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Guardians of Beauty

June 11, 2025

Guardians of Beauty

Meet FAI, Italy’s very own National Trust

It’s easy to assume that Italy’s cultural and natural heritage takes care of itself. But behind the postcard-perfect facades and UNESCO-listed sites lies a much more complex reality –  one where centuries-old villas, crumbling abbeys, forgotten gardens and overlooked landscapes require constant care and attention, upkeep and love.

Enter FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano, Italy’s very own National Trust. Established in 1975 by a group of enlightened intellectuals and philanthropists (it was actually two women who spearheaded its birth: Elena Croce, daughter of the famed philosopher Benedetto Croce, and her friend Giulia Maria Mozzoni Crespi),  FAI was born out of a simple yet powerful conviction: that Italy’s immense patrimony should be protected not only by the state, but by its people. And that preserving these places of historical, artistic, and environmental value wasn’t just an act of nostalgia – it was a way to shape the cultural future of the country.

Coastal area on Ponza island – FAI Protected property

Fifty years on, that mission has blossomed into one of Italy’s most vital non-profit foundations, with over 1.5 million visitors a year, 70 sites open to the public, and an ever-growing network of volunteers, donors and “FAI days” that rally national enthusiasm. If the National Trust in the UK evokes country walks and cream teas in Tudor houses, FAI brings its own brand of dolce vita to cultural stewardship: think aristocratic villas turned public museums, remote monasteries restored to serene glory, and sweeping coastal trails reopened to hikers after decades of abandonment.

What Does FAI Do, Exactly?

FAI acquires, restores, and manages properties of historic, artistic or environmental significance throughout the country. These range from baroque gardens in Lombardy to medieval castles in Piedmont, 19th-century lighthouses in Sicily to Romanesque chapels in the Apennines. Once restored, these sites are not just mothballed monuments: they’re reactivated as living, breathing spaces, often with exhibitions, events, concerts, and educational programmes that bring them to life for locals and travelers alike.

One of FAI’s most beloved events is the Giornate FAI di Primavera (FAI Spring Days), held each March. For one weekend only, hundreds of normally closed sites across Italy – from private palazzos to secret gardens – open their doors to the public, often accompanied by passionate young volunteers telling the story of their hometown treasures. It’s like a cultural open house meets civic pride parade. Italians love it: over 11 million visitors have taken part since it began in 1993.

Villa e Collezione Panza (Varese) – FAI Protected property

Not Just Pretty Places

But FAI’s work goes deeper than aesthetics. Many of the properties under its care are in fragile environments or underserved areas, where preservation also means fostering community resilience, tourism and local identity. Take Cala Junco, a breathtaking cove on the Aeolian island of Panarea: FAI manages it not just as a beauty spot but as an ecosystem, working with environmental scientists to protect its unique marine biodiversity.

Or consider Villa Necchi Campiglio in the heart of Milan, a 1930s architectural gem by Piero Portaluppi once home to an elite industrialist family. Saved from decline by FAI and now open to the public, it tells a story not just of Milanese glamour, but of 20th-century Italy itself – wartime survival, postwar prosperity, and the slow transformation of private privilege into public good.

Why It Matters

For anyone who loves Italy and wants to go beyond gelato and guidebooks, supporting FAI is a meaningful way to engage with the country’s deeper story. As tourism returns and global challenges threaten delicate sites across the peninsula, the foundation’s work is more crucial than ever.

Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country in the world, but with tight state budgets and an endless list of maintenance needs, public institutions can’t do it all. FAI steps into that gap – and you can, too.

Annual membership is open to everyone, including international supporters, and offers access to the properties as well as the opportunity to attend private openings, lectures, and special events.

How to Get Involved

Simple: go to the FAI website and click on FAI LA TESSERA (a fun pun that translates into ‘get the card’) Follow the instructions, and you’ll become a member in less time than it takes to make an espresso.

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