Journalists from Italy along Romea Strata / Camino Latvia itinerary
From April 2 – 5, Italian national TV RAI 2 journalist Andrea Romuli and newspaper Avvenire correspondent Klementina Koren visited Latvia and walked two stages of the Way of Saint James/ Romea Strata pilgrimage route: Sigulda –(Turaida Museum Reserve) – Krimulda and Vecāķi – Riga. The aim of their tour from Estonia to Italy was to cover in mass media their experience, impressions and encounters with people in each of the seven countries traversed by the international pilgrimage route Romea Strata, which is a partner of the Way of Saint James in a number of countries, including the Baltic states . From culture heritage to landscape beauty, from daily life realities to people’s concerns in this time of instability – this broad was the range of issues Italian journalists were interested in.
This is the first time that Italian national TV RAI 2 will be offering to Italian audience a glimpse into the distant Baltic countries, from Italian perspective far away in the North-East of Europe, and do it from a pilgrim’s perspective. For the local representatives of Romea Strata and Camino Latvia who accompanied the Italian journalists, it was once again an opportunity to testify to the fact that already for centuries Latvia, though keeping its
originality and national identity, has been taking part in shaping our common European culture space.
Sigulda walking sticks workshop, the majestic Turaida castle and the story of the Livonian chief Kaupo, the surprise about Gūtmaņala being the largest cave in the Baltic countries, the ancient Krimulda church and labyrinth, the attraction of the Baltic Sea whose magic would not let move on much longer than planned, the tasty freshly smoked salmon from ‘Kaija’ shop, tears of emotion while listening to the Latvian choir music in the ‘Song Space’
exhibition, the sinister warning of Occupation Museum and the sunny warmth of amber – all this and much more will stay in the minds and hearts of Italian journalists, remembering Latvia.
