Paper short abstract:

Can the pilgrimage phenomenon be considered as a path towards wellbeing? This paper seeks to explore pilgrimage from both the travellers and their hosts points of view. It focusses on the introspective journey in relation to the history and landscape along the way, personal emotions and motivations.

Paper long abstract:

This paper develops from my PhD thesis in Human Geography that explores the cultural geography of pilgrimage routes, with particular reference to the Via Francigena. The focus is both on the historical geographical background and on the rediscovery of pilgrimage through slow tourism, a phenomenon that has become increasingly popular over the last two decades.

This paper considers the experience of the Via Francigena tourist route from the point of view of the insiders (inhabitants of the communities) and the outsiders (modern pilgrims). The purpose is to comprehend the individual relationships established through the slow mobilities with the landscapes, with the local communes, and between dwellers and pilgrims.

The methodology is based on qualitative and quantitive approaches. Qualitative interviews provide insights about the introspective journey along Via Francigena while questionnaires allow comparisons of the relative importance of specific aspects of the journey.

The results provide a context for a discussion about what the Francigena experience means to pilgrims and inhabitants. One key aspect that emerges is the link between wellbeing and slow mobility, the physical effort, and the crossing of various types of landscape. Many travellers find an inner healing place in pilgrimage routes. At the same time, the route generates a "therapeutic flow" that affects the local inhabitants involved.