Voting season is upon us—not for politicians, but for ‘places of the heart.’ Organized by FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano, the annual I Luoghi del Cuore campaign is currently underway. First launched a decade ago, I Luoghi del Cuore allows the public to pinpoint historic monuments, green spaces or buildings in desperate need of restoration and re-investment. Since its inception, more than 31 thousand luoghi del cuore have been brought to FAI’s attention, and 45 of those have seen revitalization efforts.
The initiative aims to reach all Italy residents, encouraging them to take an active role in preserving the country’s cultural heritage. Until November 30, anyone can vote for the top place they’d like to see revived here. FAI guarantees intervention efforts for the top three winners, but any site receiving more than 1,000 votes can apply to be considered for such projects.
This year, there will be a special voting section directly linked to the upcoming Expo 2015 in Milan, called Nutrire il Pianeta, or ‘Feeding the Planet.’ In line with Expo 2015’s larger theme, voters can cast ballots for their favorite places associated with food production, from olive tree groves and vineyards to dairy factories and farmsteads. FAI and Intesa Sanpaolo will sponsor a to-be-determined project for the place that receives the most votes. So far, a neglected tower on a farm in the Siena province is the only Tuscan site in the top ten frontrunners.
Voters can keep track of the top candidates for both the Expo 2015 section and the standard Luoghi del Cuore designations at http://iluoghidelcuore.it/classifica.
