Abbey of Santa Maria

Tenth step 2024:
Abbey of Santa Maria

Santa Maria di Follina

Theme: Interweavings

The Trevignano area, with its hills renowned for prosecco production, served as the perfect backdrop for the tenth stop of our “pilgrimage”, which took place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the Abbey of Santa Maria in Follina, in the heart of the Treviso region.

First and foremost, we were enchanted by the beauty and harmony of this location, with the monastic complex rising above a hill in the center of Follina, surrounded by green hills that evoke coolness, despite the intense heat and summer swelter enveloping us. History seems to have passed by this village without touching it, as the abbey still retains the charm of a timeless spiritual space, capable of infusing peace into the many who linger within, whether they are visitors, tourists, or pilgrims.
Founded after the 11th century initially as a Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria later came under the Cistercian Order, and since 1915, the Servants of Mary have resided there. Situated at the foot of the Treviso-Belluno Prealps, the Abbey is considered one of the most beautiful and majestic sacred complexes in Veneto: an oasis of silence and devotion that stands in the prosecco production district, Italy’s most appreciated and exported wine. This excellence is recognized internationally; in fact, since 2019, the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

Gallery Follina

The chosen theme for this stop was “Interweavings”, highlighting Follina’s specialties, namely wool weaving and vineyard cultivation.

Part of the day, July 17, was dedicated to prosecco, starting at 10 a.m. with a guided tour of the Cistercian Basilica, built in the first half of the 14th century on a previous Benedictine structure from the 12th century. The Church is divided into three naves by imposing columns supporting pointed arches, illuminated by the windows and rose windows of the façade. Inside, a suggestive twilight prevails. At the center of the altar stands a recently crafted wooden altarpiece in the Gothic style, housing the sandstone statue of the Madonna of the Sacred Chalice, an object of veneration and pilgrimage. The oldest structure of the complex is the Romanesque bell tower with a square plan, rising at the intersection of the central nave with the right transept.

We then moved to the cloister next to the Basilica. Built in 1268, the arches of the portico are supported by single or paired columns, interwoven according to the Cistercian Gothic style, with different shafts and capitals. Here, in the Refectory Hall, the conference “Terroir, history, and future of a great sparkling wine: prosecco” began at 11 a.m., chaired by Livia Pomodoro, the creator of “In cammino” and holder of the UNESCO Chair “Food Systems for Sustainable Development and Social Inclusion” at the State University of Milan.

Tonino Bettanini, Director of GIUBILEO 2025 – No’hma in cammino and coordinator of the debate, outlined the day’s program and the overall significance of our initiative. He emphasized its format, consisting of three distinct moments: a morning conference focused primarily on sustainable territories and economies, with great attention to history and modernity; an afternoon debate on spiritual topics, typically conducted between a layperson and a representative from a religious background; and finally, a cultural event or performance that connects to the international artistic dimension of the No’hma Theatre directed in Milan by Livia Pomodoro.

After Bettanini’s introduction, the welcome addresses were made by Father Francesco Rigobello OSM – Prior of the Abbey of Santa Maria – and Paola Carniello, Mayor of Follina.

Father Rigobello expressed his interest in initiatives that center around “great respect for nature and animals”, as we are “usufructuaries” of the world, not “masters”. He recalled that in May 2024, Sergio Tazzer’s book: Wines of the Monasteries. The Monks Who Saved the Culture of the Vine was presented at his Abbey.

“In our area – said the Prior – there are only two religious realities that produce wine: the friars of the Convent of San Pietro di Barbozza and the cloistered nuns of the Cistercian Monastery of Saints Gervasius and Protasius in Vittorio Veneto, who have become known for prosecco… One must enjoy all things but also be careful: this is the meaning of the phrase by Saint Benedict that I read some time ago at the Marchigiana Abbey of Fiastra. The Holy Founder of Western Monasticism warns: ‘It is difficult to make monks understand that wine can be harmful, so everyone should arrange with their Abbot.’ I leave you with this beautiful synthesis of humanity: let’s broaden it!”.

The mayor, Paola Carniello, expressed her delight at the choice of Follina for the tenth stop of In cammino: “I really liked the combination of sacred and profane, which aims to enhance both the Abbey and our territory, the landscape, and the great work that the Association for the UNESCO Heritage of the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene Hills is doing here. And if the Abbey is a ‘home’ for us, then the territory is also a ‘home’ for the citizens and for those who come to Follina. So thank you to those who organized this conference, because you have added value to our home”.

