The project “Italian Wonder Ways” was presented in Rome on 30 June by the “Francesco's Ways” Consortium

The project “Italian Wonder Ways” was presented in Rome on 30 June, attended by Dario Franceschini, Minister of Heritage and Cultural Activities and Tourism.

On the occasion of Pope Francis’ Extraordinary Jubilee and the proclamation of the National Year of Ways announced by the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities and Tourism (MIBACT), the project “Italian Wonder Ways” has been launched, presented by the “Francesco's Ways” Consortium and carried out in cooperation with the regions of Umbria, Lazio, Tuscany and Marche.

“Italian Wonder Ways”, in this first edition, identifies five pilgrimage routes (St. Francis Way, Franciscan Way of the Marche/Via Lauretana, Way of St. Benedict, Via Francigena and Via Amerina) that wind through central Italy, to create a tourism product able to satisfy the needs of different kinds of travellers, whether motivated by religious or spiritual beliefs, or the love of hiking, biking or going on horseback.

The “Francescoʼs Ways” Consortium has worked for years to promote and commercialise the Ways, and is made up of more than 150 business providing hospitality, dining and services along the route as well as involving the relevant municipalities and associations.

“Francescoʼs Ways” and the Regions, coordinated by the Umbria Region with the support of Sviluppumbria S.p.A and with the collaboration of the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi and the patronage of MIBACT, have organised a great international educational event from 21 to 28 September, “Italian Wonder Ways”, in which six groups of “pilgrims” chosen from among journalists and bloggers from around the world, each following one of the Ways, St. Francis Way, Via Lauretana  / Franciscan Way of the Marche, Way of St. Benedict, Via Francigena and Via Amerina

The presentation was well-covered by the national press; below is a link to the article from the daily La Repubblica.

For informations about the project,

http://www.umbriafrancescosways.eu/italian-wonder-ways/