To try and keep this situation under some control, in 1975 FAI was founded, a private nonprofit Foundation, which sets out to recuperate and keep Italy's artistic and natural heritage, received by donation, inheritance or commodate. Owing to an accurate restoring and preservation work, they regain their previous splendour and they go back to being visited, admired and enjoyed by the public.

The intervention areas of the Foundation are among the most diverse: antique monasteries, castles and dwellings; frescoes, statues, fountains, paintings, tapestries and mosaics; Italian gardens and woods inhabited by birds and animals; unspoiled natural areas.

The FAI lives owing to the help of 45.000 Subscribers, of a group of 200 "well deserving citizens", of the sponsors, and of all those that support it with donations or bequests. However a great effort is necessary both for the recovery, and for the conservation of the artistic and natural heritage which has already been restored.

To help the FAI one can contribute in many ways: subscribing to the Foundation; providing new Supporters and diffusing the knowledge of the Foundation's objectives; visiting properties which are regularly open; taking part in the events; buying published material, postcards and souvenir objects in the FAI shops; assigning donations and bequests to the FAI; participating as volunteers to the various activities; contributing to the gathering for new funds for the restoring.

To make people more sensitive to an aware protection of our environmental, historical and artistic patrimony, FAI becomes active with many cultural appointments: events in the properties, special events, travels, educational activities for the schools.

In the occasion of events in the properties, the FAI organises many initiatives: antique flower and fruit fairs, shows of rare and curious objects, parties, labs for children, shows, open-air films, and the "great shows" of the FAI, high profile cultural events of saper scientifico.

Special events represent appointments of very high artistic value as well as precious fund gathering occasions. An example would be the concert at the Teatro Comunale di Ferrara with Claudio Abbado and Martha Argerich, the appointment at Teatro della Scala with the Philharmonic Orchestra, and the extraordinary concert of the Solisti Veneti, offered by the President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in the occasion of the twenty-five years anniversary of the FAI.

Distributed over the whole national territory, Delegations organise guided visits, travels, concerts, conferences, seminars, conventions, but also pleasant entertainment under the banner of good food, organised in the main Italian cities.

To distribute knowledge of and love for the artistic and naturalistic patrimony, the Foundation proposes each year cultural travels in the whole world: from the Italian Capitals to Namibia, from England to Guatemala, the United States and the Far East. Led by expert guides along unusual trails, they are a wonderful opportunity to visit unknown places of great historical, artistic and /or environmental interest.

The effort to sensiblise towards the protection of the artistic and natural patrimony does not just concern adults: FAI activates many initiatives for schools and children. Visits to properties, School trails, Labs and Competitions are organised to teach young people too how to appreciate and know art and nature.

FAI's places:

Abbazia di San Fruttuoso, Camogli (Genova)
Baia di Ieranto, Massa Lubrense (Napoli)
Bottega di Barbiere, Genova
Cala Junco, Isola di Panarea
Casa Carbone, Lavagna (Genova)
Castel Grumello, Montagna (Sondrio)
Castello di Avio, Sabbionara d'Avio (Trento)
Castello della Manta, Manta (Cuneo)
Castello di Masino, Caravino (Torino)
Collezione dè Micheli (Milano)
Edicola Liberty (Mantova)
Giardino della Kolymbetra (Agrigento)
Maso Fratton, Spormaggiore (Trento)
Monastero di Torba, Gornate Olona (Varese)
Promontorio di Punta Pagana, Rapallo (Genova)
Teatro Catalani a Vetriano, Pescaglia (Lucca)
Torre di Velate, (Varese)
Villa del Balbianello, Lenno (Como)
Villa della Porta Bozzolo, Casalzuigno (Varese)
Villa Menafoglio Litta Panza di Biumo, (Varese)

For further info: www.fondoambiente.it