The conference gained momentum with the intervention of Claudio Serafini, Director of Organic Cities Network Europe, who spoke about wine and territory, referencing the example of the Chianti Classico Consortium: “The word we are discussing today is ‘Interweavings’, particularly the unique intertwining of an exceptional product and a territory. A few years ago, at another Abbey, Sant’Anna in Camprena in Pienza, I organized a course titled Introduction to the Art of the Sommelier. The first lesson was taught by Ezio Rivella, who for many years was the President of the Italian Oenologists, who unfortunately passed away at the beginning of January. I mention this because it was a great honor for me to have Rivella there, who began with this phrase: wine is a beverage; what is truly unique is its relationship with the territory. Thus, it’s an intertwining of wine and territory. If I were to adapt that phrase for today’s conversation, I would ask: how can we better interpret this uniqueness considering ‘sustainability’? In other words, the intertwining of wine and territory—how can we experience it with loyalty and intelligence: sustainability in the sense of loyalty to the territory and intelligence in terms of foresight?… This is a theme addressed by the Chianti Classico Consortium, which celebrated its centenary with a grand event in Florence, during which the Chianti Classico Sustainability Manifesto was presented. What is the central point of this manifesto that unites tradition and looks to the future? It’s an idea that has emerged over the last twenty to thirty years: the idea of the farmer as someone who cares for and is a steward of the environment… And this comes with a whole series of implications that we are aware of, including local and European political actions… Another aspect highlighted by the manifesto is the significant value of corporate responsibility, which must also include the will and importance of caring for and protecting the environment”.

The floor was then passed to Bernardo Piazza, President of CE.VI.V. (Center for Vinification of Valdobbiadene).

“I have been fortunate enough to be born in a wine-growing area – Piazza began – to be an oenologist, and to manage a business where economic, cultural, and even social interweavings are fundamental. CE.VI.V. is nothing more than a link with the agricultural world, keeping in mind that 390 growers—390 families—supply us with grapes from Valdobbiadene and the Asolo area, extending to Vittorio Veneto and the entire Conegliano area… Two entities are important for a territory like ours: the Prosecco Consortium, which protects us in all our work; and UNESCO. We have indeed been fortunate to have been included in the list of World Heritage Sites for several years, which has culturally, environmentally, and promotional benefitted our hills. Claudio Serafini’s analysis was impeccable and highlighted the transformations that have occurred in this territory over the past thirty years. Sustainability is sometimes challenged by many factors; however, we all want to be mature, prepared, and forward-thinking so that things are left to future generations in the best possible conditions, just as we found them. Sustainability is ecological, economic—especially in the case of our prosecco, a crucial development factor for the entire local economy—and finally, there is social sustainability: an intertwining that, as I mentioned, in our case involves 390 growers with their families”.

Diego Tomasi, Director of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Protection Consortium, described the close interweaving between territory and product, between hills and prosecco, using graphs and slides to illustrate his points from an environmental perspective. His talk provided an interesting historical overview that began in the 1600s and focused on the last fifty years, from the second half of the 20th century to the new millennium.

“During this period, we can see the evolution, the challenges faced, the solutions found, and the current state of prosecco production. While in the case of Chianti we talked about a manifesto, I prefer to speak of impact on the territory here. And if we truly want to see what has happened in these areas, we must start from a long way back, from 1679, the year when the Treviso native Jacopo Agostinelli wrote his memoirs titled Cento e dieci ricordi che formano il buon fattor di villa. In this text, the author described how to cultivate the vine, detailing its varieties, qualities, and properties. We then need to go to the early 1800s when, during the last Austrian campaign in Italy, General Von Zach brought along 16 cartographers and compiled a magnificent map of the current Veneto and Friuli provinces”.

This map is known as the Carta militare topografico-geometrica del Ducato di Venezia, or more simply the Kriegskarte, created by the Austrians under Baron Von Zach.

“This is the method of vine cultivation we have inherited since the 1800s, which has shaped our hills… In 1870, prosecco was not the main variety of wine grown in the area; it was a minority compared to other types. And here is a photograph from 1880 showing the ciglioni: with them, the landscape began to take on the appearance we still see today”.

