Month: February 2019

During the “Comuni in Cammino” Forum in Monteriggioni we also talked about the Via Francigena of the South.

Administrators and associations have shared plans and perspectives on the development of the routes which, from Rome arrive at the ports of Puglia. Angelofabio Attolico, EAVF technical manager of the Southern Via Francigena and delegate of the region of Puglia, updated on the state of the route and work conducted by the regions of Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and Molise.

 “The Francigena of the South is at a turning point -explains Attolico in a video interview with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways – After all this time we now have a single, precise, geolocated route from Lazio to Puglia, finally officially decided by the regions. Now that the main route and its variants have been decided, we are now working on safeguarding the route and adding signage through the CIPE funds and the Ministry“.

It will be hard work, but shared on the occasion of an important event, explains Angelofabio: “In Autumn 2019, Bari will host the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) General Assembly, where we will present the new route and propose our official entrance to the European family of the Francigena. We’re working towards the ‘arrival point’ of this project. The new guide of the Via Francigena of the South is due to be released in 2020“.

The videointerview:

“It’ll be a 740km journey from Pavia to Rome with music at every stop, not just concerts but also musical encounters“. Jack Jaselli is ready to introduce his latest album “Torno a casa” with a walking tour on the Francigena.

The singer, born in Milan and raised around the world, presented his project at the 6th “Comuni in Cammino” Forum held in Monteriggioni on 1^st and 2^nd February.

Already a pilgrim of the Via di Francesco, Jack Jaselli returns to the road, but this time along the Via Francigena with a project that, from mid-April, will focus on the story of travel, territory and encounters along the way. A slow-pace tour open to all, a bandwagon of joy and music that will develop from stop to stop of this journey.

“I hope we’ll be an increasingly supported group, there are many proposals coming through social media. This project will also be open to young filmmakers who want to accompany me for a few stops, remember that there will also be a docufilm broadcast by Discovery” confirms Jaselli. The aspiring filmmakers will be able to actively participate in the creation of the docufilm by accompanying Jack on his journey on foot along the Via Francigena. As in a real relay, the selected filmmakers will alternate along the sections travelled and will have the opportunity to share their experience.

THE VIDEO INTERVIEW

Music but above all listening: Jack Jaselli will share the territory with places and people. Meetings with well-known artists have been scheduled in some sections, as well as friends of Jack and improvised mini-live performances in special places.

In the past, the guitarist and author has played alongside many artists including Ben Harper, Gavin DeGraw, Xavier Rudd, Lee Ranaldo, Fink, Lewis Floyd Henry, The Heavy, Giusy Ferreri, Alberto Camerini, Jack Savoretti and many others. Jaselli has worked with Jovanotti on two tracks for the soundtrack of Gabriele Muccino’s film “L’estate addosso” and, between 2016 and 2017, he also collaborated with Gue Pequeno and Danti.

“Every form of collaboration, proposal and meeting is welcome: the search for this journey-tour is musical but also human and narrative. If there are places on the Francigena to be narrated, people who want to say something, I will be there to meet them and document everything – says Jaselli– I am working hard to prepare; the project is also ambitious from a physical point of view. In reality, it’s an amazing thing to do – says the singer – It will be a way to make music known through the Francigena but also to make our country known, the stories of our country, through music along the Francigena“.

In addition to the documentary with Discovery, Jack Jaselli’s tour will be a social narrative. The singer will share moments and steps of this new adventure in close contact with the public on his Facebook and Instagram pages. The project will use Radio Francigena with daily insights. It is sponsored by the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF).

To participate and support the project, contact: info@willythewhale.com

During the 6^th ‘Comuni in Cammino’ Forum in Monteriggioni on 1^st and 2^nd February, the awards ceremony of the European Festival Vie Francigene, Cammini, Ways, Chemins 2018 was held.

At the end of a day full of speeches and sharing of experiences on the road from all over Europe, the director, Sandro Polci, delivered 5 awards to initiatives that stand out for their creativity.

Recognition has been awarded to the association Monte Sant’Angelo Francigena and MAD Audiovisual memories of Daunia for the “Festival of cinema and paths Mònde” and a prize also went to the project “Periferia delle Meraviglie” promoted by Comunicazione in Cammino and the Pittori Anonimi del Trullo. Among the initiatives awarded was the Francigena Choir “Between art and spirituality the great masters on the road along the pilgrim way” of the cultural association Arisa of Acquapendente.

