RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTONIC STRUCTURES ON THE FRANCIGENA PILGRIMAGE ROUTE - CONSERVATION PROBLEMS FROM ALTOPASCIO TO COLLE VAL D'ELSA

"Francigena" is one of the oldest pilgrims routes, dating back to the Middle Age leading from France to Rome. Many ancient architectonic structures of great importance from historical, cultural, etnoantropologic and religious point of view (churches, castles, etc.) can be found along the route often still inserted in a landscape that shortly differs from the old one. This paper is focused on the conservation problems observed on landscape and religious buildings sited in the Tuscan Italian segment, from Altopascio to Colle Val D'Elsa. This issue could give rise to an ample monitoring initiative in order to point out possible emergencies for safeguarding this cultural heritage and favour its protection and maintenance.