Author: Redazione AEVF

On Sunday, September 8, the second edition of the Cammino dei Papi – the Popes’ Way – took place along the Montefiascone – Viterbo leg of the Via Francigena.

This year, the ever-growing event brought together over 400 participants, who started the hike with a great enthusiasm thanks to the magnificent rainbow over the Lake Bolsena.

The organiser, Mr Lidio Crescentini, president of the Association of the Via Francigena Ways in Montefiascone, took the floor to provide the participants with the last details and to thank the sponsor – the Todis supermarket and many volunteers from local authorities and associations – the Ambulanza Falisca, the Guardie Ecozoofile and AIDO.

The Mayor of Montefiascone, Mr Massimo Paolini, together with the Councilor for Culture, Mr Fabio Notazio, greeted the participants and recalled the importance of Montefiascone  – the 100th km on the Via Francigena before arriving in Rome. He also underlined the path’s beauty to be discovered by the walkers during this gorgeous day of sports and friendship. Among the hikers there was Ms Annamaria Olivieri, who represented the Viterbo Chamber of Commerce, and the Commander of the Montefiascone Vigils with her Deputy.

Mr Crescentini finally recalled that the idea of ​​the Cammino dei Papi – the Popes’ Way was born to reunite the Rocca dei Papi of Montefiascone with the Palazzo dei Papi of Viterbo. This initiative takes place under the patronage of the Municipality of Montefiascone, the Municipality of Viterbo, the Chamber of Commerce of Viterbo and the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF), in which Elisabetta Ferrari participated.

The group, wearing green T-shirts, then departed and crossed Montefiascone. The stretch of the path where you walk on the ancient Roman paving, recently praised by the Meridiani journal, raised great emotions: the ancient stones make you stroll along vines and olive trees, and hide in shades of oaks. They surely know how to tell millennial stories! Several refreshment points with distribution of sweets and drinks were organized along the way, which were much appreciated.

The journey ended in front of the Palazzo dei Papi of Viterbo with the welcome speech of the Mayor of Viterbo, Mr Giovanni Arena. After that the shuttle bus brought everyone back to Montefiascone for lunch, accompanied by the famous white wine Est Est Est.

The participants expressed great satisfaction for the brilliant organisation and, above all, for having been able to enjoy an unforgettable day. Two Spanish ladies declared that this stage is the most beautiful they have ever travelled and that the Via Francigena has nothing to envy to the Saint James Ways.

Elisabetta Ferrari

The first of two presentations of the project “Via Francigena in the Lombardy Region. Towards the UNESCO World Heritage candidacy “ was held on 4 September 2019 at the Covazzi Castle in Somaglia, the province of Lodi.

The initiative brought together the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF), the Province of Lodi and the involved Municipalities (Orio Litta, Senna Lodigiana, Calendasco, Fombio, Guardamiglio and Somaglia) to present the actions of communication and enhancement of the Via Francigena in Lombardy, foreseen by the AEVF project. This project was selected by the Lombardy Region in the framework of the call for promotion of Lombardy UNESCO World Heritage sites and Cultural Routes.

The meeting, moderated by Mr Fede Costa, Head of Tourism and Sport of the Province of Lodi, opened with the greetings of the mayor of Somaglia, Mr Angelo Caperdoni. The AEVF, represented by the Vice President Mr Francesco Ferrari, the Project Managers Mr Sami Tawfik and Mr Luca Fravelli, and the publisher Mr Stefano Guidotti, illustrated the projects implemented by the Association: the network of accommodation facilities and services “Visit Vie Francigene”,  an agreement with Trenord, the series of walks in the framework of “I Love Francigena” and other AEVF thematic projects such as “Terre della Via Francigena”, the Pilgrims Pouch and the Thermal Via Francigena.

The actions dedicated to “the Via Francigena in the Lombardy Region. Towards the UNESCO candidacy ” were in the center of attention. Mr Sami Tawfik shared with the attendees the initiatives envisaged by the project which, in addition to the development of the candidacy application of the Francigena to the UNESCO World Heritage List, also include communication activities dedicated to the Lombardy Region within the web-portal www.viefrancigene.org as well as the special editorial articles foreseen in the n. 48 of the official AEVF magazine “Via Francigena and the European Cultural Routes”.

