Tag: Italiano

Published today, the 7th September, on the site of the municipality of Capannori the competition to choose the next manager of the Francigena hostel, the structure realised by the Menesini administration found in Via del Popolo, in the centre of Capannori.  

The competition put in place by the municipal administration in these past few months, which will remain open until the 9th October (at 12), improves the prospect of enlarging structures of accommodation, in particular because it gives private businesses the possibility to increase their services and property volume and to make it a reference point for the Francigena bike project.  

It involves two new opportunities, which together with the possibility of a concession of up to 10 years rather than 5 and the payment of rent not before April 2018 make the hostel of Capannori particularly desirable for those who are interested in managing a structure thought of for the reception of pilgrims of the Via Francigena, but also finalised to give value to the area and its projects, the culture of cycling and being in an area of activities and initiatives directed towards the community.  

All of those who wish to participate in a project of sustainable growth and development of this new activity can take part, knowing that the municipality will give them their time to collect the fruits of their investment.  “The hostel of the Francigena is a place of hospitality, of meeting and socialising – explains the councillor for tourism, Serena Frediani – taking this into account we developed a competition that permits a management that looks to the future, giving private entities the possibility to do added work, which then, once the concession has ended, remain available to the municipality and therefore the community.  We are convinced that with the introduction of new elements and in line with the idea of the Francigena promoted by the region, that is to say a historic path accessible on foot or by bike, the hostel of Capannori will soon become a place that brings people together, even the citizens of the town”. 

The Menesini administration has additionally chosen to favour the participation of young entrepreneurs, who perhaps wish to manage this new structure in the heart of Capannori.  In order to do so, for the competition one is required to have management experience of three years, but not exclusively as a hotel host.  The hostel includes three floors with 24 beds: the ground floor includes an entrance hall, information point, bar, kitchen, dining hall, laundry room, equipped room for those differently abled and four bathrooms.  On the first floor are four bedrooms and three more bathrooms.  On the second floor computer access is available, as well as a library and study area.  

The building is furnished with a lift that goes from the ground floor to the second to enable full accessibility and has a broad external area.  During the construction of the hostel, attention was given to saving energy and environmental sustainability, the building is fitted with solar panels and a photovoltaic system.  

The public competition for the management of the hostel along the historic Via Francigena of Capannori is through the open procedure online found on the Start platform.  

Source: Lucca in Diretta

On 2^nd September the friends of the ‘Compagnons de la Via Francigena’ met at Grand St-Bernard Pass for a big celebration! It was 20 years ago that work began on the alpine segment connecting Martigny and Aosta. Their hard work enabled pilgrims to cross the Alps, paving the way for the Via Francigena linking Canterbury with Rome.

Despite the blizzard-like conditions, the celebrations began with the Swiss group walking from Bourg St-Pierre and the Italian group from San Rhémy. Those of us travelling by bus were totally amazed when the bus driver stopped at Bourg St-Pierre and discovered that the walkers were ready to go. So, several very excitedly people tumbled out of the bus and disappeared into the rain and mists. It was an awesome journey on the bus with the bus driver skillfully negotiating the narrow road and hairpin bends.   Glimpses of alpine scenery were occasionally visible through the mists and I marveled at the skills of those out there walking.

There is an air of mystery about this terrain that causes my imagination to run wild with images of Hannibal crossing the Alps with his elephants, or Napoleon with his armies, or countless pilgrims journeying to Rome. But, today, it was the Roman legions that captured my imagination. As the Italian group made their way from San Rhémy to the Italian border, around the lake to the Hospice, it was a Roman legion that I saw with their red cloaks, flags, and pilgrim and eagle standards.

Excitement pierced the air as the Swiss and Italian groups met outside the Hospice and for a brief moment even the sun shone. Then, into the magnificent chapel and under the watching eye of St Bernard chaining the devil i.e. the perils of the mountains, ten officials shared memories and expressed their gratitude for the opening, twenty years ago, of the alpine segment making pilgrimage possible.  The President of the EAVF, Massimo Tedeschi, gave the closing address, responding to many memories that had been shared.

St Bernard of Menthon, Archdeacon of Aosta, founded the Grand St Bernard Hospice in 1050 for the safety and protection of travellers. Today, the Congregation of Canons of Grand St-Bernard still offers exactly the same hospitality to travellers. Somehow, this very busy place managed to cater for our large group, a large parish group, a wedding and all the pilgrims. And, we enjoyed our community meal with a very talkative pilgrim.

Warmed by the local Fendant wine we ventured outside to discover it was snowing. This gave us a very authentic taste of the conditions faced by pilgrims for over a millennium. Even more so, with the very proud St Bernard dogs out walking. My imagination went wild with visions of snow rescues and that welcome sip of brandy.

Next we visited the Museum with its amazing displays covering the history of the Pass. In Roman times Alpis Poenina led to the Pal of Jupiter, a sacred rock near the statue of St Bernard, on the Italian side. Here there was a Temple to the Roman god Poeninus to whom people made offerings to obtain safe passage. Very interesting displays lead the viewer right through the ensuing history and into the present day.

And so our day of celebration drew to a close and we all went our separate ways. But, the magic of the Via Francigena pilgrimage is that you can always visit again. Or you can volunteer at the Hospice https://gsbernard.com/fr/ or become a ‘Companion of the Via Francigena Valais-Aosta Valley’.  There are also more photos on my website http://carolneville.com.au/photojournal/.

Carol Neville

Fire at Mortara, a hazardous waste plant on fire.

For more information click here.

This day on the Great St Bernard Pass, Saturday the 2nd September, was no ordinary day.  The “Compagnons” of the Via Francigena, after 20 years since the opening of the Pass to pilgrims, celebrated the anniversary with a particular event: the gathering of a Swiss and Italian delegation that, with walking boots and rucksack at the ready, climbed both sides of the mountain to meet at the peak.

An exciting anniversary from the moment the two groups of pilgrims met and greeted one another at the foot of the hostel, which for centuries has been present in this place.  After initial institutional greetings, the main advocates of this initiative and local authorities of both sides, as well as representatives of associations that for years operate in this sector: the “Compagnons” represented by Bernard Delasoie and Willy Fellay for the Canton of Valais, and Palmira Orsieres and Laurette Proment for the Aosta Valley.  Present and speaking at the event were the president of the European Association of the Vie Francigene, Massimo Tedeschi, the regional counsellor of tourism, Claudio Restano, the vice-president of the region of the Aosta Valley, Laurant Viérin, and the ex-state councillor, Maurice Tornay, returning from a pilgrimage on the Via Francigena from his home town of Orsieres, which he followed until arriving in Rome. 

The Aosta Valley is becoming a real cultural and touristic product and hikers observe these improvements as they travel along the route.  The event taken place, in which many participated, is proof of this: the synergistic work of various realities, restorers and hotel owners, permits the region to develop from a cultural perspective, of tradition and gastronomy, ensuring the presence of the services necessary for pilgrims and those who pass through these areas of rare beauty on foot.  

The Via Francigena is not blocked by administrative borders, nor is it intimidated by linguistic differences.  In addition to the citizens of the two sides of the mountain a delegation from Ivrea was also present at the Great St Bernard Pass, from the Franche-Comté and the Savoia departments, as well as a few native pilgrims.  

Also present at the gathering was the Australian pilgrim, Carol Neville: “I was visiting Switzerland, but when I found out about this event through the EAVF website, I had no choice but to take part! It’s these moments that bring people together which make you fall in love with pilgrimages and the Via Francigena!”

Luca Faravelli