FAI Spring Days
 

This weekend - March 21/22 - FAI (the Italian National Trust) is opening the doors to 780 properties for free. Many cannot be viewed by the general public other than on these special occasions. They have a website in English - http://eng.fondoambiente.it/ but the website for this initiative is, as far as I can see, only in Italian. The interactive map is simple to use and can be found here - http://www.giornatefai.it/home

Note that the properties around Naples are open the following weekend - March 28/29.

This initiative usually opens a lot of sites that one normally can't see at all, so it's worth taking a look at the list of sites for the province you're in. I noticed that on the Saturday, some sites are open only to FAI members, but you can sign up for membership on the spot.

Some sites will have volunteer guides on the spot, and I saw that several sites advertised tours in English.

In Rome, the main site I would most have liked to see is Palazzo Chigi, but it required a reservation and they're all taken already.

In Le Marche, the 11th century Church of Santa Maria in Portonovo will be open from 10:30 to 13:00. If anyone will be in the vicinity, that's certainly worth seeing. The beautiful little church is on a rock overlooking the bay of the Riviera del Conero, just south of Ancona.

Of course, for lovers of Lake Como a visit to Villa Del Balbianello is the star attraction.

Open both days from 10.00 to 18.00

For those of you in Italy this weekend

Last day

here is an article plus some splendid photos from CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/20/tr...el_hp_blogroll