by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: President of the Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano (FAI) for Friuli Venezia Giulia, Beatrice Duranti, Prefect of Trieste Giuseppe Petronzi
The Italian National Trust (FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano) will open 18 cultural and historical sites across eight municipalities in Friuli Venezia Giulia during the 34th edition of the “Giornate FAI di Primavera,” scheduled for March 21–22, 2026. The initiative is part of a nationwide event dedicated to raising awareness of cultural heritage and supporting public fundraising.
The program is organized by regional delegations and volunteer groups and involves local institutions, property owners, and trained student guides known as “Apprendisti Ciceroni.” According to the organization, since the first edition in 1993, nearly 13 million people have visited more than 17,000 sites opened through the initiative across Italy.
In Friuli Venezia Giulia, sites will be located in Trieste, Udine, Gorizia, Palmanova, Cividale del Friuli, Pordenone, Villa Santina, and Polcenigo, according to the regional FAI office. Several of the locations are typically closed to the public or only rarely accessible.
In Trieste, visitors will be able to enter the Palazzo del Governo, which houses the Prefecture, as well as Palazzo Vivante, an 18th-century building managed by Opera Figli del Popolo. A separate guided visit to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas will be reserved for FAI members.
Additional openings include Villa Codelli in Mossa, historic buildings in Udine such as Palazzo Antonini Stringher and Palazzo Antonini Mangilli del Torso, and the Prefecture of Udine, formerly a military hospital. Industrial and rural sites will also be accessible, including the Edison thermoelectric plant in Torviscosa and the Carnica Arte Tessile workshop in Villa Santina.
Participation generally requires a voluntary donation, with a suggested minimum contribution of €3 unless otherwise specified. Some visits require advance booking or are limited to members.
