The European Federation of Saint James Way was featured at the “Routes of Europe” (“Cammini in Europa”) exhibition, highlighting shared cultural heritage of historical pilgrimage paths in Europe. The exhibition was organised by the rurAllure Horizon 2020 project, funded by the European Union and aimed at promotion of rural heritage in the vicinity of European pilgrimage routes, in particular the Way of Saint James.
A common thread between past and future of pilgrimage paths
The event took place on 18-21 May 2023 and presented photographs and stories captured by contemporary pilgrims as they travelled along the Ways of Saint James, the Via Francigena, Saint Olav and many other European routes. The opening was attended by more than 50 visitors, including authors of the photographs, local walking and cycling enthusiasts, and made part of celebration of a common thread between past and future of pilgrimage paths, their shared culture, spirituality, heritage and gastronomic traditions.
The photo exhibition was hosted in the Italian town of Fidenza, located in the heart of the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. The Via Francigena was certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 1994. Spanning several centuries, the historical itinerary begins in Canterbury, England, passes through France and Switzerland, and concludes in Rome—an important destination for Christian pilgrims, alongside Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela.
