From the mountains of the Marche region to the villages of Emilia-Romagna, from the Milanese suburbs to the landscapes of the Oltrepò Pavese: the journey of IT.A.CÀ Migrants and Travelers – Responsible Tourism Festival continues in October with seven new stages dedicated to a different way of travelling, slower, more aware and linked to local communities.
The XVIII edition of the national festival dedicated to sustainable tourism this year brings the theme “Geographies of peace – mobility across borders and cultures”, transforming very different territories into places of meeting, dialogue and knowledge.
The objective is not just to visit a destination, but to enter into a relationship with those who live there: communities, associations, cultural realities and inhabitants become protagonists of the story of the places. As the founders of the festival explain, responsible tourism considers territories not simply as destinations, but spaces to be known, protected and explored carefully.
The stages of October
The October stages will involve Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Marche, crossing cities, villages, mountains and rural areas. The program will include walks, meetings, workshops, cultural itineraries and activities dedicated to sustainability and participation.
Here are the main events:
Brescia and its Valleys (25 September – 10 October)
The Brescia stage interprets the theme of “Geographies of Peace” through the relationship between people, landscape and participation. The program offers experiences that combine slow mobility, culture, volunteering and discovery of the territory.
Among the events there are urban treks to discover the ancient walls of Brescia, walks through the vineyards, initiatives with young international volunteers and routes dedicated to European citizenship.
Ravenna and the village of Brisighella (3-4 and 10-11 October)
The Romagna stage brings two different landscapes into dialogue: the sea and the hills. In Brisighella the journey passes through art, paths and ancient villages of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola, a UNESCO heritage site; in Ravenna the relationship between city and water becomes the protagonist with routes dedicated to the canals, biodiversity and the protection of sea turtles.
A journey that describes the territory as a network of connections between environment, memory and community.
Pavia and Oltrepò Pavese (8-11 October)
In Pavia the festival intertwines knowledge, environment and inclusion. The stage offers meetings on accessible tourism, walks along the Ticino, routes on the Via Francigena and activities dedicated to migration, memory and the relationship between people and the territory.
The events also include photographic exhibitions and artistic installations dedicated to the themes of integration, borders and encounters between cultures.
Monte Catria (11 and 18 October)
On Monte Catria the concept of border changes perspective: the ridge is no longer a line that separates, but a place capable of uniting communities, businesses and institutions.
The planned activities tell the story of the link between local productions, landscape and sustainable tourism, with walks, visits to the productive realities of the area and moments of discussion on the future of rural areas.
Brianze and Lakes (14-18 October)
The stage between Brianza and the Como area brings the theme of peace into the daily life of the places, through volunteering initiatives, environmental regeneration and the valorisation of local knowledge.
The events also include plogging for legality along the Villoresi Canal, paths dedicated to memory and workshops on the ancient construction techniques of dry stone walls.
Milan (23-25 October)
Even a large metropolis can become a responsible travel area. The Milanese stop invites you to look at the city from different perspectives, including the suburbs, Navigli, art and slow mobility.
The program includes exhibitions, meetings on the themes of migration and cooperation, urban walks, cycling routes and activities dedicated to telling the story of places through words, images and memory.
Modena (23-25 October)
For the first time Modena enters the festival circuit with a widespread program of walks, workshops and meetings. The city is told through the voices of the inhabitants, artists and artisans.
Among the initiatives there are routes in the Artisan Village, workshops on bread as a symbol of hospitality, urban explorations, activities on creative recycling and itineraries dedicated to the stories of the city.
A different way to travel
From environmental protection to the memory of territories, from slow mobility to hospitality, IT.A.CÀ proposes an idea of travel in which moving also means creating relationships.
Not a simple list of places to visit, but a map built through meetings, communities and new perspectives: because crossing a border can become a way to get to know each other and look at the territory with different eyes.
All stage programs may be subject to updates: for information you can consult the official website of the festival.
