3rd IEEE on Cultural Routes and Slow Mobility

On April 9, an important event will take place to address the revitalization of rural religious heritage through innovative strategies, including cultural routes, greenways, and slow mobility solutions such as walking and cycling. This initiative is part of the RELIHE project (Religious Heritage in Rural Areas), which seeks to explore how these strategies can support the preservation and revitalization of religious sites in rural areas, combating challenges like depopulation and limited accessibility.

This event marks the first of two thematic meetings planned during this semester, aimed at exploring new opportunities for rural religious heritage. The second meeting will take place in September, continuing the conversation and showcasing additional good practices.

The event will bring together experts and practitioners from various European countries to showcase successful good practices and discuss how these can be applied to ensure sustainable conservation while enhancing local community engagement and regional tourism development.

Agenda Highlights:

The event will begin with a welcoming introduction by Chiara L. M. Occelli and Irene Ruiz Bazán from Politecnico di Torino, who will provide an overview of the RELIHE project and the topic that we are adressing this semester. This will be followed by two sessions showcasing best practices in rural religious heritage preservation

• Spain: Sergio Sebastián Franco, Architect and Professor at the University of Zaragoza, will present the consolidation of rural churches and hospitality structures along the Camino de Santiago.

• Germany: Annemarie Schmidt, Managing Director of TRANSROMANICA, will explore the potential of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe for rural religious heritage.

• Spain: Victoria E. Trasobares, Director of the Territorio Mudéjar Association, will present the Mudéjar Routes through Zaragoza Province, which highlight the fusion of Islamic and Christian heritage while fostering local development.

• Italy: Gloria Mari, President of Centro Nocetum, will present "Beyond the Valley: The Monks' Path," a cultural slow route for cycling and walking, designed to help preserve Italy's historical religious heritage.

Focus on Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voidvodeship (Poland)

The meeting will focus on the partner region we will visit at the end of April, presenting the best practices that participants will experience firsthand. It will also highlight the region’s unique characteristics and the significance of the project for its development.

Good practices shared will be:

• The Cycling Relay along the Way of St. James
• The phenomenon of roadside chapels as gathering places for rural communities,
• The revitalization of the Franciscan monastery complex in Nieszawa and the activities of the Krzywdów and Bieniów Foundation in supporting the local community through educational, cultural, and social initiatives.

The event will conclude with a wrap-up and final remarks.

This event offers a unique opportunity to explore how cultural routes and greenways can be pivotal in reconnecting rural religious heritage sites with their communities, enhancing both their preservation and local tourism. Moreover, it sets the stage for the next thematic meeting in September, where the conversation will continue, and further opportunities for the sustainable development of rural religious heritage will be explored.