Paths of dialogue

Cultural routes now high on European agenda

“At the three-day conference in Italy, funded by UNICRI [UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute], the Italian cultural authorities and the Council of Europe cultural routes program, we addressed whether a policy of cultural cooperation will aid integration in the Mediterranean region, especially through the participation of young people,” Kate, co-author of the trekking guide “St. Paul Trail,” highlights, explaining: “Cultural routes are one way to achieve that. The conference’s title, ‘Paths of dialogue,’ came from the idea that cultural routes are a way of encouraging young people from different backgrounds to work together. You also have to bear in mind that many of the routes are either based on or similar to pilgrimages and so also potentially offer spiritual guidance in a capitalist world!”

They also fulfill a multitude of other needs, from historical to economic to supporting human rights. “They’re also a basis of research and study of history and links between cultures, a link with our common history as a continent and between places important at different times in history,” she goes on. “For example, Byzantine art once flourished all over southern Europe, or there’s the common culture of the vine, which spread from early Hittite cultivation to the West. They can be a showcase for the best of European cultural heritage, linking museums, art galleries and built heritage. They’re also a way of boosting the tourism income of small villages, towns and other places along the routes in a sustainable way. Another dimension is that one of the main purposes of such initiatives is to break down barriers between different cultural and religious groups by highlighting both their differences and common humanity. This was addressed in a discussion between young Muslims living in Italy and Italian Catholics, who raised issues such as gender discrimination and racism.”

Different faiths on one route

The more concrete aspect to the conference was the official twinning of the Abraham Path with the Via Francigena. “It’s symbolic of an eventual intention to make a walking link between Rome and Jerusalem, linking the three major monotheistic religions in a pilgrimage route,” Kate emphasizes. “Both routes are pilgrimages with deep cultural roots in the lands through which they pass,” Kate highlights. “The Abraham’s Path project is working towards linking Urfa in Turkey, the birthplace of Abraham, with Jerusalem, a sacred city for three religions. The route will pass from Turkey through Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel and then as far as Egypt. The Via Francigena follows the medieval pilgrim route used by thousands of pilgrims on their way from Canterbury in England to Rome. At the beginning of the 11th century, it was travelled by people looking for their ‘Lost Heavenly Home’, passing through Switzerland, France and the UK. Both routes have yet to be completed as the Via Francigena currently only extends from Rome to the St. Bernard Pass in northern Italy, and only the Turkey, Jordan and Palestine stages of the Abraham Path have been completed.”

The two routes will be linked via the route St. Paul took while traveling and preaching in Anatolia, underlines Kate, who also gave a presentation on the St. Paul Trail at the conference. “St. Paul traveled extensively in Asia Minor, between Tarsus, via Antioch in Pisidia and Ephesus and Thessaloniki in northern Greece,” she explains, adding: “The first part of St. Paul’s route in Asia Minor, from Perge to Antioch in Pisidia, was opened as a walking route in 2004 and is now used by pilgrims and other walkers. From Thessaloniki, the route would continue along another cultural route, the Via Egnatia, to Durres in Albania and from there to Brindisi and Rome.”

Turkey needs to focus on cultural route cooperation

Even though there’s been a blossoming of cultural routes all over Europe -- with the five routes adopted this year, there are now 29 in total -- there are currently none in Turkey, Kate laments. “Europe, under the Lisbon Treaty, is intending to develop the joint cultural heritage of the continent and further exploit the benefits of the routes for sustainable tourism. Now Turkey has a chance to sign a memorandum which will allow it to participate in a new program, the Delphi Charter. If Turkey and 15 other countries sign the memorandum, they will have access to funds totaling 1 million euros per year. Much of this new funding would directly benefit Turkish cultural and sustainable tourism. So far about 10 European countries have indicated willingness to sign up. The Council of Europe’s Institute of Cultural Routes is very interested in Turkey becoming a signatory as they are focused on two important routes which pass through Turkey: the St Paul’s routes and the Via Egnatia [from Durres in Albania to İstanbul],” she says.

So could cultural routes in Turkey benefit from this, too? “Anyone who proposes a cultural route and is prepared to work to develop it could benefit,” Kate highlights. “The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry’s research section on cultural routes has done some work on a Phrygian Route. But Turkey could also link to existing routes such as the Route of the Vine, which celebrates viniculture; the Olive Route, which is Greek in origin, or the Phoenician Route, as some southern Turkish cities are of Phoenician origin. There are strict criteria for cultural routes -- not only for developing the route but also for researching the history, exhibiting the culture and creating dialogue.” In addition to the cultural routes funding program, many other funds for cultural initiatives are becoming available to Turkey under the EU-Turkey Intercultural Dialogue Culture and Arts program. “Bids for joint initiatives between museums, art galleries and educational establishments will be invited in July,” Kate highlights, adding, “Turkey’s NGOs could use [and need to become more aware of] these funds [and make the most of the opportunity] to twin with European organizations to create new opportunities for civil society to remember their cultural heritage.”

So was Kate pleased with the outcome of the conference? “There were many very senior European politicians at the conference and their attitude was very positive,” she points out. “They were anxious to get Turkey on board and share their expertise and experience. Any activities involving young people, women’s equality actions, extending religious dialogue and heritage preservation are most welcome.”