno-di-monte-santangelo-rilancia-la-nuova-/