FAI Autumn Days 2026 will open 700 Italian cultural and craft sites across 350 cities

Nationwide cultural openings

The 15th edition of Giornate FAI d'Autunno will run across Italy on Saturday, 10 October and Sunday, 11 October 2026. Organized by regional delegations and local groups of the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI ETS), the initiative will open 700 sites in 350 cities. The program was presented in Rome at Palazzo Piacentini, the headquarters of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, which will itself open its doors to the public during the weekend. Visitors will access the selected locations through free-will donations intended to support FAI conservation work across the country.

Focus on artisan traditions and manufacturing

This year's program places special emphasis on craftsmanship, family businesses, and local productive culture. More than 75 openings will concentrate on manufacturing traditions, including leather goods, stone carving, Casentino wool weaving, San Leucio silk, embroidery, art glass, and umbrella making. Small enterprises, artisan workshops, and corporate museums represent over 10% of all open sites. Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso commended the inclusion of productive culture in the national heritage catalog during the presentation in Rome.

I believe this initiative by FAI is of extreme importance, especially at this time, because it values what is an asset of our country, namely its productive culture made of brands that have made their way in the world.

FAI President Marco Magnifico explained the role of productive heritage in representing Italy's ongoing cultural life.

Of the 700 monuments that will be opened, more than 10% are small businesses, artisan workshops, corporate museums. This testifies to how great Italian craftsmanship and small businesses are, just like Italian monuments, the great storehouse of culture of our country. Monuments tell of the past, craft enterprises and small businesses tell of the present and the future.

Notable sites across Italian regions

The catalog of open locations includes industrial facilities, scientific vessels, and civic properties across several regions. In Collegno near Turin, visitors will be able to tour the Pastiglie Leone confectionery factory. The research vessel Alliance, operated by the Italian Navy for NATO's Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation after completing Arctic climate research near the 82nd parallel north, will open for guided visits. Other listed sites include the tomb of Giuseppe Mazzini at the Staglieno cemetery in Genoa, the rock-cut wine cellars at Parco Urbano dei Palmenti in Pietragalla, and a villa in Gallura confiscated from organized crime. In Milan, public tours will cover Palazzo Dugnani and the Torre Gioia 22 skyscraper, while Rome will offer access to Palazzo Carpegna and the Attrezzeria Rancati scenic workshop.

Volunteer guides and organizational goals

A network of 9,000 student volunteers, known as Apprendisti Ciceroni, will guide visitors across the 350 participating municipalities. FAI management reported that the foundation has exceeded 330,000 registered members and is targeting 500,000 active supporters. The organization expects more than 500,000 visitors over the two days of activities. Insurance company Groupama Assicurazioni is partnering with the foundation for the fourth consecutive year to support the event.

We set ourselves the goal of half a million people who sign a pact with the Foundation, a pact of values, because our goal is to safeguard the historical, artistic, and cultural heritage of this country.