The General Assembly of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways will take place on 9th November 2018 in Ivrea, at the Giacosa Theatre. Members and friends of the Association from England, France, Switzerland and Italy will be present, as well as all those interested in the European route.
Since the Middle Ages the Via Francigena was traversed by pilgrims on their way to Rome, and to link it to other main pilgrimage destinations: Santiago de Compostela and Jerusalem. In 990, the route was described in 79 stages by Archbishop Sigeric, returning from Rome to Canterbury after the investiture of the archbishop’s pallium. His diary is therefore the most authentic proof of the route, which in 1994 the Council of Europe declared a “European Cultural Route”, similar to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Today, the Francigena routes in Piedmont are suggestive paths of faith but also routes suitable for everyone and excellent pretexts for tantalising tastings. Perfect routes for hikers but also for families and slow tourists, offering opportunities to discover areas rich in historical and artistic heritage and incredible landscapes, but also excellent food and wine.
Given the UNESCO nomination of the Via Francigena and the upcoming insertion of the Italian section in the so-called UNESCO Tentative list at MiBACT, we have decided to host the General Assembly of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways in Ivrea – city, which on 1st July 2018 was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The day will begin with a conference open to the public entitled “The Via Francigena in Piedmont. Results achieved and future prospects for the enhancement of the territory“. After an institutional greeting from Antonella PARIGI, Councilor for Tourism and Culture of the Region of Piedmont, Stefano SERTOLI, Mayor of Ivrea and Massimo TEDESCHI, President of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways, will begin technical speeches that will address the services along the Via Francigena and territorial development projects as well as good practice on a European level.
Then the Via Francigena in Piedmont will be presented, with focus on the four sections that compose it (Morenico – Canavesano, Valle di Susa, Turin-Vercelli and Verso il Mare) and a comparison on the management of hospitality along the Via Francigena. It will also be an opportunity to present the insert of the official magazine “Via Francigena and the European Cultural Routes” dedicated to Piedmont and to highlight the leading role of enogastronomy in the final intervention on the value of typical products through the example of the Maestri di Gusto of the Turin Chamber of Commerce.
In the afternoon the General Assembly of the European Association of Via Francigena Ways will take place. After this, the delegates will be able to admire the Civic Museum Pier Alessandro Garda of Ivrea through a private visit accompanied by the Director, Paola MANTOVANI.
The day is intended as an opportunity for discussion and training for private operators, through the exposition of case histories that will be invited to speak. The General Assembly is also an important opportunity to share experiences aimed at developing new ideas for reflection on the enhancement and promotion of the Via Francigena.