Indeed, the ciglioni, small plots of vines cultivated on narrow grassy terraces, are the only viable method for growing vines on these hills, given the lack of stones or other materials to build dry stone walls.

Giuliano Vantaggi, Site Manager of the Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, spoke about this territory’s entry into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2019.

“The term ‘interweavings’ has many meanings for UNESCO, but first and foremost it refers to the interconnections between generations… This symbolic place has maintained its significance over the years, with the forest bordering the vineyards. The forest represents 52% of the UNESCO area, the vineyards 9.7%, and the rest comprises villages and urban developments… It is essential to understand how the landscape changes, as it is inherently dynamic, and we must strive to manage this change effectively by working together to enhance it… Among the various working groups, there is one dedicated to climate change, as we are feeling the effects of changing climates, and UNESCO is questioning and involving all stakeholders in the area who can contribute in this regard. ‘Interweavings’ also pertains to those who visit us: the visitors and tourists who spend time in this area, interacting with the territory. We work on various types of tourism: we have evolved from a predominantly food and wine tourism model, which remains very important today, to a cultural type that combines good food and hospitality with an understanding of historical sites and places, such as churches and museums. For example, this wonderful Abbey of Follina relates to the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene hills as the Cathedral of Reims relates to the Champagne hills…”.

A clip from H. E. Marco Alberti, the Italian Ambassador to Kazakhstan, followed, where he shared greetings from Astana and reflected on how prosecco has become one of the symbols of the made in Italy, highly appreciated both in the USA and in Kazakhstan, where it is gaining increasing popularity.

Livia Pomodoro concluded the conference with her remarks.

“I would like to trace back the origins of this journey of ours – explained President Pomodoro – which began long ago, as you heard, starting in Canterbury in 2023, with a precise direction evoked by a phrase from Goethe: ‘Europe was born on pilgrimage’. Therefore, European identity and reality arise from the act of pilgrimage, from becoming pilgrims. But where are we going? We have discovered extraordinary territories; we have visited truly memorable places, and this is the tenth Abbey we are visiting. We do this because we owe a debt to a past that has reached us thanks mainly to the monks of the Abbotts, a past of reconstruction of what was once lost. Just as today, all of us are called to the reconstruction of our country and the countries that, together with ours, constitute what we call Europe… I do not believe we have reached a point of no return today… perhaps we have arrived at a point where we must ask ourselves what more we can do, what we can do together: together, I repeat this word because it has characterized the stages of our journey more than any other”.

To conlcude the morning, several audience members highlighted the pressing issue of pesticide and herbicide use in vineyard cultivation, pointing to the significant dangers and damage to health and the environment.

In the afternoon, at 5 p.m., a dialogue meeting titled “Interweavings of Matter and Spirit” took place in the Refettorio Hall, featuring Massimo Sebastiani, ANSA journalist and curator of the successful column “The Word of the Week”, alongside Marco Zabotti, Scientific Director and Vice President of the Beato Toniolo Institute. H. E. Monsignor Corrado Pizziolo, Bishop of Vittorio Veneto, was also present to convey his greetings.

Massimo Sebastiani explained, among other things, the origin of the word that characterized the tenth stop: “Etymology is certainly important and sometimes even fascinating, but the power and magic of a word actually lie in everything that occurs afterward, in a sense ‘when the game is over’, in its use and historical layering. In this case, the etymology is not particularly surprising, while in other cases, it can be more so. The origin of ‘interweavings’ in Italian is almost certainly Greek and means ‘hair’. The word ‘braid’, in fact, derives from the term intertwine. Some linguists relate it instead to the expression ‘three parts’: if we think about it, female braids are typically divided into three overlapping parts. The image of the braid, from a symbolic point of view, is primarily one of power and control. This is evident in Indian tradition, where Shiva, in his role as Bodhisattva and yoga master, has his hair braided and carried atop his head, symbolizing control through spiritual rigor, meditation, and self-reflection. All this is symbolized by the braid of hair, which is widespread in all cultures and always carries a specific meaning. In archaic societies, it served to distinguish: in Slavic culture, it indicates that a girl is free. This is very interesting, as the braid—and this is one of the fascinating aspects of delving into the meanings of words, of ‘digging’—sometimes reveals one meaning but also its opposite. Besides being a sign of control, which is the opposite of freedom, it also represents the other element highlighted by Slavic cultures. I mention this because we live in a culture that is profoundly and tendentially dualistic, reasoning with a binary logic like computers”.

