Many FAI Sites All Around Italy Open This Weekend

Working as a guide is even important underline that the FAI usually manage the visits without the use of licensed guides, but only "volunteers". This is a illicit behavior, because that people are conducting tour without the official and regular license. If a visit is free could be even accepted, but often aren't free visits: you should have to pay a ticket or simply leave a "free tip" (as often explained = to black market, no taxes paid, no insurance).
Often when legal touristic guides ask to lead groups another day of the year often the answer is that those places (mainly if managed directly by FAI) are closed to regular tours. This is at the edge of a bribery.

The Touring Club of Italy also "volunteers" at historical sites. We blundered unto several opportunities to see places with limited access the last time we were in Naples in 2019. I was not aware that the gentlemen were acting illegally. They seemed so happy that we wanted to go in the churches that they were hosting. They did not charge us and we did not tip them.

the gentlemen were acting illegally

They weren't, there is a Law that clearly sets how fundraising activities like these work.

The above message tells only one side of the story from a partisan point of view. To hint that FAI doesn't pay the insurance for its volunteers is unfair and wrong.

The idea that FAI should open its sites to let profit driven companies make money with them is as absurd as calling it "bribery". Also because no licensed guide would be willing to cover the full costs of opening one of those sites for groups 365 days a year. Guides always want to make money on others' losses, but FAI is not a Government with unlimited pockets. As a side note, FAI's main purpose is not fruition, but restoration and conservation, .

I have been a FAI member for 30 years and as a member I have never been asked to tip, pay or contribute In any way during the Fai Days.

Non members who want to participate are asked to join FAI on the spot and pay the annual fee. Otherwise they are free to make a donation that's not used to pay the volunteers under the table, but the fixed costs of the FAI Days not covered by sponsors and members like me. I have never seen any FAI member "in service" pushing for donations during the visits. Period.

I know that this forum is not a place to have debates, but I need to clarify a couple of things about FAI to avoid any unecessary insinuations: the Fondo Ambiente Italiano is a non profit foundation established in 1975 and recognized by the italian government through the DPR 941 (decree of italy's president of the repubblic), with the purpouse of sustaining, preserving and enhancing the national historical heritage, especially that portion of historical and natural sites that is not easily "reached" by government funds, and promoting cultural activities in order to raise awareness, among people, of the importance of preserving italian cultural heritage.
All the properties that belong to FAI (villas, castles, gardens etc.) have been spontaneously donated by the former owners or they are entrusted in concession by pubblic institutions, and the FAI takes care of these sites through restorations and maintenance.

During the FAI days, additional sites are opened to pubblic, many of them cannot be visited during normal days because they are private spaces (private houses, palaces, hotels, schools etc.) or military zones (like some parts of the Venice Arsenal), and some volunteers, young people generally, offer to guide visitors: these volunteers belong to the FAI and are not paid for that , they don't do that as a job and all the money collected during these days need to sustain the foundation and its work of preserving the heritage, so there is nothing illegal.

To continue the debate, is important says that I never used the word "illegal", because I know that is not illegal this kind of activity. Unfortunately the FAI acts under a "grey zone" that nobody has the interest to discover, like several other "association" working in touristic market.

Guides always want to make money on others' losses

I never say that. Why FAI doesn't open his sites for a regular guide with a cost? Doesn't mean keep it opened all days, only on request. They can say: "you want to visit the site with your group? Fine! This site to be opened costs 200€ for 2 hours" (the keepers, the lights, the heating if needed, insurance....). Why not? Is an effort of the guide make that the tourists pay the cost.
The guide gain money and the FAI too, having more founds for its activities.
I lead often groups fond to have exclusive visits like that and other guides too!
But I know: too complicated, too many problems. Is much easier to use unlicensed guides and keep places closed the rest of the year (unused, so they need further restoration ;-) )