A route of great fascination winds through the lakes, vineyards and villages of Piedmont, today made more inclusive by the Via Francigena for All project — one of the most significant initiatives presented in 2022 by the Piedmont Region as part of a call for proposals by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The aim is to make two stages of the Piedmontese Via Francigena accessible, allowing everyone to experience the beauty of this historic route.
The Via Francigena Morenico-Canavesana extends for approximately 40 kilometres between the Aosta Valley section and the Biella-Vercelli section, passing through ten municipalities. The route winds through the heart of the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheater — formed by the retreat of the Balteo Glacier and considered one of the best-preserved glacial formations in the world — characterised by lakes, vineyards and the Serra, an imposing moraine ridge approximately 25 kilometres long. Included within the great European religious itinerary, the Via Francigena intersects with the Alta Via dell’Anfiteatro Morenico di Ivrea and the Anelli dei Cinque Laghi, offering an experience that combines nature, history and spirituality.
The Via Francigena for All project grew from the work of a multidisciplinary team of professionals, public bodies and associations. Following a territorial mapping and analysis of critical issues, targeted interventions were carried out to guarantee a fully inclusive tourist experience: equipped rest areas, multisensory panels, adaptation of accommodation facilities, training of tourism operators and enhanced communication channels.
Today the Canavese itinerary Ivrea–Viverone and the Susa Valley variant Villar Focchiardo–Avigliana offer accessible hospitality to people with motor, sensory and cognitive disabilities, to the elderly and to families. The project also allows year-round visits to 20 Romanesque chapels and cultural heritage sites, thanks to the “Chiese a porte aperte” system, which enables automated opening and narration via smartphone and QR code.
The project is led by the Piedmont Region, with the involvement of tourism bodies, ecclesiastical institutions, associations and local authorities committed to promoting a truly accessible Piedmont.
