FAI Spring Days in Bolzano Novarese

FAI Spring Days in Bolzano Novarese

The FAI Spring Days are the most important grassroots event dedicated to Italy's cultural and landscape heritage. For an entire weekend, hundreds of sites usually closed or little-known are opened to the public across Italy, accompanied by tours led by volunteers from the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano. In Bolzano Novarese, a small town in the Province of Novara overlooking the Lake Orta area in Piedmont, the initiative is curated by the FAI Lake Orta Group, which turns the entire village into a widespread path of discovery.

A village that tells its story

During the FAI Days, Bolzano Novarese becomes a true open-air museum: churches, oratories, villas, and community spaces open their doors to recount centuries of local history. Visitors are welcomed by the FAI Group Ciceroni — often young people and students trained for the occasion — who guide them in discovering the artistic, architectural, and human aspects of each site.

Open sites

• Parish Church of San Giovanni Battista (Via San Giovanni, 13A) — the religious heart of the village.
• Villa Borsini Marietti (Via Torre, 36) — a historic residence where the outer park can be admired.
• Children's Library (Piazza Cesare Battisti) — featuring an exhibition dedicated to World Water Day.
• Don Maffè Oratory (Via San Giovanni, 12) — host to a photography exhibition.
• L'Agrifoglio Farm (Regione Monticello) — a visit reserved for FAI members, immersed in the hilly agricultural landscape.

Why it is worth participating

Participating in the FAI Days means much more than a simple visit: it is a concrete way to support the protection of Italian heritage, as the entire proceeds from the contributions are donated to the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano. It is also an opportunity to get to know a community that, through volunteering and passion for its territory, keeps the memory of Bolzano Novarese and the entire Lake Orta district alive.