“When we talk about ‘interweavings’ in the sense of freedom and power – Marco Zabotti intervened – it should not be forgotten that there exists in parallel the freedom of the spirit and the power of what the spirit dictates to us. I believe that upon entering this cloister, many of us feel an inner voice saying, ‘stop!’. We perceive the freedom and power of the spirit right here inside. You can come from anywhere, embark on any journey, but when you arrive here, you feel the power of the spirit telling you, ‘stop!’. This is especially true in this Abbey of Follina, in my view, as its history unfolds like the weaving of a tapestry. This Abbey is not iconically distant from the profound sense of community. In this power of spirit, there also exists a gaze that makes continuous and direct contact with people. Follina ‘feels’ this Abbey and this Basilica as its own. It frequents them, knows them, shares them, thus creating an ‘interweaving’ from this perspective. This structure has a value that reaches far back and has witnessed the intertwining of religious histories, particular events, and customs. All this depends on the fact that Follina is not just a monastic complex entrusted to the care of the Servants of Mary for over a hundred years, but it is a parish integrated into a diocese, meaning it is part of a path; hence, the intertwining of human events it embraces”.

The day concluded at 7 p.m. with the performance “Behind His Steps, the Joy!”, conceived and performed by Giovanni Crippa and directed by Paolo Bignamini.

This penetrating one-man show, full of charm and emotions, recreated the spiritual world of the monks by intertwining poetry and songs, words and music, voice and guitar. From the intense lyricism of Don Angelo Casati, a priest and theologian, to the comfort of faith and hope contained in the works of another religious poet, Father David Maria Turoldo of the Servants of Mary. The performance also featured the poetry of Franco Loi and excerpts from the writings of tireless traveler Paolo Rumiz, interspersed with musical echoes from Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Francesco Guccini, and Fabrizio De André.

Giovanni Crippa was able to bring to life, in the splendid Refettorio of the Abbey of Follina, an interweaving rich with enchantment and anticipation.

At the end of the performance, in her closing remarks, Livia Pomodoro thanked everyone and announced the next event on July 25 in San Benedetto Po and Mantova, the planned destinations for the eleventh stop of “In cammino”.

Gallery Follina

The Trevignano area, with its hills renowned for prosecco production, served as the perfect backdrop for the tenth stop of our “pilgrimage”, which took place on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the Abbey of Santa Maria in Follina, in the heart of the Treviso region.

First and foremost, we were enchanted by the beauty and harmony of this location, with the monastic complex rising above a hill in the center of Follina, surrounded by green hills that evoke coolness, despite the intense heat and summer swelter enveloping us. History seems to have passed by this village without touching it, as the abbey still retains the charm of a timeless spiritual space, capable of infusing peace into the many who linger within, whether they are visitors, tourists, or pilgrims.

Founded after the 11th century initially as a Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria later came under the Cistercian Order, and since 1915, the Servants of Mary have resided there. Situated at the foot of the Treviso-Belluno Prealps, the Abbey is considered one of the most beautiful and majestic sacred complexes in Veneto: an oasis of silence and devotion that stands in the prosecco production district, Italy’s most appreciated and exported wine. This excellence is recognized internationally; in fact, since 2019, the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene have been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

The chosen theme for this stop was “Interweavings”, highlighting Follina’s specialties, namely wool weaving and vineyard cultivation.

Part of the day, July 17, was dedicated to prosecco, starting at 10 a.m. with a guided tour of the Cistercian Basilica, built in the first half of the 14th century on a previous Benedictine structure from the 12th century. The Church is divided into three naves by imposing columns supporting pointed arches, illuminated by the windows and rose windows of the façade. Inside, a suggestive twilight prevails. At the center of the altar stands a recently crafted wooden altarpiece in the Gothic style, housing the sandstone statue of the Madonna of the Sacred Chalice, an object of veneration and pilgrimage. The oldest structure of the complex is the Romanesque bell tower with a square plan, rising at the intersection of the central nave with the right transept.

We then moved to the cloister next to the Basilica. Built in 1268, the arches of the portico are supported by single or paired columns, interwoven according to the Cistercian Gothic style, with different shafts and capitals. Here, in the Refectory Hall, the conference “Terroir, history, and future of a great sparkling wine: prosecco” began at 11 a.m., chaired by Livia Pomodoro, the creator of “In cammino” and holder of the UNESCO Chair “Food Systems for Sustainable Development and Social Inclusion” at the State University of Milan.

