Pilgrimage Routes to Happiness

Abstract

The chapter investigates the topic of happiness and quality of life in the slow-tourism context, with specific reference to the pilgrimage tourism phenomenon. The Camino de Santiago and the Via Francigena are analysed through explorative research with the aim of understanding the effects of pilgrimage on individuals' levels of well-being and its implications for peoples' lives. The results reveal several differences in motivations and benefits obtained according to the pilgrimage road undertaken, with a more existential connotation tied to personal happiness in the Camino de Santiago pilgrim group and a more experiential connotation tied to wellness in the Via Francigena pilgrim group. These findings provide new insights into contemporary pilgrimages in a comparative perspective.