Welcoming Rotarians from Italy and France:
Building the Cammino di San Michele and a Shared Path to Peace
This weekend, 1 to 3 May, we are delighted to welcome visiting Rotarians from Italy and France as part of a growing international partnership inspired by the ancient Linea Sacra di San Michele - a symbolic line linking places dedicated to St Michael across Europe. Their visit marks the next step in a friendship that began last autumn and is now developing into a wider Rotary initiative promoting cooperation, cultural exchange, and peace.
How the connection began
A highlight of the past Rotary year was the visit of Giovanni and Laura from the Rotary Club of Susa and Val Susa, located in the Italian Alps near Torino. Giovanni Periale, President of his Club, first contacted us with a clear and heartfelt ambition: to bring together Rotary Clubs situated along the St Michael line in an act of friendship and shared purpose.
This imaginary line stretches from the south‑western tip of Ireland, through St Michael’s Mount, Mont Saint‑Michel in France, and the Sacra di San Michele in Italy, before continuing toward the Holy Land. For centuries it has been associated with pilgrimage, guardianship, and spiritual connection. Giovanni’s vision is to transform this symbolic alignment into a living Rotary project - one that unites Clubs across borders in service and peacebuilding.
The Cammino di San Michele
During his visit on 24 October 2025, Giovanni shared his inspiring vision for the Cammino di San Michele (St Michael’s Walk). The project links key sites dedicated to the Archangel Michael, including:
-
Skellig Michael in Ireland
-
Mont Saint‑Michel and Avranches in France
-
Sacra di San Michele in Val di Susa
-
St Angel Mount in Manfredonia
-
Saint Michael Monastery in Symi, Greece
-
Stella Maris in Palestine
Giovanni described the Cammino as a symbolic route of light, courage, and friendship - one that Rotary Clubs can follow together to promote understanding and peace. As he said, “Every border can become a bridge of friendship.”
Purpose of this weekend’s visit
The visit from our Italian and French colleagues this weekend continues the work that began with Giovanni and Laura’s first trip. Their purpose is to:
-
Strengthen the growing friendship between Clubs along the St Michael line
-
Develop the Cammino di San Michele project, exploring opportunities for joint service and cultural exchange
This weekend offers our visitors the chance to experience St Michael’s Mount - one of the key sites on the line - and to deepen the personal and Club‑to‑Club relationships that will underpin future collaboration.
A shared commitment to peace
Giovanni reminded us in his speech that Rotary’s theme, Unite to Do Good, calls us to look beyond geography and to build peace through friendship, trust, and cooperation. Peace, he said, “is born from small gestures, trust, and shared friendship.”
The Cammino di San Michele embodies this spirit. It is not yet a formal agreement, but a journey - symbolic today, and increasingly practical tomorrow. When Clubs meet, share stories, and recognise their common values, peace becomes something lived rather than imagined.
A warm welcome to our continental friends
As we welcome our visitors from Italy and France this weekend, we do so with gratitude for their enthusiasm, their commitment to peace, and their belief in the power of Rotary friendship. Their presence reminds us that every step taken together - whether across a table or across borders - helps illuminate a shared path toward a more peaceful world.
What's happening at the weekend
International Visit Itinerary
Contact Alan Wilson about this page:
Related pages...
Welcoming Val di Susa Rotary Club
more A journey of friendship and peace that marked not just a meeting of clubs, but the beginning of a shared journey - one rooted in Rotary values, international friendship, and a commitment to peace
Shelterbox
more Delivering hope in time of crisis
Rotary Foundation
more Foundation taps into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace.
