FAI Spring Days 2026: the hypogeum 'Acqua Amara', the secret air raid shelter reopens

On Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2026, the 34th edition of the FAI Spring Days returns, the largest public event dedicated to Italy's cultural and landscape heritage: the most effective tool with which the FAI - Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano ETS has been carrying out its mission of educating the public about the knowledge and protection of that heritage since 1975, so that it may be preserved forever and for everyone. Accepting the FAI's invitation, from 1993 - the year of the pioneering first edition of the event - to 2025, nearly 13 and a half million Italians have been able to discover and rediscover over 17,000 special places in the cities and territories where they live.

The FAI Spring Days, just like the Autumn ones, are a valuable opportunity for Italians to learn about and appreciate the wonders of our country, but also an important initiative for raising awareness and fundraising by the Foundation, in support of its public utility mission of caring for and protecting cultural heritage, in the spirit of Article 9 of the Constitution and according to the principle of subsidiarity (art.118): what is collected from registrations and donations received during the event concretely supports its institutional activities and allows the FAI to carry out restoration interventions and enhancement projects, some of which are very costly, on the 75 Assets it cares for, manages, and conserves, of which 60 are regularly open to the public so that all citizens can enjoy them, forever.

In Agrigento, it will be possible to visit the air raid shelter hypogeum. Located within the courtyard of a medieval palace that belonged to the Montaperto family, in the historic center of Agrigento, it is also known as Palazzo De Marinis. The hypogeum called “Acqua Amara” was part of a series of aqueducts and underground tanks functional for extracting water from the subsoil. It starts from the area above the Cathedral and branches out towards the underlying Town Hall. During World War II, it housed an air raid shelter, with partial adaptation of the original cavity. Entrance by reservation, a place usually closed to the public.

“The FAI Spring Days represent an important moment of civic participation and enhancement of the cultural and landscape heritage of Sicily every year. Thanks to the commitment of FAI volunteers, students, institutions, and numerous local entities, it will be possible to discover places that are often little accessible or little known, but of great historical and identity value. This is a precious opportunity to strengthen the bond between the community and the territory. In this edition, we wanted to pay particular attention to accessibility, promoting initiatives and paths designed to facilitate participation even for people with specific needs, so that the beauty of our heritage can truly be shared by everyone,” said Sabrina Milone, President of FAI Sicily.