Via Vandelli, an ancient commercial and military route that can still be traveled on foot today; the Salina Camillone in Cervia, hit by floods last May; the cathedral complex of San Giusto in Susa, in the Turin area. These are some of the 23 “Places of the Heart” of Fai, elected by citizens in 2022, which have now received funding (from a minimum of 2,000 to a maximum of 24,000 euros) from Fai and Intesa Sanpaolo to enhance or restore their heritage.
Antica Salina Camillone di Cervia, Ravenna (@Paolo Panzera/Fai)
While the three winners of each Italian Environmental Fund census and the winner of the special classification have always been automatically entitled to financial support upon presentation of a project, institutions can also access it thanks to the call for proposals launched in April. Owners and stakeholders of the places that exceeded the 2,500 vote threshold in the 2022 census. This means that 23 of 55 applications were accepted. They concern churches, natural places, works of art and traditions of places of identity from north to south.
Villa Mirabellino in the park of the Royal Palace of Monza (@Morelli Peverelli/Fai)
The largest loan – 24,000 euros – goes to the Villa Mirabellino in the park of the Royal Palace in Monza for the reconstruction of the 19th century Belvedere. Among other things, the intervention in the ancient Achille Mazzola bell foundry dating back to 1403 in Valduggia (Vercelli), where the project, supported with 22,000 euros, will allow the creation of a nine-bell carillon for educational purposes to pass on the tradition to children.
Antique bell foundry Achille Mazzola 1403, Valduggia, Vercelli (@Giorgio Blanco/Fai)
Then there are places that are symbols of climate change, such as the Salina Camillone in Cervia (Ravenna), and others where the project has a more cultural or tourist impact, such as the enhancement of the Monastery of Santa Chiara in Oristano, the restoration of the Frescoes in the apse of the Cathedral of San Giusto in Susa and that of the Church of Santa Maria Jacobi in Nola (Naples), the work on the feasibility of the Via Vandelli between Modena and Massa or the improvement of the tourist usability of the Borgo di Roccatagliata in Neirone (Genoa) and the central Italian railway from Sulmona to Terni.
Church of Santa Maria Jacobi, Nola, Naples (@Giovanni Formosa/Fai)
There is another project that concerns a railway, but this time the winner of the 10th census of 2020 (with 75,586 votes): it is the Ferrovia delle Meraviglie, awarded 55,000 euros and the stations between Cuneo and Ventimiglia will include. The Holden School of Turin is also involved in the project, using videos and graphic novels to explore the history of the infrastructure, the people who use it and the landscape through which it runs.
Via Vandelli, Vagli, Lucca (@Fai)
The list of the 23 “Places of the Heart” 2022 that will be supported:
* Via Vandelli, Modena and Lucca (4th place)
* House of the Mutilated, Alessandria (5th place)
* Basilica dei Fieschi, Cogorno (Ge) (6th place)
* Villa Mirabellino in the park of the Royal Palace of Monza, Monza (Mb) (10th place)
* Antique bell foundry Achille Mazzola 1403, Valduggia (Vc) (11th place)
* Sanctuary and rock church of San Vittore Martire, Brembate (Bb) (14th place)
* Sanctuary of the Holy Crucifix, Siculiana (Aa) (16th place)
* Church of Santa Luciella, Naples (19th place)
* Historical complex of San Michele, Torre de’ Busi (Bg) (22nd place)
* Immaculate Madonna of the Treasure of San Matteo in Salerno Cathedral, Salerno (23rd place)
* The Antica salina Camillone di Cervia (Ra) (24th place with 9,333 votes)
* Central Italian Railway, Rieti-Aquila-Terni (27th place)
* Monastery of Santa Chiara, Oristano (30th place)
* Church of Santa Maria Jacobi, Nola (Na) (33rd place)
* Villa Pallavicini in Rivarolo, Genoa (37th place)
* Oratorio of Beata Vergine Assunta, Calvenzano (Bg) (41st place)
* San Giusto Cathedral Complex, Susa (To) (62nd place)
* Priory of Sant’Andrea, Piazza Armerina (En) (64th place)
* Church of San Bartolomeo loc. Pegaia, Peio (Tn) (65th place)
* Curadureddu Woods, Tempio Pausania (Ss) (66th place)
* Fountain of Palazzo Tozzoni, Imola (Bo) (82nd place)
* Roccatagliata – Valfontanabuona, Neirone (Ge) (87th place)
* Wooden choir of the parish church, Guarda Veneta (Ro) (99th place)
