For those who love walking through towns and countryside, Tuscany’s section of the ancient Via Francigena—380 kilometres of art, history and culture, and a variety of landscapes—is paradise.
Now, led by the municipality of Monteriggioni, more than 50 Italian councils, located along the old pilgrim route, have started down a path they hope will lead to UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
The candidacy effort already has the backing of Italian tourism minister Dario Franceschini. Speaking on behalf of the ministry of tourism, council member Paolo Piacentini commented, ‘The ministry believes in the importance and value of this project, which it has decided to support. We will put at its disposal a high-level technical and scientific committee for all the research work on the authenticity and integrity of the heritage to be put forward in the candidacy.’
Mayor of Monteriggioni Raffaella Senesi, also commented, ‘The Tuscan Region has always invested heavily in the Via Francigena…it is a driving force for the whole of the area and for the economy.’
The project also has the support of the Via Francigena interparliamentary group, which on May 5 lodged a motion obliging the government to put forward the candidacy.