Tonino Bettanini, Director of GIUBILEO 2025 – No’hma in cammino and coordinator of the debate, outlined the day’s program and the overall significance of our initiative. He emphasized its format, consisting of three distinct moments: a morning conference focused primarily on sustainable territories and economies, with great attention to history and modernity; an afternoon debate on spiritual topics, typically conducted between a layperson and a representative from a religious background; and finally, a cultural event or performance that connects to the international artistic dimension of the No’hma Theatre directed in Milan by Livia Pomodoro.

After Bettanini’s introduction, the welcome addresses were made by Father Francesco Rigobello OSM – Prior of the Abbey of Santa Maria – and Paola Carniello, Mayor of Follina.

Father Rigobello expressed his interest in initiatives that center around “great respect for nature and animals”, as we are “usufructuaries” of the world, not “masters”. He recalled that in May 2024, Sergio Tazzer’s book: Wines of the Monasteries. The Monks Who Saved the Culture of the Vine was presented at his Abbey.

“In our area – said the Prior – there are only two religious realities that produce wine: the friars of the Convent of San Pietro di Barbozza and the cloistered nuns of the Cistercian Monastery of Saints Gervasius and Protasius in Vittorio Veneto, who have become known for prosecco… One must enjoy all things but also be careful: this is the meaning of the phrase by Saint Benedict that I read some time ago at the Marchigiana Abbey of Fiastra. The Holy Founder of Western Monasticism warns: ‘It is difficult to make monks understand that wine can be harmful, so everyone should arrange with their Abbot.’ I leave you with this beautiful synthesis of humanity: let’s broaden it!”.

The mayor, Paola Carniello, expressed her delight at the choice of Follina for the tenth stop of In cammino: “I really liked the combination of sacred and profane, which aims to enhance both the Abbey and our territory, the landscape, and the great work that the Association for the UNESCO Heritage of the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene Hills is doing here. And if the Abbey is a ‘home’ for us, then the territory is also a ‘home’ for the citizens and for those who come to Follina. So thank you to those who organized this conference, because you have added value to our home”.

The conference gained momentum with the intervention of Claudio Serafini, Director of Organic Cities Network Europe, who spoke about wine and territory, referencing the example of the Chianti Classico Consortium: “The word we are discussing today is ‘Interweavings’, particularly the unique intertwining of an exceptional product and a territory. A few years ago, at another Abbey, Sant’Anna in Camprena in Pienza, I organized a course titled Introduction to the Art of the Sommelier. The first lesson was taught by Ezio Rivella, who for many years was the President of the Italian Oenologists, who unfortunately passed away at the beginning of January. I mention this because it was a great honor for me to have Rivella there, who began with this phrase: wine is a beverage; what is truly unique is its relationship with the territory. Thus, it’s an intertwining of wine and territory. If I were to adapt that phrase for today’s conversation, I would ask: how can we better interpret this uniqueness considering ‘sustainability’? In other words, the intertwining of wine and territory—how can we experience it with loyalty and intelligence: sustainability in the sense of loyalty to the territory and intelligence in terms of foresight?… This is a theme addressed by the Chianti Classico Consortium, which celebrated its centenary with a grand event in Florence, during which the Chianti Classico Sustainability Manifesto was presented. What is the central point of this manifesto that unites tradition and looks to the future? It’s an idea that has emerged over the last twenty to thirty years: the idea of the farmer as someone who cares for and is a steward of the environment… And this comes with a whole series of implications that we are aware of, including local and European political actions… Another aspect highlighted by the manifesto is the significant value of corporate responsibility, which must also include the will and importance of caring for and protecting the environment”.

The floor was then passed to Bernardo Piazza, President of CE.VI.V. (Center for Vinification of Valdobbiadene).

