FAI opens immersive multimedia space at Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli

The FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) has inaugurated a permanent multimedia space at Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli, centered on an immersive video installation narrated by actor Lino Guanciale. The 20-minute film tells the story of the site, which was granted to FAI by the Italian State Property Agency in 2002 and reopened in 2005 after extensive restoration. The narrative focuses on the Aniene River, highlighting the interplay of history and nature, and addresses environmental issues such as climate change and poor water management, which caused two landslides in 2021 and 2022. This is the third such installation by FAI, following those at Villa Necchi in Milan and Villa dei Vescovi in Torreglia. The space is located in a former school building redesigned by architect Gae Aulenti. Separately, FAI has joined nine other major Italian nonprofits—including ActionAid, Fondazione Airc, Aism/Fism, Emergency, Lega del Filo d'Oro, Medici Senza Frontiere, Save the Children, Fondazione Telethon, and Unicef—in appealing to the government to remove or adjust the cap on the 5×1000 tax donation scheme. In 2023, donations increased by about 730,000 signatures, totaling approximately €552 million, but the €525 million cap prevented the redistribution of about €28 million, penalizing organizations with the most support. FAI warns that missing funds will force it to slow down conservation projects.