25 June 2008, Milan – Berceto was much as I left it a year ago…pleasant, picturesque and approaching perfect. There was quite a crowd for the festival and most of the events were attended by upwards of 100 people showing there is a great deal of interest in the Via Francigena and walking in general.

By the way, if you have no idea what I’m talking about, have a quick look at the previous post where I mentioned this just completed Festival del Cammino (walking festival) in Berceto.

It’s festival season and there’s another one for your attention in Sopravivo di Calendasco in Emilia-Romagna on the banks of the Po river. You can find some information by digging around at: http://www.cauponasigerico-viafrancigena.it/. It’s for the weekend of July 11-13. This link to Google maps will show you where it is.

If you go you will have the chance to meet one of the Via Francigena’s most entertaining characters, a guy named Danilo Parisi who takes pilgrims across the Po from Corte Sant’Andrea in Lombardy to Sopravivo di Calendasco where he lives. For a taste of what this guy is like, see the first video in the video gallery (you can also link directly from the homepage).

This little festival in Sopravivo di Calendasco might be worthwhile or maybe it isn’t (if you go, you could let me know), but it does show there is interest in the Via Francigena and this can only be a good thing for those like myself who want to see the route developed responsibly.

From the bucolic cobblestoned streets of Berceto to the energy and chaos of New York...that’s what’s in my future as I leave for the Big Apple tomorrow for work. After that a quick trip to California to check in on the family.