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Conclusion T hey were mainly religious reasons that drove pilgrims from all over Europe to take the long trip on the Via Francigena to arrive in Rome.As the centre of the Christian Church, Rome was the final destination of all pilgrims during the period in which Jerusalem was occupied by the Muslims. The pilgrims, arriving in Rome and looking at the city from the top of Monte Mario, sang a joyful song because they were happy to be in the Eternal City after a long, hard and dangerous journey. The pilgrims’ song was the following:
Lucca, the site of the Volto santo (the Holy Face) a VIII century wooden Crucifix, was another important destination for pilgrims who went to the Duomo of San Martino to see the famous relic. The Via Francigena became very important, not only from the religious point of view, thanks to the pilgrimages, but also for the literary, medical and commercial activities of the time. It was thanks to this road that the poetry of the troubadours ( les chansons des gestes) were able to circulate and spread quickly.It also facilitated the exchange of medical knowledge between the medical centre in Montpellier and the very advanced one in Altopascio, near Lucca. The road also made commercial activity and exchange among cities possible. In conclusion, the Via Francigena facilitated the diffusion of knowledge not only within Italy, but throughout Europe. |