The project

The aim of “I Luoghi del Cuore” (“Places I Love”) – the national census promoted by FAI in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo ­– is to give voice to the suggestions on Italy’s beloved cultural heritage, and to grant it a future. To do so, the census asks citizens to identify those places they feel as particularly dear and important and which they wish may be remembered and preserved for future generations. The appeal endeavours to protect big and small, known or less known treasures that occupy a special place in the lives of those who cherish them.

The project aims at effectively involving the whole population – regardless of its age and nationality – and at fostering awareness of our artistic, monumental and natural heritage.

Through the census, FAI reaches out to local and national institutions alike, so that they recognise the citizens’ enthusiasm towards the beauties of the Country, provide the necessary support to protect them, and make it possible to recuperate one or more of the most voted locations.

Whereas the first edition of the project, which occurred in 2003, had been a great success with 24.200 referrals, the following edition exceeded all expectations and registered 92.468 referrals in 2004. In order to ensure an adequate assessment and make the most of the suggestions received, biennial censuses have been introduced, each with a different theme. The idea showed effective: the third census, held in 2006 and dedicated to the Places of Nature, registered an impressive 120.960 votes, whilst in 2008 we received 115.138 suggestions asking to clear Italians’ beloved locations from defacing elements. In 2010 – 150 years after Garibaldi’s unification of Italy – FAI asked the Italian people to vote for the places in Italy which they feel closer to their hearts. The answer was astonishing: 464.640 suggestions were received, thus determining an extraordinary result, which strengthens the census’ relevance.

In 2012, the census “Places I Love” is back, and this year the objective is to extend the initiative to an international audience by asking the whole World to participate and recommend the Italian Place of their Heart.