FAI launches the 13th edition of “I Luoghi del Cuore”. Voting from May 12 to December 15, 2026

The FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano, together with Intesa Sanpaolo, has started the census phase of the thirteenth edition of “I Luoghi del Cuore”, the national programme that invites citizens to nominate and vote for cultural and natural sites to be restored and promoted. The call concerns villages, churches, historic houses, trails and natural areas at risk of abandonment or degradation.

Participation is free and can be done via the official census website or by using printable forms available for each site. The collected votes will help determine public visibility and eligibility for funding through the programme.

Key points

• Voting period: May 12 to December 15, 2026.
• Funding: thanks to the partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo, the programme will make €600,000 available in 2026 for restoration and enhancement projects.
• Prizes: grants for the three most voted sites (€70,000, €60,000 and €50,000) and a subsequent calls process for sites that reach at least 3,000 votes, with grants up to €50,000 per project.
• Impact: since 2003 more than 13.5 million votes and over 41,000 nominated places, with strong engagement from local communities and schools.

How to take part

• Go to the “I Luoghi del Cuore” census page on the official website or download the printable form from a site’s entry.
• Nominate a place you care about and encourage the community to vote.
• If a site reaches the minimum threshold (3,000 votes), it will be eligible to apply for project funding through the call.

The census remains a participatory tool that brings together communities, institutions and sponsors to support the protection of Italy’s widespread heritage, with particular attention to ecclesiastical buildings and places in more fragile territories.