Italian Heritage and Preserving Meaning Through Place

“Heritage is not a renewable resource; once lost, the knowledge, identity and inspiration it carries disappear as well.” Davide Usai, Director General, FAI.  

There are places that awaken a deep sense of knowing within us. An unexpected familiarity that prompts us to question whether we have walked a path before, or whether it is simply longing that guides. Often stirred by beauty, human reflection inspires our curiosity. 

According to Davide Usai, Director General of the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (FAI), a non-profit foundation dedicated to preserving Italy's historical, artistic and natural heritage, people are drawn to authenticity. “FAI properties are environments where one can reconnect with a sense of pure beauty, unfiltered by screens or mediation” he says. “At a time when much of our lives feels fast, digital and often disconnected from place, FAI's work brings us back to something solid and enduring."

With heritage placed firmly in its heart, it is little wonder that Rocco Forte Hotels chose to partner with FAI. Both share a deep commitment to Italian ancestry, inviting you to slow down and uncover the deeper meaning behind the places you visit.

Yet few places embody charm as completely as Italy. A land rich in artistry and architecture, it exudes a confident sense of self, one where custom becomes a living memory. Throughout history, it has drawn philosophers, artists and aesthetes, eager to weave their stories into its age-old landscapes. 

“Italy’s cultural heritage is not merely the backdrop to history: it is the result of centuries of creativity, craftsmanship and human stories. Preserving these sites means safeguarding the physical spaces that help us understand who we are,” Davide explains. 

Situated close to Verdura Resort, both character and memory lie beneath the citrus groves of Kolymbethra Garden in Agrigento. It’s impossible not to feel recognition for a time long gone here, as flora flourishes above the ancient network of the hypogeas and water channels that lie beneath. Carved by the Greeks in the 5th Century, it is only recently that the full sophistication of this system has been understood, as the grounds have waited centuries for the human eye to unravel their story. What is left behind is a lasting testament to the hopes and dreams of those who came before. 

Life has never moved faster, and yet there are moments like this that leave a trace, bringing us back to the enduring. FAI sites ask for our presence and centuries of careful cultivation makes us listen. Whether you explore the first-born memories landscapes carry, or those collated in a historic home, such as Villa del Balbianello, a short drive from newly opened The Carlton, familiarity awakens something ancient within us. 

It is the emotional resonance these moments hold that truly shape us, Davide says as he reflects on his experience at Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli. Within reach from Hotel de la Ville, its beautiful grounds hold the remains of the Villa of the Roman Manlius Vopiscus. It is here that Davide witnessed a fusion of historic elegance and modernity, as conservation techniques help preserve this ancient home. 

“Walking along the paths, I was able to see up close this immense undertaking, where history and technology meet to create a truly breathtaking experience – I felt part of a living, contemporary story.”

These buildings are not only a mirror of the past, but are a part of us, their fragility entrusted to modern-day stewardship. “Beauty is not a luxury but a shared responsibility”, and Davide asks that we leave such locations with a renewed awareness. Safeguarding heritage and protecting the memory of a life once lived, must be a collective commitment.  

Let history guide your journey. Our concierge teams at The Carlton, Verdura Resort and Hotel de la Ville can arrange visits to FAI's preserved sites, where beauty reveals itself in the quiet moments.