Via Francigena, inauguration of a memorial stone for the 100 kilometers from Viterbo to the tomb of the apostle Peter

News – The milestone was created by the Amici della Via Francigenae association with the help of the Amici del Blessed Barberi association

Viterbo – We receive and publish – On Saturday 20 April in the beautiful area of ​​Castel d’Asso near the rural church dedicated to Santa Maria Amabilis, a memorial stone was inaugurated indicating 100 kilometers remaining from the tomb of the Apostle Peter in the Vatican city.

The stone, one hundred and twenty centimeters high in peperino material, is a work of the craftsman Errichiello Arcangelo and marks an important milestone for those who travel the Via Francigena which since the Middle Ages and still in the modern era has been crossed by pilgrims heading to Rome . The memorial stone was designed on the model of the Mojon found along the paths towards Santiago de Compostela, the place where another great Apostle, Saint James the Greater, is buried.

The milestone was designed by the Friends of the Via Francigena association of Viterbo and with the help of the Friends of Blessed Barberi association it was positioned inside the garden of the Marian church. The Friends of the Via Francigena association which operates in the Santa Maria Nuova parish is made up of volunteers and pilgrims who have made their passion a mission: to welcome pilgrims, give them shelter for the night at the Pilgrim’s Hospital in Viterbo and provide spiritual and material assistance to live their pilgrimage with greater enthusiasm. In particular, every second Saturday of the month, the Pilgrim’s blessing is celebrated in the church of San Pellegrino where the Pilgrim’s credential on the paths of faith is issued to those who wish to travel the Via Francigena or the Camino towards Santiago de Compostela.

The vice-president of the Friends of the Via Francigena, the pilgrim and deacon Vincenzo Mirto, has traveled the Via Francigena seventeen times to reach the Basilica of St. Peter ad limina Petri, starting each time from a different location along this ancient pilgrimage route and will soon set off again for his eighteenth time. This will be the starting point of the next journey, thus completing the kilometers necessary to once again receive the Testimonium, a certificate of the end of the pilgrimage issued by the offices of the rectory of San Pietro in the Vatican and which demonstrates that the Via Francigena is a path of faith.

Now, once they arrive in Viterbo, the Franciscan and Roman pilgrims can choose to travel along the Via Francigena using the ancient Signorino road and by making a detour of about five hundred meters they can visit the Marian church of Castel d’Asso, put the stamp on the credential and admire the 100th kilometer marker.

Present in addition to the members of the board of the promoting association, Don Mario Brizi, parish priest of the Santa Maria Nuova parish, Luciano Proietti, president of the ArcheoTuscia association, Sandro Toso, president of the Friends of Blessed Barberi association and several members of the community of the rural church.

As chance would have it, while this brief inauguration ceremony was taking place, two English pilgrims arrived who, with real pleasure, shared the moment and chatted with those present, recounting their journey.

For more information on receiving the blessing and credentials, consult the website www.amicidellaviafrancigenaviterbo.com.

Association of Friends of the Via Francigena Viterbo

April 22, 2024