As part of the project “The Via Francigena in Lombardy. Towards the Jubilee 2025”, the European Association of the Via Francigena ways (EAVF), with the support of the Lombardy Region, has carried out an innovative study, leading to a project that marks a fundamental step for accessible tourism: a handbook on the accessibility of walking routes. This tool aims to make the Via Francigena and other walking routes accessible to everyone by removing physical, sensory, and digital barriers and implementing targeted and strategic corrective and improvement actions.
The handbook is not just a technical guide; it introduces a structured working method to ensure accessibility for people with different mobility and usability needs. In addition to providing practical guidelines for creating inclusive routes, the text has been developed following the principles of High Readability, making it easier to read for those with visual or cognitive difficulties. Among the innovations introduced, the use of specific fonts, optimised layouts, and textual descriptions for images make this document a benchmark for accessibility in Italian walking routes.
The document has been designed as a working tool for professionals in the tourism sector, with a specific focus on developing and promoting outdoor experiences. It is therefore intended for:
- Regional authorities and public institutions responsible for walking routes and cultural itineraries
- Companies involved in the promotion of walking routes and cultural itineraries
- Associations managing and promoting walking routes and cultural itineraries
- Environmental hiking guides and mid-mountain guides working on and for walking routes and cultural itineraries
The handbook on the accessibility of walking routes was also discussed during the Fa’ la cosa giusta! trade fair on Friday, 14 March, in Milan, as part of the event “Accessibility and Walking Routes: A Right for All”.
The significance of this project is highlighted by Francesca Caruso, Lombardy Region’s Councillor for Culture, who states: “Walking is for everyone. And everyone must be able to do it. With this handbook, we are committed to breaking down barriers and making our routes welcoming for all because walking is a right.”
Francesco Ferrari, President of EAVF, also underlines the inclusive value of this initiative: “I am convinced that accessibility is the key to opening the doors of the Via Francigena to everyone. This handbook is not just a technical tool but a concrete commitment to ensuring that every traveller can embark on a journey of discovery and personal growth without obstacles.”
With the approaching Jubilee 2025, which is expected to bring a significant increase in pilgrims, this project further establishes the Via Francigena as a place of inclusion, hospitality, and discovery, serving as a model of best practice for other routes. This initiative marks a profound cultural shift, affirming the universal right to travel and explore.
ACCESS THE HANDBOOK HERE (in Italian)