“I have been fortunate enough to be born in a wine-growing area – Piazza began – to be an oenologist, and to manage a business where economic, cultural, and even social interweavings are fundamental. CE.VI.V. is nothing more than a link with the agricultural world, keeping in mind that 390 growers—390 families—supply us with grapes from Valdobbiadene and the Asolo area, extending to Vittorio Veneto and the entire Conegliano area… Two entities are important for a territory like ours: the Prosecco Consortium, which protects us in all our work; and UNESCO. We have indeed been fortunate to have been included in the list of World Heritage Sites for several years, which has culturally, environmentally, and promotional benefitted our hills. Claudio Serafini’s analysis was impeccable and highlighted the transformations that have occurred in this territory over the past thirty years. Sustainability is sometimes challenged by many factors; however, we all want to be mature, prepared, and forward-thinking so that things are left to future generations in the best possible conditions, just as we found them. Sustainability is ecological, economic—especially in the case of our prosecco, a crucial development factor for the entire local economy—and finally, there is social sustainability: an intertwining that, as I mentioned, in our case involves 390 growers with their families”.

Diego Tomasi, Director of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG Protection Consortium, described the close interweaving between territory and product, between hills and prosecco, using graphs and slides to illustrate his points from an environmental perspective. His talk provided an interesting historical overview that began in the 1600s and focused on the last fifty years, from the second half of the 20th century to the new millennium.

“During this period, we can see the evolution, the challenges faced, the solutions found, and the current state of prosecco production. While in the case of Chianti we talked about a manifesto, I prefer to speak of impact on the territory here. And if we truly want to see what has happened in these areas, we must start from a long way back, from 1679, the year when the Treviso native Jacopo Agostinelli wrote his memoirs titled Cento e dieci ricordi che formano il buon fattor di villa. In this text, the author described how to cultivate the vine, detailing its varieties, qualities, and properties. We then need to go to the early 1800s when, during the last Austrian campaign in Italy, General Von Zach brought along 16 cartographers and compiled a magnificent map of the current Veneto and Friuli provinces”.

This map is known as the Carta militare topografico-geometrica del Ducato di Venezia, or more simply the Kriegskarte, created by the Austrians under Baron Von Zach.

“This is the method of vine cultivation we have inherited since the 1800s, which has shaped our hills… In 1870, prosecco was not the main variety of wine grown in the area; it was a minority compared to other types. And here is a photograph from 1880 showing the ciglioni: with them, the landscape began to take on the appearance we still see today”.

Indeed, the ciglioni, small plots of vines cultivated on narrow grassy terraces, are the only viable method for growing vines on these hills, given the lack of stones or other materials to build dry stone walls.

Giuliano Vantaggi, Site Manager of the Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, spoke about this territory’s entry into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2019.

“The term ‘interweavings’ has many meanings for UNESCO, but first and foremost it refers to the interconnections between generations… This symbolic place has maintained its significance over the years, with the forest bordering the vineyards. The forest represents 52% of the UNESCO area, the vineyards 9.7%, and the rest comprises villages and urban developments… It is essential to understand how the landscape changes, as it is inherently dynamic, and we must strive to manage this change effectively by working together to enhance it… Among the various working groups, there is one dedicated to climate change, as we are feeling the effects of changing climates, and UNESCO is questioning and involving all stakeholders in the area who can contribute in this regard. ‘Interweavings’ also pertains to those who visit us: the visitors and tourists who spend time in this area, interacting with the territory. We work on various types of tourism: we have evolved from a predominantly food and wine tourism model, which remains very important today, to a cultural type that combines good food and hospitality with an understanding of historical sites and places, such as churches and museums. For example, this wonderful Abbey of Follina relates to the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene hills as the Cathedral of Reims relates to the Champagne hills…”.

A clip from H. E. Marco Alberti, the Italian Ambassador to Kazakhstan, followed, where he shared greetings from Astana and reflected on how prosecco has become one of the symbols of the made in Italy, highly appreciated both in the USA and in Kazakhstan, where it is gaining increasing popularity.

Livia Pomodoro concluded the conference with her remarks.

“I would like to trace back the origins of this journey of ours – explained President Pomodoro – which began long ago, as you heard, starting in Canterbury in 2023, with a precise direction evoked by a phrase from Goethe: ‘Europe was born on pilgrimage’. Therefore, European identity and reality arise from the act of pilgrimage, from becoming pilgrims. But where are we going? We have discovered extraordinary territories; we have visited truly memorable places, and this is the tenth Abbey we are visiting. We do this because we owe a debt to a past that has reached us thanks mainly to the monks of the Abbotts, a past of reconstruction of what was once lost. Just as today, all of us are called to the reconstruction of our country and the countries that, together with ours, constitute what we call Europe… I do not believe we have reached a point of no return today… perhaps we have arrived at a point where we must ask ourselves what more we can do, what we can do together: together, I repeat this word because it has characterized the stages of our journey more than any other”.

