Hundreds of historic buildings and cultural landmarks across Italy will open to the public on the weekend of 21–22 March for the 2026 edition of the Giornate FAI di Primavera (FAI Spring Days).
Organised by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), the annual initiative allows visitors to explore around 780 notable sites in 400 towns and cities. Many of the locations are rarely accessible to the public and include palaces, castles, abbeys, libraries, parks, nature trails and historic gardens.
Now in its 34th year, FAI SPring Days has become one of Italy’s most popular cultural initiatives, drawing millions of visitors to heritage sites that are often closed or only partially open during the rest of the year.
Highlights of open places
Among the highlights in Rome is Villa Spada, a 17th-century residence on the summit of the Gianicolo hill. The villa served as the final headquarters of the forces of Giuseppe Garibaldi during the defence of the Roman Republic in 1849 and was badly damaged during fighting between French troops and Italian republicans. Since 1946, the building has belonged to the Irish state and today houses the Irish embassy to Italy.
Also open in the capital is Palazzo Corrodi, a monumental neo-classical complex in the Campo Marzio district. Originally conceived as a group of artists’ studios, it later became an important cultural centre and hosted figures including the poet Trilussa, while also playing a role in the early development of Italian radio broadcasting.
Milan
In Milan, the luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana will open the doors of its headquarters on Via Broggi, offering visitors a look at the creative processes, craftsmanship and inspiration behind its collections. The city will also feature Palazzo Turati, a Neo-Renaissance building that combines 19th-century Italian craftsmanship with elements inspired by earlier historical architecture.
Florence
Visitors to Florence will be able to explore Palazzo Buontalenti, a historic palace designed in the late 16th century by the Mannerist architect Bernardo Buontalenti. The building is regarded as an important example of late Renaissance civil architecture in the Tuscan capital.
Naples
In Naples, the initiative includes the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The stadium, home of SSC Napoli, opened in 1959 as the Stadio del Sole and was later renamed in honour of the legendary Argentine footballer Diego Armando Maradona.
Turin
The programme in Turin includes a rare visit to an underground air-raid shelter built in Piazza Risorgimento during the 1930s. Constructed with reinforced concrete and equipped with anti-gas and anti-bomb technology, the shelter was designed to protect civilians during wartime air raids.
Bari
In Bari, visitors will be able to tour the Teatro Margherita. Originally built in 1910 as a wooden structure and reconstructed in Art Nouveau style between 1912 and 1914, the theatre is now used as a major centre for contemporary art exhibitions.
Venice
Another highlight is Ca’ Giustinian in Venice, a grand 15th-century Gothic palace overlooking the Grand Canal. The building once served as the residence of the Giustiniani family and later hosted distinguished guests including Franz Joseph I of Austria and the composer Richard Wagner. This is reserved for FAI members, so you need to register if you’d like to visit.
Palermo
In Palermo, the Castello dei Ventimiglia in the town of Castelbuono will also open to the public. Built in 1316 on the remains of an earlier site, the castle dominates the surrounding area and now houses the Museo Civico, which includes a Palatine Chapel decorated with elaborate stuccos from the Serpotta school as well as a gallery of contemporary art.
FAI Spring Days – free entrance
FAI, often compared to the UK’s National Trust, works to protect and promote Italy’s cultural heritage through restoration projects, educational initiatives and public events. Since the spring open-day programme began in 1993, it has attracted more than 13 million visitors.
Visits during the Giornate FAI di Primavera are free, although participants are encouraged to make a minimum donation of €3 to support the organisation’s conservation work. Some sites require visitors to be members of FAI.
A full list of participating buildings and monuments, along with opening times and booking details, is available on the FAI website.
