Historic sites in Rome and across Italy open this weekend.

More than 700 noted Italian buildings and historic sites will open their doors to the public free of charge on 12 and 13 October as part of the Giornate FAI d'autunno - the annual autumn open days initiative organised by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI).

The sites include palaces, villas, castles, churches, abbeys, parks, gardens, bell towers, theatres and libraries across Italy. Many of the sites participating are not normally accessible to the public.

Some of the Rome treats in store include guided tours of the Caserma dei Corazzieri del Quirinale; Avvocatura dello Stato and Biblioteca Angelica; S. Onofrio and Museo Tassiano on the Janiculum Hill; Tribunale Supremo Militare - Palazzo Cesi; Corte Suprema di Cassazione - Il Palazzaccio; and the Museo Storico dell’Arma dei Carabinieri.

For those who wish to take a day-trip outside the capital, there will also be tours of the park of Villa Gregoriana in Tivoli as well as dozens of breathtaking sites in the regions surrounding Rome.

Similar to Britain’s National Trust, FAI works to preserve and promote Italy’s cultural heritage through education, restoration and annual open day initiative which introduced in 1993.

For full details see FAI website.

Cover image: Cloister of S. Onofrio, Janiculum Hill, Rome. All photos FAI.