Per conoscenza, culto, lavoro: viaggiatori e pellegrini in cammino per l’Abruzzo

The Abruzzo region represents a relevant example for the presence of a dense network, ancient and modern, of cultural and sacred paths that coexist and often coincide with the network of sheep tracks that linked Abruzzo and Molise to Puglia. Itineraries covered by travellers and pilgrims animated, for their education and culture, by different expectations and emotions, but united by the idea of travel as a fundamental moment of their life: an opportunity for independent research, full of active and socializing participation, from which will come back enriched. The testimonies of educated travellers in Abruzzo underline the role and meaning to go by foot or on the back of a mule, as well as the importance of welcome, hospitality or toughness of the peasants and shepherds and beauty of the surrounding landscape. Mass tourism and strong urbanization risk upsetting this delicate and intrigued network; a legacy to be recognized and safeguarded to provide a full awareness the European pilgrim-wayfarer.