FAI Spring Days – March 2025

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Fondo Italiano per l’Ambiente (FAI), Casaforte Bergum hosted a major event that welcomed around 1,500 visitors, despite unfavorable weather. FAI is Italy’s leading volunteer-based organization for the preservation and promotion of cultural and natural heritage. Each year, during the FAI Spring Days, it opens the doors to hundreds of unique and often inaccessible sites across the country, from north to south.

The event at Bergum featured a series of captivating moments, including:

An immersive journey into 15th-century food and wine, retracing the legacy of Maestro Martino, the most celebrated medieval chef and author of the first truly modern cookbook. The experience blended cuisine, history, and literature, with readings from the works of Maestro Martino and Platina, fascinating storytelling, and an exclusive tasting of medieval dishes paired with the historic Refosco wine from Faedis, an iconic symbol of the region.

Featured guests included Stefano Cosma (Director of Fuocolento), Elisa Morandini (Director of the Treasury and Cathedral Museum of Cividale), Wayne Young (oenology expert), the Voluntary Association of Refosco di Faedis Winemakers, and Chef Daniele Cinel.

Beneath the ancient mulberry tree, the Master Bell Ringers of Vuelis and Rualis (Udine and Gorizia), guardians of an age-old art recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, offered a unique performance. Inside the tower, visitors admired exquisite medieval miniatures, faithfully recreated by the talented artists of Studio Vellum in Cividale del Friuli.