The Ministry of Tourism published a notice for the development of the Italian religious routes tourism offer. The release of this important notice was announced by Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè at the “Conference on walking and sustainable tourism” in Pavia, in Lombardy on 19 October, an event organised by the municipality in collaboration with the European Association of the Via Francigena ways.  

The Via Francigena and the Italian walking routes network have been reaffirmed as a significant axis for the development of slow tourism.  

An overall budget of 4,320,000 euro is available for projects aiming at: 

– the enhancement of public properties along religious routes;  

– improving the usability of paths;  

– tourist promotion of the routes themselves.  

The notice addresses public local administrations as well as associations, foundations and civilly recognised ecclesiastical bodies that meet the explicit requirements of the notice.  

Applications can be submitted from 26 October to 13 November 2023.  

More information and the notice itself are available in Italian at this link.