Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

DISCOVER ITALY

How to see Italy’s ‘hidden’ cultural sites for free this weekend

This Saturday and Sunday, Italy will grant free access to a range of sites usually closed to the public. Here's how to take advantage of the scheme - and what to prioritise seeing.

Published: 11 October 2022 16:52 CEST
Updated: 14 October 2022 09:01 CEST
Members of the public will have free access to a range of cultural sites in Italy this weekend.
Members of the public will have free access to a range of cultural sites in Italy this weekend. Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP.

More than 700 of Italy’s historic and cultural sites will open to visitors for free this weekend – October 15th and 16th – thanks to the Giornate FAI d’Autunno, or ‘FAI Autumn days’ programme organised by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano, a cultural heritage society similar to Britain’s National Trust.

Many of the participating sites, including villas, castles, churches, abbeys, parks, and theatres, are not usually open to the public or are otherwise difficult to visit.

READ ALSO: Sagra: The best Italian food festivals to visit in October

The guided visits will be led by FAI youth members; entry is free but donations are encouraged.

For some of the more popular sites, you’ll need to book in advance; for others you simply show up at the meeting point (though it’s worth arriving in good time to secure a place). Instructions for visiting each site are provided on the FAI website.

You can view participating sites by region or search FAI’s map to see which places are opening closest to you, but the range of options can still be overwhelming.

With that in mind, here are some of the top sites that FAI itself has singled out as being particularly worth visiting if you live in or near any of the Italian cities listed below:

Rome

The Corsie Sistine or ‘Sistene Wards’, sometimes referred to as the ‘Second Sistine Chapel’ for their sumptuous Renaissance frescoes, are part of Europe’s  oldest still-functioning hospital, which dates back to 727 AD. No booking is required, but only FAI members can visit on the Saturday (the complex is open to all members of the public on Sunday; if you want to visit on the Saturday, FAI is currently offering a discount for new members).

Milan

Places for Palazzo Dotti are now booked out online, but a limited number of spots are reserved for those who come on the day. This 18th century building, whose origins date back to the 1500s, currently houses Milan’s prefettura, or prefect’s office. Visitors to this well-preserved former aristocratic residence will be rewarded with the sight of early frescoes by the neoclassical painter Andrea Appiani.

READ ALSO: Seven reasons autumn is the best time to visit Italy

Florence

Villa Favard – both the one in the city centre and the one out in Rovezzano – are recommended as top sites to visit this weekend, with neither requiring advance booking. The two villas date back to the 19th and 13th centuries respectively, with the latter located in the large grounds of what is now a public park, though the villa itself is usually closed to visitors.

Venice

First built in the early 12th century as a convent and variously used over the centuries as a navy and artillery barracks, the Convent of San Francesco della Vigna has served as the headquarters of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies since 1989. Its grounds contain the oldest vineyard in Venice, and the site overlooks Venice’s northern lagoon. No need to book in advance; entry is first come, first served.

TRAVEL: Eight of the best destinations for an autumn break in Italy

Turin

A more modern recommendation than those listed above, FAI’s top pick for Turin is the economics and law library at Turin University’s Luigi Einaudi Campus, inaugurated in 2012. Designed by British modernist architect Norman Foster, it has been recognised as one of the 10 most spectacular modern university buildings in the world. The library is open to the public on both Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th, with no advance booking required.

Palermo

Overlooking Palermo’s lively Ballarò market sits the colourful dome of the Church of Carmine Maggiore, a 17th century baroque structure with a 13th century Carmelite chapel. Visitors will be able to climb the bell tower for free, with no advance booking required – FAI’s summary does note that the tour involves a climb of 100 steps up a spiral stairwell, so this isn’t suitable for those suffering from vertigo or heart disease.

Naples 

At 33,000sqm, the ‘monastic citadel’ of Suor Orsola Benincasa is one of the largest architectural complexes in Naples, but is still situated within the confines of the city’s historic centre, at the foot of Castel Sant’Elmo. Housing seven buildings, the site is also contains the Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Italy’s oldest free university that, like the complex itself, is named after the 16th century Neapolitan mystic. No booking required.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

DISCOVER ITALY

25 alternative places to see in Veneto other than Venice

As the most popular tourist destination in Italy, Veneto has a lot to offer. But there's a lot more to this region than just Venice, Verona, and Lake Garda.

Published: 14 June 2024 11:24 CEST
25 alternative places to see in Veneto other than Venice

Tucked in the North-East corner of Italy, lies Veneto, an Italian region spanning from the Dolomites in the North to the Adriatic in the East. This history-saturated region is perhaps best known for otherworldly Venice and romantic Verona which is just under an hour’s reach of Lake Garda.

Veneto consistently tops the list of Italy’s most-visited regions. In a recently published report by statistics agency Istat and Italy’s tourism ministry, Veneto had 71.9 registered overnight visitors last year, which was around 16 million more than runner-up Trentino-Alto Adige.

