Italy Will Open 1,100 Off-Limit Historical Sites This Weekend

Anyone up for a last-minute trip to Italy this weekend? More than 1,100 of the country's cultural monuments will open to the public from March 23 and 24, as part of the 2019 Giornate FAI di Primavera (FAI Spring Days). So if you happen to be there, go ahead and add secret gardens, ornate villas, and ancient caves to your itinerary.

Similar to organizations like UNESCO, Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) protects Italian cultural and artistic heritage through education and promotional events like the aforementioned open days, whicht attract some 10 million tourists and locals annually. (There is a similar event held every September called—what else?—FAI Autumn Days.) But what makes this weekend so gosh-darn exciting is the exclusivity of the places on display. Of all the spots on the festival's roster, only 30 are actually owned by FAI and open year-round—the other 1,000-plus sites are privately-owned properties that only allow visitors during this designated weekend.

The 26th annual FAI Spring Days will specifically shed light on Italy's diverse background and foreign influences, with sites ranging from private libraries filled with Greek manuscripts to castles adorned with Egyptian-style frescoes. To further emphasize the theme, about 100 foreign guides will join the 40,000 Italian volunteers to offer tours in English, Hindi, Arabic, and more. Entry to all of the sites is free of charge, though visitors are encouraged to donate a few dollars towards preservation efforts. There are a few places that require booking over the phone or are only open to FAI members (you can register here for $44), but most just allow everyone to show up and get in line. Volunteers will be at each location to give waiting time estimates.

You can check out the full list of cultural treasures on FAI's website, but here are some city-specific highlights:

Rome: The building that houses Italy's Constitutional Court; the National Institute of Roman Studies on Aventine Hill; and the ruin- and waterfall-studded Villa Gregoriana Park.

Milan: The fresco-filled east wing of the Medici Castle of Melegnano; "Gucci Hub," the storied fashion house's HQ which opened in 2016; and Palazzo Mezzanotte, headquarters of the Italian Stock Exchange (you'll know it by the giant statue of a hand giving the middle finger).

Florence: The former psychiatric hospital of San Salvi; the church of San Michele (which houses a "Last Supper" painting by Andrea del Sarto); and the Artemio Franchi football stadium, home of ACF Fiorentina.

Naples: The volcanic island of Nisida; Villa Doria d'Angri, a villa known for its permanent Naval Museum exhibition and sweeping views of the Gulf of Naples; and an ancient cave that holds the tomb of Virgil.

If you love free things but aren't able to make it to Italy this weekend, we suggest taking advantage of the country's free museum days throughout the rest of the year. The new initiative includes free entry during six Sundays between October and March, plus eight days that each museum's director decides on individually. Use Italy's dedicated website to search for your favorite museum, and it will show the free dates below. And let's face it: the best things in life aren't free. Check out round-ups of Italy's best new hotels, detour-worthy meals, and epic wine regions worth spending some time (and money) on all year long.

Check out all of Luximmo's offer in the beautiful Italy!

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