The Stati Generali della Via Francigena nel Sud took place in Benevento, bringing together delegations from four nations alongside regional representatives, municipalities and associations, according to NTR24.
Raffaele Scarinzi, mayor of Vitulano, described the event as a major responsibility and said Vitulano had served as lead municipality for a project representing the province of Benevento, according to NTR24 and Anteprima24. He thanked 22 mayors for supporting and sharing the project, according to Anteprima24.
Scarinzi presented the Via Francigena as both a spiritual and religious journey and a secular opportunity for cultural, social and economic development, according to NTR24 and Anteprima24.
The programme was promoted by the Regione Campania Tourism Department in collaboration with the Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene and the Province of Benevento, according to the Regione Campania. It was held at the Museo del Sannio from 13 to 15 November 2026 and included institutional meetings, technical sessions, presentations of Campanian pilot-area projects and urban trekking in Benevento, according to the Regione Campania.
The gathering was designed to connect institutions, local communities, cultural heritage and tourism operators around development of the Via Francigena in the South, according to Il Mattino and the Regione Campania. The discussions addressed the creation of a sustainable tourism destination linking villages, cultural heritage and local communities, according to Il Mattino.
The regional strategy included maintenance, signage, safety and accessibility improvements, with Il Mattino reporting interventions exceeding 6.7 million euros. Il Mattino did not give a project-by-project breakdown of that figure, and whether the meeting produced binding commitments or a formal governance structure remains unclear.
