The European Association Romea Strata (Associazione Europea Romea Strata, AERS) was founded with the aim of rediscovering and valorizing the faith, religiousness and culture of the Romea Strata, the ancient pilgrimage route which crossed the regions from the Baltic Sea to Rome,point of union between the East and the West. The Association intends to open up this route to the pilgrims and walkers of the third millennium, enhancing its roots and going beyond the borders that were created in the course of history.
AERS was founded in 2018 by the 30 founding members coming from Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Italy, tates that are all crossed by the route. The members work together to promote this great pilgrimage route and to create awareness of its historical context, the places of faith and spirituality located along the itinerary, the cultural and religious heritage that characterizes it, and the beauty of the natural landscape through which it winds its way.
The mission of AERS is to enhance the Romea Strata by promoting the knowledge of its archaeological, artistic, architectural, literary and gastronomic heritage, raising awareness on this ancient “way of faith”, and encouraging, through the journey, a culture of gratuitousness, giving and hospitality that can generate and create encounter and fruitful union between different people and cultures.
AERS was born as a prerequisite for the certification “Cultural Itinerary of the Council of Europe”. In 2019, for the 9th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes, organized by the Council of Europe in Sibiu (Romania), AERS nominated the Romea Strata for the nomination of “Cultural Itinerary of the Council of Europe”, certification that has been previously awarded to the Camino di Santiago, to the Via Francigena and to the St. Olav’s Way.
AERS is committed to follow the objectives and goals set by the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR), which are:
AERS works to rediscover the Romea Strata, an ancient pilgrimage route which heads to Rome, making its way through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Italy.
L’obiettivo del Comitato Scientifico di AERS è promuovere la conoscenza delle antiche vie di pellegrinaggio dal Baltico a Roma attraverso studi e ricerche di carattere interdisciplinare.
Oltre a validare l’Itinerario da un punto di vista storico, il desiderio dell’AERS è quello di far emergere la ricchezza di elementi che si sono “stratificati” nel corso della storia lungo queste antiche vie al fine di poter da un lato, partecipare alla diffusione delle conoscenze sul patrimonio culturale e, dall’altro, fornire numerose motivazioni a chiunque voglia avvicinarsi all’esperienza di cammino, come pellegrino, camminatore, turista.
AERS was founded in 2018 by the 30 founding members. New members and partners join the association with the desire of participating in the project.
Association Friend of the Hospitale Sant John
Association Cercivento: Una Bibbia a Cielo Aperto
Association Comunità Toscana il Pellegrino
National Association Città dei Presepi
Association of Touristic Promotion Emilia Romagna (APT Emilia Romagna)
Città d’Arte del Veneto Consortium
Municipality of Badia Polesine
Municipality of Pojana Maggiore
Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone
Federation of Municipalities of Camposampierese
Foundation Homo Viator – San Teobaldo
Foundation Verona Minor Hierusalem
Group of Local Action MontagnAppennino
Group of Local Action Polesine Delta del Po
Association for Social Promotion – Turismo Giovanile e Sociale Eurogroup
Association for Social Promotion – Turismo Giovanile e Sociale Nazionale
Way of St. James Association in Vienna
Way of St. James Association in Weinviertel
St. Martinus community in Eisenstadt
Erlebnisregion Hochsteiermark
Touristic Association Traisen-Gölsenta
Moravian-Silesian Christian Academy, branch of Bilovice nad Svitavou
Diocese of Brno – Office for Religious Tourism
Parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius
European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius (ECRCM)
Palacký University Olomouc, Saints Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Pedagogical University of Cracow