The AEVF project manager then presented the development of the official maps, a very important initiative for the municipalities and local communities, crossed by the itinerary. The AEVF project foresees creation of an official map and printing of 3,500 copies of the Via Francigena in the Province of Lodi. This map will extend to the crossing of the river Pò and up to Calendasco (PC).

The next project presentation is scheduled for 24 September in Pavia, at the headquarters of the Province.

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The EAVF applied for funding in the framework of the Routes4U grant scheme for the Adriatic and Ionian macro-region.

Routes4U is the 30-month, launched in the framework of the joint project between the Council of Europe and the European Union.  The project enhances regional development through the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in the Adriatic-Ionian, the Alpine, the Baltic Sea and the Danube Region. These EU macro-regional strategies encompass 27 countries with more than 340 million people.

The EAVF aspires to realise a project, focused on development of innovative tourism products in its southern section – Via Francigena of the South and a partner route of the Via Egnatia, a member of the Via Eurasia network in the Apulia region of Italy, Albania and Greece of the Adriatic and Ionian macro region.

This project aims to tackle seasonality, diversify the tourist offer and enhance tourism potential of the rural areas crossed by the Via Francigena. In the framework of this project the EAVF in cooperation with partners – Tirana Express from Albania and Trace Your Eco from Greece – will organise a bloggers trip, a roadshow and establish an info point among many other activities. The results of the grant application procedure are to be expected by the end of September. 

The EAVF already has experience in managing macroregional grants, as currently the association coordinates a Routes4U project in the Alpine region, which is focused on the diffusion of the governance system and of the best practices of the Via Francigena. The project started in May 2019 and has a duration of 6 months.

North and South of the Via Francigena are getting closer and closer. While the members are looking forward to participating in the upcoming General Assembly of the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF) in Bari, to take place on 18 October 2019, the future of the European Cultural Route has been discussed in Canterbury. Recently, the president of the AEVF Mr Massimo Tedeschi has met Mr Robert Thomas, new Leader of the Canterbury City Council (CCC), elected in May 2019.

The meeting was focused on the following: the UNESCO World Heritage candidacy of the Via Francigena, the realisation of the official guide from Canterbury to Grand Saint Bernard Pass and a possibility of holding the AEVF’s General Assembly in Canterbury. Mr Colin Carmichael, the Chief Executive of the CCC, and Ms Velia Coffey, former Deputy Director General, attended the meeting and expressed their interest in the above-mentioned activities.

“The new administration led by Mr Robert Thomas pays close attention at the Via Francigena and the UNESCO World Heritage candidacy project. The CCC is committed to promote the Via together with the county of Kent and the government of London. It is an important development towards the next project step involving Italy, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom: presentation of the European framework – excellently drafted by the working group coordinated by our Association – in order to proceed with the Via Francigena nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List ”confirms Mr Tedeschi.

The Cathedral of Canterbury was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. Next to the south portico of the Cathedral lays the stone that indicates the zero kilometre of the Via Francigena – a symbolic place for all pilgrims. The Via Francigena becoming UNESCO World Heritage in its integrity would bring a great added value to the route, which heritage is already present on the UNESCO List as singular sites along the path.

The English section of the Via Francigena always works on infrastructure development. “There was a discussion about the 30 kilometres section of the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Dover: it already has good signage and maintenance – explains Mr Tedeschi – All without forgetting promotion and communication activities focused on the pilgrims who want to start the journey. For those departing from Canterbury, I remember that the city’s tourist office at the Beany Museum provided official AEVF pilgrims’ passwords. Just in these days, four pilgrims from Parma leave from this splendid city in a southern direction”.

Cultural route and publishing: the first official Via Francigena guide on the stretch from Canterbury to the Grand Saint Bernard Pass is to be printed by the Swiss publisher Favre from Lausanne.

So many goals are set for this year. The idea of holding the AEVF General Assembly in England can soon materialise, as the proposal, launched by the President Tedeschi a long time ago, was positively received by the interlocutors, who are to propose a suitable date in spring next year.

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