READ ALSO: 16 alternative places to visit in Lazio other than Rome

But what lies beyond the famous sights of Venice, Verona, and Lake Garda? We’ve divided the region into its seven provinces and looked at where’s best to go in each of them.

Metropolitan City of Venice

The surrounding areas of La Serenissima should not be missed, especially if you are planning on spending a long summer in the region; there are a few beaches here that should not be missed such as Caorle and Jesolo.

Caorle is a colourful, compact beachside town, and Jesolo offers something for all ages on its long stretch of sand, whether that be beach clubs such as Capannina or water park Caribe Bay.

MAP: Which regions in Italy have the most Blue Flag beaches in 2024? 

While they may not be as stunning as the crystal clear waters of Sardinia, they are both blue-flag beaches boasting excellent services.

For those seeking a quieter, less-crowded Venice, try its carbon copy, Chioggia. This small fishing town isn’t as grand as Venice, but it still has canals and bridges with a backdrop of the sea. The food is a bit more authentic and definitely cheaper. 

Province of Treviso 

Treviso city itself deserves a special mention here. The town is (debatably) the homeplace of tiramisu and the world championships are held there every year. The famous layered dessert was said to first be invented in the kitchen of Le Beccherie, a restaurant near the central piazza. 

Other places in the province include Asolo and Valdobbiadene. Asolo is a small hilltop town with wonderful views of greenery below it. It’s often cited as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Valdobbiadene on the other hand is prosecco vineyard after prosecco vineyard. Tours and tastings are easily arranged. A favourite haunt to frequent is Osteria Senz’oste, a self-serve charcuterie and prosecco place with seats overlooking i vigneti.

Possagno is also a place you shouldn’t miss if you enjoy works by sculptor Antonio Canova; the town was his birthplace after all.

Valdobbiadene is the prosecco zone in Italy. Photo: Jessica Lionnel/The Local

Province of Belluno

Like Treviso, the city of Belluno is well worth a visit, especially for those who like cities surrounded by nature. But it’s the nature itself in this province that gets people talking.

Take Lake Sorapis for example, with its icy turquoise waters, or the Cinque Torri, a rock formation in the Dolomites that has good walking routes and marvellous views.

The famous winter sports resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo is another town in this area to check out,especially for skiers. 

If you like looking at mountains but not walking up them, try going to the forest and plains of Cansiglio – but be careful as wolves were spotted there not so long ago.

Province of Vicenza

The namesake of this province, Vicenza, has wonderful architecture designed by Andrea Palladio throughout. Landmarks to check out include the Olympic Theatre, the Basilica of St. Mary of Mount Berico and the Palladian Basilica.

Venture further out, and Bassano del Grappa, Asiago and Marostica are all places you shouldn’t miss.

As the name suggests, Bassano del Grappa is famous for the spirit grappa. There are distilleries in the town but perhaps the most beautiful feature is the alpine bridge designed by the aforementioned Palladio. 

Asiago is a town famous for its cheese, and not only. The town is lively, especially during the Christmas period, and is also known for its large war memorial.

Lastly, Marostica is perfect for chess lovers. Every September a game of chess is played in the principal square with human pieces. The tradition is supposed to have started in 1454 and it’s a very unique event to go to in Italy.

Province of Verona

Though Verona city and Lake Garda take up a huge chunk of what to see in this province, there are other small gems too. Borghetto Sul Mincio is a wonderfully quaint waterside village perfect for those seeking something a bit more rustic. 

Madonna della Corona sanctuary is also not to be missed. It lies in the heart of the Baldo rocks and is perhaps one of the most picturesque churches in Italy. 

If red wine is your passion, go to the Valpolicella zone to try out the different wines in the plentiful cellars. 

And finally Soave has an impressive mediaeval castle you can walk around.

Mountains near the Cinque Torri. Photo: Jessica Lionnel/ The Local

Province of Padua

Padua, a city known for its university, has many treasures such as Prato della Valle, St Anthony’s church, and most importantly, the Scrovegni Chapel. It often gets overlooked on the common journey between Verona and Venice.

In terms of towns in the province, Este and Cittadella are worth visiting for their churches and city walls respectively. 

The Euganean hills also have plenty to do in them, such as walks in nature. Popular spots are Arquà Petrarca, a town named after the famous poet and Abano Terme, a town locally popular for its range of hot springs. 

Province of Rovigo

Rovigo is just on the cusp of Veneto and is very close to Emilia-Romagna. The city isn’t as grand as some in the other provinces, but it does have a few nice areas to check out around it, such as the Po Delta National Park, which is great for birdwatching. 

Do you have a favourite place in Veneto that’s not listed here? Let us know in the comments below.

SHOW COMMENTS