Art, history, literature, music, landscape, cultural and economic routes, ancient pilgrimage routes, environment: there is a lot of shared heritage around Europe, a sign of a cultural identity and a great history that unites European countries . This is witnessed by first Italian stage of the exhibition "The cultural itineraries of the Council of Europe in Italy: a European heritage", open until 21 February in Venice after having already been set up in Strasbourg, first in the headquarters of the Council of Europe - on the occasion of the Italian presidency that will end in May - and then at the Italian Cultural Institute of the French city. And it is Italy that plays the lion's share in this project born in 1987 with the first itinerary dedicated to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Because, of the 45 proposals matured in this thirty-year experience, no less than 29 cross our country, placing Italy at the center of the European cultural heritage.
From Strasbourg to Venice: an exhibition on European itineraries that pass through Italy
These 29 cultural itineraries are the protagonists of the exhibition which, after Venice, will touch two other Italian stages still to be defined. Twenty-nine itineraries that put Italy and its beauties at the center, but also its being part of a common history made up of many local assets. A common thread that goes beyond borders. With particular attention to the different national characteristics and their heritage, which is local but which thanks to the Itineraries becomes collectively transnational.
So let's go to the discovery of this Italy, which in the exhibition is expressed in 29 panels where the beauty and the much that enriches our country is told. Starting right from the most "old" cultural itinerary, that Santiago's walk, which also crosses Italy. Made up of an infinite number of paths along this path, but also of myths, legends, places of worship, intangible and material cultural heritages. From Compostela to the via Francigena, the oldest and most important medieval pilgrimage route. It connects north-western Europe to Italy and in particular to Rome, from Canterbury to Santa Maria di Leuca. There Phoenician route instead it refers to all the great routes of the Mediterranean sea, “our” sea, and tells the story of a heritage deriving from millenary cities.
The pilgrimage routes, the Mediterranean routes, the routes linked to the cultivation of olives and vines
The itinerary dedicated to Vie dell'Olivo which speaks of gastronomy, art, tradition, and that of Paths of the Vine, a heritage of landscape but also of activity, technology, innovation. Wine is a message that travels and makes travel from the distant territories of the Caucasus to the Italian vineyards and those of Western Europe. Among the 29 itineraries that pass through Italy we also remember the one dedicated to cemeteries, which represent the history of the places and are places of memory and emotions. It illustrates it well Via Europea dei Cemeteries who have left their mark and whose dimension is often multicultural. Of great charm there Street of ceramics. An art, in Europe and in Italy, which is very significant, just think of the Italian Faenza or the French Limoges. There Route of Aeneas it is an archaeological journey that starts from Troy and arrives, needless to say, in Italy and Rome.
Collodi, the town of Pinocchio, promoter of an itinerary dedicated to the European fairy tale
Italy will also be the protagonist of two next cultural itineraries, the one dedicated to the European fairy tale which was promoted from the town of Pinocchio, Collodi. And the one dedicated to historic cafes which will also see one of its main actors in Venice. The exhibition, which our Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly wanted in its presidency, is an important project for Italy. This was recalled by Valeria Biagiotti, head of the Task Force for the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. "Because it contributes to enhancing Italian culture - explains - Culture that becomes a means of promoting a common identity. Cultural itineraries for the Council of Europe are a success story. And this exhibition represents for Italy a further enhancement of its many beauties. With an added value because it involves citizens, who thanks to the itineraries have become precious custodians of their territory".
