The exhibition “Cultural routes of the Council of Europe in Italy: European heritage” celebrates the Italian Presidency at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Exhibited at the headquarters of this international organisation in Strasbourg, it highlights the 29 routes, out of 45, which are managed by associations based in Italy or have a strong network in this country.

A journey across time and space that embraces all the 47 countries that joined the Council of Europe through the Cultural Routes Programme launched in 1987.

The Via Francigena is the first European Route with a headquarters in Italy, which received the title of a Cultural Route in 1994.

Luca Bruschi, Director of the European Association of Via Francigena ways (EAVF), and Elena Dubinina, responsible for EAVF’s international relations, were welcomed at the Council of Europe’s headquarters on 10 December 2021 by Stefano Dominioni, Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes, for a tour of the exhibition. On this occasion, EAVF’s representatives were able to exchange with Mr. Dominioni the ideas and future projects for the Via Francigena, and to share the exemplary experience of the long march “Road to Rome 2021”. Precisely in this charming location, on 15 June 2021 and at the presence of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the initiative was inaugurated, and the long journey began.

The exposition, which sheds light on the banner dedicated to the Via Francigena, was opened on 24 November in Strasbourg at the Foyer of the Committee of Ministers at the Palais de l’Europe. It is part of a greater programme of the events organised in the framework of the the Italian Presidency. Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Michele Giacomelli, Permanent Representative of Italy to the Council of Europe, participated at the inauguration.

Promoted by the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, curated by the Secretariat of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA), in cooperation with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (Luxembourg) and in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Strasbourg, the exhibition presents 29 banners with text and images which provide both an overview and detailed insights on the cultural routes of Europe: century-old routes that connect cultures, languages, stories and traditions, becoming a tangible example of vivid and shared cultural heritage.

The exhibition will be accessible for public in Italy in 2022, in Venice and in Rome.