Italy, place the world loves
The sixth Census of not to be forgotten Italian places promoted by FAI-Fondo Ambiente Italiano in association with Intesa Sanpaolo has begun, for the first time open to people from all over the world, because beauty has no borders…
“Do you know the land where the lemons blossom?” wrote Goethe, enraptured by the beauty of the Italian landscape. This is just one of many acclaimed statements on how our country, with its age-old history and extraordinary wealth of art and nature, has enchanted every traveller for centuries, often becoming the “second home” to every citizen of the world.
And it is precisely to citizens of every nationality, Italian and foreign, that the sixth “Italian Places I Love” is addressing, the Census promoted by FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano - non-profit foundation established in 1975 that works to protect the Italian art and natural heritage. It asks you to indicate, by 31 October 2012, the Italian place you love, that unique place, visited, studied or even just dreamt about to which you feel drawn, that you would like to protect and safeguard forever.
The history of the Census shows that the most highly voted loved places in previous years are those around which a genuine civic movement arises, which involves the public in a shared dream, that of making a tangible contribution to safeguarding the best loved heritage.
So once again this year it will be important to get busy, to involve relatives, friends and acquaintances who share the same love of Italy, to collect as many votes as possible, voting for the Italian place you love best on the dedicated website I luoghi del cuore.
The more people who voluntarily mobilise for a place, the more FAI can take concrete action to follow up the indication, to protect and safeguard the places you love.
Italian, American, Indian? You, too, can take place in the 6th Census of Italian places I Love. Travel to your heart to find an Italian place you love. A garden, a home, a forest, an island, a bell tower, a church, a path. A place that you would like to see loved and protected. Tell us about it, and together we will do everything to protect it.
The census, under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will remain open until October 2012 and both Italian and foreign citizens are invited to participate.
Vote now for the Italian place you love!