The Festival has also given recognition to Neri Marcorè for the RisorgiMarche event, the Festival for the rebirth of the communities affected by the earthquake. The actor and presenter sent a message to those present to express his personal thanks: “I thank you for this recognition for RisorgiMarche. This Festival makes walking an element of support, it offers an opportunity particularly suited to man in these frenetic times (..) Respect, walking, listening, nature and a smile are all parts of a single whole and I’m happy that together we all promote these initiatives and healthy principles“.

The Festival also awarded Giovanni Corrieri, founder of the Tuscan Association of the Vie Francigene, ambassador of the Francigena. Finally, the director Sandro Polci also gave recognition to Legambiente for the volunteer camps, with the example of the “caretta caretta” eggs on the island of Lampedusa with its beauty and naturalistic importance.

“These are acknowledgments and not prizes, because those who are on the journey do not judge but live on empathy and sharing. The festival is free and wants to give visibility to sensibility – comments director, Sandro Polci – We look forward to seeing you for the ‘9^th European Festival of the Vie Francigene Cammini, Ways, Chemins 2019’. The next edition will be dedicated to the theme “Le Vie al femminile. Sensitivity in human and natural landscapes“. (Festival.viefrancigene.org).

“The Via Francigena is a daily adventure that moves, step by step, in the footsteps of pilgrims of the past, present and future. We are here today to add another page to this magnificent tale, which unites communities and cultures and has now been added to the ‘National Tentative List’ to be put forward as UNESCO heritage.”

It was with these words that Raffaella Senesi, mayor of Monteriggioni, opened the 6^th edition of the “Comuni in Cammino” international forum, which took place in Abbadia Isola last Saturday, after she remembered the director of Tuscan Touristic Promotion, Alberto Peruzzini, who went missing last November. Many guests were present from all over Italy and other countries crossed by Sigeric’s route: Switzerland, France and Britain.

“With this occasion – says Massimo Tedeschi, president of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) who organise the Forum every year, together with the municipality of Monteriggioni – we would like to reaffirm the internationality of the Via Francigena. We’re not talking about a national Italian route, but a European route, a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 1994.”

The cultural and ethical importance of the Via Francigena was also underlined by Stefano Ciuoffo, Councillor of Tourism for the region of Tuscany, who emphasised the work towards “safeguarding Sigeric’s route and, by doing so, the founding values of our society and European identity”. The European dimensions of the Via Francigena and its cultural value were also highlighted by Silvia Costa, MEP, who recalled how this route is “increasingly a forge of innovation, creativity and sustainable development of the territories crossed, where the other is not an enemy, but a walking companion, laying the foundations for the future of Europe”. Among our international guests Stefano Dominioni, Executive Secretary for the Partial Expansion Agreement for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, also stood out with his description of the Via Francigena as “the crown jewel of the agreement due to its ability to develop actions and synergies on a regional, national and European level, uniting municipalities and regions crossed in a sign of diversity and intercultural dialogue.”

The Forum gave voice to many local and regional administrators working hard along the European Francigena, putting hospitality and accessibility first, as well as the many events and projects along the Italian section of the route. Then leaving room for a comparison with other European routes, welcoming experiences along the Cammino di Sant’Olav, Cammino di Santiago, via Romea Germanica and via Romea Strata. There was also time to announce the finalists of the second edition of the “Intanto Parto” award, organised by Betti Editrice; the project of Milanese singer-songwriter Jack Jaselli, called “Torno a Casa”, which will keep him busy on a tour along the Via Francigena until next April; and lastly the awards for the European Festival Vie Francigene, Cammini, Ways, Chemins 2018, with director Sandro Polci.

Lunch was hosted in the Pilgrim’s Hall, a space in the monumental complex of Abbadia Isola, recovered by the municipality of Monteriggioni with European funds made available through the region of Tuscany and enriched by the doorway, which was restored for free by a local business, New Design Porte, using the ancient beams of Abbadia Isola.

The Forum was organised – as it is every year – by the municipality of Monteriggioni, in collaboration with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) and the support of the region of Tuscany. All speeches from the “Comuni in Cammino” Forum are available as podcasts on the Radio Francigena site: www.radiofrancigena.com.

EAVF Press release – municipality of Monteriggioni.