The bond between Donnafugata and FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano, the Italian National Trust) is rooted in a shared set of values: protecting the landscape, respecting nature and preserving Mediterranean agricultural culture. Over the years, this relationship has taken shape through tangible projects that view sustainability not only as an agricultural commitment, but also as a cultural one.
The most authentic expression of this bond is the Donnafugata Giardino Pantesco (Pantellerian Garden), restored by the company and donated to FAI in 2008. Surrounded by the vineyards of Pantelleria, the garden bears witness to the ingenuity of a farming culture that learned to live in harmony with a challenging environment shaped by wind, sun and water scarcity.
Protected by a circular enclosure of volcanic rock, the garden shelters an ancient “Portogallo” orange tree and creates a natural microclimate that allows it to survive without irrigation. It is an extraordinary example of Mediterranean agricultural architecture, where landscape, sustainability and human knowledge coexist in perfect balance.
Over the years, this collaboration has also developed through art and cultural initiatives. From exhibitions dedicated to Stefano Vitale’s illustrations to projects promoting the heritage of Pantelleria, Donnafugata and FAI continue to share the same vision of beauty: a living beauty to be protected and passed on to future generations.