To conlcude the morning, several audience members highlighted the pressing issue of pesticide and herbicide use in vineyard cultivation, pointing to the significant dangers and damage to health and the environment.

In the afternoon, at 5 p.m., a dialogue meeting titled “Interweavings of Matter and Spirit” took place in the Refettorio Hall, featuring Massimo Sebastiani, ANSA journalist and curator of the successful column “The Word of the Week”, alongside Marco Zabotti, Scientific Director and Vice President of the Beato Toniolo Institute. H. E. Monsignor Corrado Pizziolo, Bishop of Vittorio Veneto, was also present to convey his greetings.

Massimo Sebastiani explained, among other things, the origin of the word that characterized the tenth stop: “Etymology is certainly important and sometimes even fascinating, but the power and magic of a word actually lie in everything that occurs afterward, in a sense ‘when the game is over’, in its use and historical layering. In this case, the etymology is not particularly surprising, while in other cases, it can be more so. The origin of ‘interweavings’ in Italian is almost certainly Greek and means ‘hair’. The word ‘braid’, in fact, derives from the term intertwine. Some linguists relate it instead to the expression ‘three parts’: if we think about it, female braids are typically divided into three overlapping parts. The image of the braid, from a symbolic point of view, is primarily one of power and control. This is evident in Indian tradition, where Shiva, in his role as Bodhisattva and yoga master, has his hair braided and carried atop his head, symbolizing control through spiritual rigor, meditation, and self-reflection. All this is symbolized by the braid of hair, which is widespread in all cultures and always carries a specific meaning. In archaic societies, it served to distinguish: in Slavic culture, it indicates that a girl is free. This is very interesting, as the braid—and this is one of the fascinating aspects of delving into the meanings of words, of ‘digging’—sometimes reveals one meaning but also its opposite. Besides being a sign of control, which is the opposite of freedom, it also represents the other element highlighted by Slavic cultures. I mention this because we live in a culture that is profoundly and tendentially dualistic, reasoning with a binary logic like computers”.

“When we talk about ‘interweavings’ in the sense of freedom and power – Marco Zabotti intervened – it should not be forgotten that there exists in parallel the freedom of the spirit and the power of what the spirit dictates to us. I believe that upon entering this cloister, many of us feel an inner voice saying, ‘stop!’. We perceive the freedom and power of the spirit right here inside. You can come from anywhere, embark on any journey, but when you arrive here, you feel the power of the spirit telling you, ‘stop!’. This is especially true in this Abbey of Follina, in my view, as its history unfolds like the weaving of a tapestry. This Abbey is not iconically distant from the profound sense of community. In this power of spirit, there also exists a gaze that makes continuous and direct contact with people. Follina ‘feels’ this Abbey and this Basilica as its own. It frequents them, knows them, shares them, thus creating an ‘interweaving’ from this perspective. This structure has a value that reaches far back and has witnessed the intertwining of religious histories, particular events, and customs. All this depends on the fact that Follina is not just a monastic complex entrusted to the care of the Servants of Mary for over a hundred years, but it is a parish integrated into a diocese, meaning it is part of a path; hence, the intertwining of human events it embraces”.

The day concluded at 7 p.m. with the performance “Behind His Steps, the Joy!”, conceived and performed by Giovanni Crippa and directed by Paolo Bignamini.

This penetrating one-man show, full of charm and emotions, recreated the spiritual world of the monks by intertwining poetry and songs, words and music, voice and guitar. From the intense lyricism of Don Angelo Casati, a priest and theologian, to the comfort of faith and hope contained in the works of another religious poet, Father David Maria Turoldo of the Servants of Mary. The performance also featured the poetry of Franco Loi and excerpts from the writings of tireless traveler Paolo Rumiz, interspersed with musical echoes from Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Francesco Guccini, and Fabrizio De André.

Giovanni Crippa was able to bring to life, in the splendid Refettorio of the Abbey of Follina, an interweaving rich with enchantment and anticipation.

At the end of the performance, in her closing remarks, Livia Pomodoro thanked everyone and announced the next event on July 25 in San Benedetto Po and Mantova, the planned destinations for the eleventh stop of “In cammino”.

View full videos of each stage on the channel YouTube In Cammino

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Gallery stop Follina