The Foundations of Modern Italian Pilgrimages, 1870–1950

Riccardo Semeraro (), Luciano Maffi () and Giovanni Gregorini ()
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Riccardo Semeraro: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Luciano Maffi: University of Parma
Giovanni Gregorini: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Chapter Chapter 3 in Religious Tourism and the Italian Economy, 1870—1950, 2025, pp 63-97 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract This chapter examines the foundations of modern Italian pilgrimages, focusing on their transformation during the late 19th and early twentieth centuries. It highlights the pivotal role of Catholic associations, such as the Società della Gioventù Cattolica Italiana (SGCI) and the Opera dei Congressi (OC), in shaping pilgrimages into structured, community-oriented events. Prominent figures such as Giovanni Acquaderni and Monsignor Radini Tedeschi were instrumental in integrating modern logistical support into traditional pilgrimage practices. These transformations were not only social and religious but also economic, as pilgrimages increasingly incorporated elements of modern tourism. The chapter delves into how the collaboration between Catholic associations and travel agencies led to the creation of a religious tourism market. Drawing extensively on archival records and published period sources, the chapter reveals how pilgrimages became organized events that also supported the development of a modern tourism industry.

Keywords: Italian pilgrimages; Religious tourism; Catholic associations; Travel agencies; Tourism market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palscp:978-3-031-94324-9_3

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-94324-9_3

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