Pilgrimage and hospitality along the via Francigena: revitalisation of rural areas and therapeutic mobilities

The paper explores the modern experience, secular and religious, of pilgrimage along the via Francigena in the pursuit of well-being through slow mobility, interaction with the landscape and hospitality. Moreover, the locals’ point of view is introduced, particularly that of the hosts, in their deep involvement with the renewed cultural flow. While being stable, they are linked to therapeutic mobility and go beyond the paradigms of commercial tourism. Particularly in the relationship hospitality-pilgrimage, distinctive characters can be outlined between tourist and pilgrim that highlight conflicts on the route. The research, taking place in two rural study areas in Italy, shows how the pilgrimage transit on via Francigena is an opportunity for socio-cultural revitalisation for the marginal areas of the territory. The survey was conducted through the quantitative, qualitative methods and ethnographic research.