Historic sites across Italy open for 2025 edition of Giornate FAI di Primavera.

More than 750 noted buildings and historic sites in Italy will open their doors to visitors on the weekend of 22-23 March for the Spring Days initiative organised by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI).

The sites include rarely-opened palaces, castles, abbeys, libraries, parks, nature trails and gardens in 400 towns and cities across Italy, in what is the 33rd edition of the popular annual event.

Some of the many highlights around Italy in this year's Giornate FAI di Primavera include:

In Rome, the majestic Palazzo Farnese, a High Renaissance jewel and seat of the French embassy in Italy; and the Collegio Romano, a Jesuit college from 1584 to 1870 and today home to Italy's culture ministry.

In Milan the Libeskind Tower, the skyscraper designed by Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind as part of the CityLife development, and the sumptuous 17th-century Palazzo Clerici (pictured); in Naples the Villa Rosebery, one of the three official residences of the president of Italy; and in Venice the Accademia di Belle Arti founded in 1750 by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

Similar to Britain’s National Trust, FAI works to preserve and promote Italy’s cultural heritage through education, restoration and annual open days. 

Since it began in 1993, the spring open day initiative has attracted more than 13 million visitors.

The tours and visits are free but participants are asked to make a minumum donation of €3 to support the work of FAI which has cared for Italian cultural heritage for 50 years.

The complete list of participating buildings and monuments, as well as visiting times, can be seen on the FAI website.

Cover image: Palazzo Clerici, Galleria del Tiepolo. Photo Roberto Morelli, courtesy FAI.