I took another step towards Unesco for the Via Francigena, candidate for World Heritage of Humanity. After the memorandum of understanding to support his
candidacy in the Italian tractsigned in Venice as part of the IV Festival of the Regions between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Italian Regions crossed by the famous itinerary (Tuscany and then Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, and Lazio), here is an additional goal. This was illustrated by the president of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani announcing the delivery to the Ministry of Culture, at the end of May, of
preliminary assessmenta summary and preliminary document to the most
full -bodied candidacy dossier, integrated by the memorandum of understanding containing the scientific motivations and technical details to support the candidacy.
Together with the President Giani, the president of the European Association of Francigene Francesco Ferrari, the vice president of the Association and regional councilor Francesco Gazzetti, the President’s Councilor for the historical re -enactments Federico Eligi, the director of the Tuscan System Foundation Francesco Palumbo and the official of the sector of the historical re -enactment Margherita Tempestini were present.
The Ministry, after acquiring the document, sent a note regarding CNIU (National Unesco National Commission).
“Tuscany – said President Eugenio Giani intervening – confirms its central role in the enhancement of the Via Francigena, one of the most important historical routes in Europe, a point of reference for slow and sustainable tourism. In Venice, on the occasion of the Conference of Presidents of the Regions, we concluded the process that led to the definition of the formal proposal of the Italian Government and of the seven regions concerned: the candidacy of the Via Francigena as a universal property. UNESCO. Since my position in the regional council, as region we have always committed ourselves to the protection and promotion of this extraordinary itinerary by affirming us as one of the most active Italian regions in the Enhancement of the Via Francigenaan extraordinary message, a thread that unites territories, cultures and communities. With its 15 stations e over 40 municipalities involved, It represents a heritage that can aspire to a good right to obtain the recognition of UNESCO universal heritage and we will take it all to reach this important milestone “.
The Tuscany region In his role as leader and project coordinator he entrusted its execution to the Tuscan System Foundation that takes care of the operational and financial management, in addition to the monitoring of the activities as explained by the director FST, Francesco Palumbo: “We are honored to have received this assignment that places us in an international context and which fully inserts itself in the Statutary Mission of FST. The candidacy of the Via Francigena is exactly in the direction of supporting the promotion activities Cultural, scientific and landscape heritage of Tuscany and is a great opportunity to start a vast operation of enhancing its beauty widespread in the territories crossed by the path that can even more enjoy a brand recognized worldwide. ”
The Tuscany Region in synergy with the Tuscan System Foundation will operational with the European Association of Francigena Vie as a technical support for the UNESCO candidacy. In addition, the European Association of the Francigene Vie, in close collaboration with the Tuscan System Foundation, coordinates the Technical Scientific Committee which includes a pool of international experts including cartographers and architects, which are working on the drafting of the preliminary assessment for the application of the Via Francigena as a UNESCO World Heritage.