Author: Redazione AEVF

A singer walking with his guitar, a Paralympic athlete ready to discover the Belpaese. Two different projects along the same road that links Canterbury to Rome. Jack Jaselli and Andrea Devicenzi will be the protagonists of two slow travels along the Via Francigena in Italy.

Jack and Andrew’s joint journey started on Friday 17^th January in Fidenza, at the foot of the Cathedral. The two “ambassadors” of the Francigena were welcomed by the staff of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) with president, Massimo Tedeschi, and director, Luca Bruschi, together with Alberto Pugnetti of Radio Francigena who organised the meeting.

Pilgrim Passports, photos and interviews: everything ready. Jack Jaselli, 38 year old Milanese guitarist, will begin his journey in April. A slow month with his guitar across his shoulders from Pavia to Rome, 34 sections of walking tour with “live” stops to introduce his fourth album (the first entirely in Italian): “Torno a casa“.

“It’s a walking tour that will allow me to become a storyteller, just like my predecessor songwriters and, at the same time, a person who listens to what is happening on the road – says Jack Jaselli in the interview with Luca Bruschi, broadcast by Radio Francigena – I got my Pilgrim Passport today and have therefore been officially given this responsibility“.

The video interview with Jack Jaselli:

After the experience from La Verna in Rome last year, the 45-year-old mental health coach, Andrea Devicenzi, returns to the road for a new challenge along the Via Francigena. The Paralympic cyclist and triathlon athlete will travel the Italian part of the European route.

“My adventure will start on 14^th March from the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome with 4/5 days per month – confirms Andrea in the video interview with Radio Francigena – I fell in love with walking routes during an adventure in Peru and am always looking to share my story. This is a wonderful world and I’d like to get to know my extraordinary country“.

The video interview with Andrea Devicenzi:

Two adventures, two stories on the road that will be narrated by the protagonists on social media along with Radio Francigena and the European Association of Via Francigena Ways. #Staytuned

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The Terre di Mezzo editing company has launched a data collection study of hikers in Italy to understand and narrate the main characters of the Routes and Vie today.

Amoung the proposed routes is the Via Francigena. In collaboration with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), you can contribute to the questionnaire dedicated to Via Francigena hikers by following this link .

The results of the data collection will be made public at Fa’ la cosa giusta, fair in Milan from 8^th – 10^th March. “The data will be made available to all, particularly the associations that take care of the routes and institutions – says Terre di Mezzo – The information will be helpful for the safeguarding of the routes’ heritage currently developing in Italy.”

Similar questionnaires will also be promoted on the Italian routes’ Facebook pages. You may complete more than one questionnaire. Not only will you be able to share your experiences along the Via Francigena, but also the routes of Cammino di San Benedetto, la Via di Francesco, Via degli Dei – Appennino Slow, Magna Via Francigena with Sicilian Francigena Cammini and Italia coast to coast. 

Our meeting for the “Comuni in Cammino” forum returns to Monteriggioni. The 6^th edition planned for Friday 1^st and Saturday 2^nd February, at the monumental complex of Abbadia Isola, dedicated to the theme “Francigena-Routes-Europe”.

The meeting, organised by the municipality of Monteriggioni, in collaboration with the European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) and with the support of the region of Tuscany, will be a new occasion to meet the representatives of European Routes and the areas crossed by the route.

The event will enable us to give an update on the candidacy project “Francigena UNESCO Heritage”and of the development of the route, with focus on the small, great municipalities, associations and a comparison of the different regions’ experiences. The European scope of the Francigena and the routes will be shown by the presence of Gabriella Battaini Dragoni, Vice Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, and that of Silvia Costa, Member of the European Parliament.

After the meeting on Friday 1^st February, reserved for the EAVF Executive Board, the Forum will officially begin with institutional greetings on Saturday 2nd February at 9:30. Beginning the speeches will be Raffaella Senesi, mayor of Monteriggioni; Stefano Ciuoffo, councillor of Tourism of Tuscany; Monica Barni, vice-president of Tuscany and Massimo Tedeschi, EAVF president.

During the morning meeting, the EAVF vision and collaboration with Trenitalia will be presented, represented by Gianluca Scarpellini, director of the Regional Directorate of Tuscany – Trenitalia Spa.

Various cultural moments will also take place, beginning with the presentation of finalists for the second edition of the literary award dedicated to the Via Francigena “Intanto Parto”, created by Betti Editore. During the forum the “Sigeric” Award will also be given by the municipality of Monteriggioni for the second year running, which awards those who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of the Via Francigena.

In the afternoon we give room to the European Festival of the Vie Francigene, with the director Sandro Polci, who will coordinate this section and award the most creative initiatives of the last edition. The forum will be followed by an insert from Radio Francigena.

(Download the poster and programme below)

Press release EAVF/municipality of Monteriggioni

The European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) members package 2019 is now available online. The booklet, available in the “About Us” in the “How to become a part” section on the website, illustrates the services available to member entities for the development of the Via Francigena.

Joining the EAVF network means having access to many advantages. Today, we have 146 members who create the network of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, réseau porteur of the Council of Europe and single association qualified to enhance the cultural route on a European level.

How to join: municipalities, provinces, regions, GAL (Gruppi di Azione Locale) and Italian Comunità Montane can become members, as well as all public entities established in accordance with the laws of the various of belonging, and on the basis of the institutional principles of the European Union.

EAVF member advantages: the members package includes important tools and gives access to useful resources for theinternational promotion of the route. From the direct relationship with European institutions to competitions, from training and consultancy to promotional projects: the EAVF assists and facilitates relationships between entities, giving them the capability toplan on a national and European level.

Planning, but also communicating on behalf of the entities. Through the multilingual portal of the Via Francigena with news and events,social media, themagazine “Via Francigena and the European Cultural Routes” and the smartphone app, the EAVF guarantees visibility on all their means of communication.

Another advantage for EAVF members is the possibility to receive, upon request, a supply of Pilgrim Passports, promotional brochures, the official guide “Via Francigena, 1000km on foot from the Great St Bernard Pass to Rome” published by Terre di Mezzo (in Italian, English and French) and EAVF memorabilia. Starting from 2019, a new map of the Via Francigena will be available at a reduced price, the entire European route drawn in graph form.

There are many projects and services to develop along the European route, because the Francigena grows with its members.

– For more information download the members package 2019 online.

– For more information on how to sign up click here.

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