Training Academy 2024: Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
From June 4 to June 7, the latest edition of the Training Academy of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes programme took place in Brindisi, a city in the Puglia region of Italy. This annual gathering of managers and technical teams of cultural routes attracted 100 representatives from 37 itineraries across 22 countries.
The European Association of Vie Francigene (AEVF) had the honor of organizing this event, in collaboration with the European Institue of Cultural Routes, which supported this international showcase at a symbolic location on the Via Francigena in southern Italy.
The opening ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Mayor Giuseppe Marchionna, Director of the Tourism Department and AEVF Vice-President Aldo Patruno, President of the Italian National Tourism Agency Alessandra Priante, Maria Giusi Luprano of the Italian Ministry of Culture, and Stefano Dominioni, Director of the European Cultural Routes Institute in Luxembourg and Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Routes of the Council of Europe.
The Academy featured six working sessions focused on governance, tourism, mobility, cooperation, and international planning. These sessions saw great participation and interaction among the attendees.
Representing the European Route of Jewish Heritage, Victor Sorenssen, Director of the AEPJ, participated in the event. Sorenssen currently chairs the working group on cooperation between cultural routes, coordinating a team with representatives from 15 certified cultural routes. During the Training Academy programme, he presented the group’s recent achievements and future development plans.
The four-day event also included a rich cultural programme. The international delegation explored the city’s museums, cultural, and archaeological heritage, and walked a short stretch of the Via Francigena. Local gastronomy was highlighted with tastings, street food, and visits to local companies and producers, along with musical shows and artistic performances.
The event was supported by the Apulia Region and the Municipality of Brindisi, in cooperation with the Associazione Brindisi e le Antiche Strade and the European Association of Vie Francigene. From the AEPJ we thank and congratulate the hosts for the success of the event!
