ROME - Over 650 thousand votes in just two and a half months (in the first week there were already 100 thousand) or more than double the previous edition. It is the record of the new Census of the Heart, promoted by the Italian Environment Fund with Intesa Sanpaolo, through which to vote until December 15th the most loved Italian goods, places, sites and allow them to be known, protected and valued.
Leading the provisional general classification is the Castle of Sammezzano in Reggello (FI), already winner in 2016, but still stalled due to its complicated ownership situation. Second, the bridge of the aqueduct in Gravina in Puglia (BA), with its arched structure 90 meters long.
Third, after having dominated for the entire first month, the city of Bergamo, symbol of the coronavirus epidemic and of social and civil cohesion. There is no shortage of curious places, such as the Pozzo di Gammazita, a medieval source that tells the close relationship between Catania and its waters; the Campo dei Fiori Funicular in Varese, built in 1911 in Art Nouveau style; and walk like the Brigand's Path in Santo Stefano in Aspromonte (RC). Up to the Campitello di Sepino Plateau (CB), the first Molise site in the history of I Places of the Heart to exceed 1,000 votes in July.
The two special rankings of this tenth edition include, among others, for Italy above 600 meters, the village of Aielli (AQ) with its open-air museum of street art, and Visso (MC), a medieval village torn apart by the 2016 earthquake; and for the historical places of health, the Spa of Porretta Terme (BO) and the pharmacy of the Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Jesi (AN). At stake, 50, 40 and 30 thousand euros to the first three classified; another 20 thousand to the winners of the special categories. As many as 250 spontaneous committees already active, but there is plenty of time to vote, in person in the FAI properties or on the website www.iluoghidelcuore.it.