800 years have passed since San Francesco passed through Romagna, leaving indelible marks behind him. And it is precisely for this reason that also this year Rimini will host the Franciscan Festival, from 27 to 29 September. The central theme of this edition will be the journey. A metaphorical journey together with narrators, theologians, historians who will help us understand this complicated present, because “not all paths are the same” as the organizers communicate. Then there is the pace of the tourist who seeks a discontinuity in the repetitive path of daily life. Finally, there is the walk of the pilgrim who moves carrying within himself a question, a prayer ”. Between many guests of this edition: Patrizio Roversi, always a “tourist by chance”, the poet Gabriella Ghermandi, Maurizio Pallante, founder of the Movement for the Happy Decrescita, Father Raniero Cantalamessa and the historian Franco Cardini, who will talk about the pilgrim routes. There will also be exceptional artists such as Francesco De Gregori, who on Saturday 28 September will perform in a concert in Piazza Malatesta and Moni Ovadia, one of the greatest actors of international theater, who will interpret the biblical theme of the Exodus.
Over one hundred events in the city, with art exhibitions, street artists and spiritual moments. Various initiatives will also pay particular attention to children, with workshops, educational activities and shows, including the performance on 29 September at 5.30 pm by the Antoniano di Bologna children’s choir. In addition, they will meet in the squares of the historic center of Rimini the main realities that deal with the Franciscan itineraries: the Way of St. Francis, the Way of Francis, the Way of St. Clare, the Way of St. Anthony and specialized associations such as Eteria (Franciscan pilgrimages to Turkey and the Holy Land). For the occasion, two particular proposals for “journeys” have been elaborated: a pilgrimage on foot and a journey by bus. The first, from the name “friar path, sora strada”, will last 4 days starting from 25 September with the possibility of covering even single stages (for info and reservations, by 15 September, ASD La Pedivella, tel. 320 7433000). The second will be a bus route with which you will retrace the footsteps of St. Francis passing and visiting the chapel dedicated to the saint in Vergiano, the Franciscan convent of Villa Verucchio with the ancient cypress and the convent of Sant’Igne, to finish the “I walk” to San Leo where, 800 years ago, the Saint received the mountain of La Verna as a gift (for info and reservations, by 20 September, Ariminum Viaggi, tel. 0541 57679). The Franciscan Festival is organized in collaboration with the Municipality and the Province of Rimini, the Emilia Romagna Region, the CEI Cultural Project, the Diocese of Rimini, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio Rimini and the University of Bologna. (MZ)
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