Autore: Redazione AEVF

Walking or cycling along the Via Francigena, a few days or entire weeks, independently or with the support of professional guides, alone or in groups – each traveller follows his own inner rhythm.

Whatever the method is, more and more people from all over the world recognize that what matters is to travel, be on the road, live an experience out of the ordinary along a path of inestimable historic, cultural and landscape value.

The European Association of the Via Francigena ways (EAVF) continues to dialogue with dozens of tour operators and associations that offer travel for every need on the Via Francigena route.

The collaboration has been going on for several years with many of these organizations, such as Vie del Sole, Sloways, Trekkilandia, Mediterraid, Walden. Thanks to them hundreds of walkers and cyclists were able to better appreciate the path, immersing themselves in the beauties of unique experience.

Since 2020, aiming at ever expanding a variety of Francigena travel and services offered, Tuscany Quintessence became a part of the EAVF network, offering an e-bike experience in the Tuscan stretch. While Genius Loci provides a self-guided journey from Siena to Bolsena. Soon we will get to know better these two new partners in a series of short interviews.

The EAVF provides a bridge between a community of enthusiasts of the Via Francigena and slow travel and professionals, offering experiences of extraordinary value along the Sigeric’s route – those, who know how to narrate his story and make it live in an authentic way.

The network’s common intent is to promote sustainable tourism and to help create concrete and lasting links between territories, hospitality facilities, knowledge and above all – people along the Via Francigena.

If you are a Tour Operator or an association active along the itinerary, write to us or visit us here, we can’t wait to meet you!

If you want to travel, all you have to do is to choose the best trip for you here!

We are waiting for you on the Via Francigena!

The strategic collaboration between the Municipality of Piacenza and the European Association of the Via Francigena ways continues and consolidates.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions has recently been renewed for the two-year period of 2020-2021, signed by Mayor Patrizia Barbieri and EAVF President Massimo Tedeschi. The Association will therefore continue to have an operational and representative office in Piacenza, in Palazzo Farnese, working closely with the Culture and Tourism Service for the realization of initiatives and projects that enhance the Francigena places at local, national and international level.

Simultaneously, the role of the municipal administration as a member of the EAVF Bureau is confirmed.
As the Councilor for Culture Jonathan Papamarenghi points out: “the joint effort to promote the Piacenza stretch of the Via Francigena is precious, and must aim to attract even more attention to this tourist itinerary that for several years has been the subject of great interest from pilgrims and travellers from all over the world.”

Piacenza is a destination, that fits perfectly with the experiential and slow tourism dimension, for example the programming of Destination Emilia packages and even more so in the future with a view to the VenTo cycle route, focused on the environmental and ecological sustainability of cycling tourism.

Without forgetting, – adds Papamarenghi, – an opportunity to make known how our artistic and architectural heritage is historically connected to the Via Francigena, starting with the Basilica of S. Maria di Campagna. Without a doubt, there is no shortage of work that our territory must do to be more welcoming and attractive also for this type of tourist “.

Expressing satisfaction and hoping for a further intensification of shared projects, the EAVF president Massimo Tedeschi recalls how the EAVF is “entrusted, by the Council of Europe, with the protection and enhancement of the Via Francigena: a cultural itinerary of 3200 km that connects Canterbury to Rome and, from there, to the ports of Apulia towards Jerusalem. A “way of cultures”, as the distinguished medievalist Le Goff called it, which contributes to building the Europe of peoples.”

Piacenza is an active and central part of our activities, aimed at developing a network of over 170 local members and over 60 friends’ associations which, along the four states crossed (England, France, Switzerland, Italy) have the aim of promoting a slow, sustainable tourism, attentive to the history and life of the territories “.

On 20 December 2019 the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways travelled to Istanbul, Turkey to take part in the Scientific Committee of the Via Eurasia, which was organised by the Culture Routes Society under the hospices of the Boğaziçi University Tourism Administration and Research Centre.

The meeting brought together international experts, scholars and academia to discuss the scientific aspects of the Via Eurasia route project from the archaeological, cultural, sociological and tourism perspectives.

The Scientific Committee aims to encourage the conduct of research on the Via Eurasia in its integrity and individual routes,  encourage students to undertake their academic research on the routes of the Via Eurasia, jointly apply for grants, participate in the annual programme of activities of the association and offer scientific advice where required.

