Piedmont's Via Francigena becomes accessible pilgrimage route with Shroud of Turin focus
The Via Francigena in the Piedmont region has been reimagined as an accessible route known as Via Francigena for all. This initiative was unveiled at Palazzo Madama in Turin during the exhibition 'In cammino. La porta di Torino: itinerari sindonici sulla Via Francigena,' which runs until October 10, 2023. Supported by a €1.6 million grant from the ministry and an additional 10% from the Piedmont Region, the project seeks to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities along 250 km of the total 650 km path. Efforts include mapping 150 lodging options, installing sensory benches, and opening small churches. Collaborators on this project include Turismo Torino e Provincia and the Italian Union of the Blind and Deaf. The exhibition showcases illustrations, videos, an interactive map, and an installation by Carlo Gloria.
Key facts
- Via Francigena for all presented at Palazzo Madama, Turin, in exhibition 'In cammino. La porta di Torino: itinerari sindonici sulla Via Francigena' until October 10, 2023.
- Project budget: €1.76 million (€1.6 million ministerial tender + 10% from Piedmont Region).
- Aims to make the Via Francigena accessible to people with motor, sensory, and cognitive disabilities.
- One-year pilot study covering 250 km out of 650 km total, mapping 150 accommodation facilities.
- Includes sensory benches, sound panels for blind, subtitled videos for deaf, and opening of small churches.
- Ties to 'Chiese a Porte Aperte' project, adding 18 new churches with QR code narration.
- Currently 36 km accessible: Villarfocchiardo to Avigliana (Val Susa) and Ivrea to Viverone (Canavese).
- Partners: Turismo Torino e Provincia, Ecclesiastical Region of Piedmont, Visit Piemonte, Italian Union of the Blind, Italian Union of the Deaf.
Entities
Artists
- Carlo Gloria
- Sisto Giriodi
Institutions
- Palazzo Madama
- Regione Piemonte
- Turismo Torino e Provincia
- Regione Ecclesiastica Piemonte
- Consulta Regionale per i beni ecclesiastici del Piemonte e Valle d’Aosta
- Visit Piemonte
- Unione Italiana Ciechi
- Unione Italiana Sordi
- Artribune
Locations
- Piedmont
- Turin
- Italy
- Canavese
- Valle Susa
- Villarfocchiardo
- Avigliana
- Ivrea
- Viverone