The representatives of the Boğaziçi University, Edinburgh University, Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University, Kocaeli University, Asia Minor Research Center, Akdeniz University as well as independent scholars and freelance academics attended the meeting. 

The urgent need for conservation of archaeological sites along the route was stressed during the meeting and practical measures which should be conducted were discussed.

The Via Eurasia has been developed in the framework of the project “Italy, Greece and Turkey on Foot”and led by a non-governmental organization from Turkey Culture Routes Society (CRS) which associated with the EAVF and an association in Greece Trace Your Eco.

More information:

https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/viaeurasia-project/

https://cultureroutesinturkey.com/uncategorized/via-eurasias-first-scientific-committee-meeting/

After the holiday break, the maintenance walks of the Via Francigena resume. The group of volunteers of the Friends of the Via Francigena Association of Santhià in Piedmont, offers a rich calendar of excursions led by Marcello Vallese staring 22 January 2020.

The main novelty of this year will be the execution of some two-day walks, necessary both to continue the stages towards Rome and to walk the Way of Oropa. “From 22 January, compatibly with the ground conditions, the working walks on Wednesday will resume to check the official routes verified last autumn. There will be a total of 10 outings – explains Marcello Vallese – In March the first two stages of the Way of Oropa (Santhià / Roppolo and Roppolo / Torrazzo) will be walked during a weekend, an initiative that will also be repeated in a second edition. In April, the other two stages will be explored (Torrazzo / Graglia Santuario and Graglia Sanctuary / Oropa), then repeated towards the end of the month for those who could not participate in the first occasion.

In the meantime – continues Valais – we will continue his journey along the Lombard Via Francigena (from Belgioioso to Chignolo Po). From here on outings will be organized over two days and the calendar will be prepared in the coming weeks. There will be traditional Saturday morning walks, which will allow us to spend a few hours in the woods of our moraine hills, which we have gradually discovered over the years.

We will meet at the info point, armed with pruning shears and similar tools (no motor mowers or other motor tools), thick leather gloves and lots of good will. We will begin cutting of branches and brambles to make the Way passable in complete safety. We will also take care of renewing the signs and tidying up the existing one,” – explains Valais.

The calendar:

• Wednesday 22 January: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting at the Info point of Cavaglià – Via G. Gersen, 6. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12pm and 1pm.

 

• Wednesday 29 January: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting at the Info point of Cavaglià – Via G. Gersen, 6. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12pm and 1pm.

 

• Wednesday 12 February: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting at the Info Point in Cavaglià – Via G. Gersen, 6. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12pm and 1pm.

 

• Wednesday 19 February: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting at the Santhià Hostel – Corso Nuova Italia, 134. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12 pm and 1pm

 

• Wednesday 26 February: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting at the Santhià Hostel – Corso Nuova Italia, 134. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return by train from San Germano, between 1 pm and 2 pm

 

• Wednesday 11 March: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting at the Santhià Hostel – Corso Nuova Italia, 134. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am, travel by train. Descent to San Germano, ascent to Vercelli. Return between 2 and 3 pm. Recommended packed lunch. Only expert walkers.

 

• Wednesday 25 March: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting in Roppolo – Church and Town Hall Square. Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12 pm and 1pm.

 

• Wednesday 8 April: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting in Zimone – Piazza del Municipio Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12 pm and 1 pm.

 

• Wednesday 22 April: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting in Magnano (parking of the Monastero di Bose). Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9 am. Return between 12 pm and 1 pm.

 

• Wednesday 6 May: on the Via Francigena Biellese and Vercellese. Meeting in Torrazzo (parking of the Torrazzo campsite) Meeting at 8.45 am. Departure at 9am. Return between 12pm and 1pm.

 

Rules, conditions, details of the equipment to participate in the excursion will be sent by e-mail or telephone to the interested parties.

E-MAIL: viafrancigenacavaglia@gmail.com – cell. 338 6980535

The initiative, supported by the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), falls within the scope of the “Trail Angels” project. The “Trail Angels” are local associations that have made a commitment to control a section of the Via Francigena route, checking its safety and maintenance and, where necessary, intervening on the official signs, replacing the bad ones and improving their effectiveness. These activities are complementary and supportive of the actions carried out by the municipalities in the individual territories.