FAI Spring Days return on 21–22 March, opening rarely accessible sites across Tuscany

The FAI Spring Days will return on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2026, offering visitors the opportunity to explore historic sites across Italy that are normally closed or difficult to access.

Now in its 34th edition, the event is organised each year by the FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano, a non-profit foundation often compared to the National Trust in the United Kingdom. The initiative takes place during the first weekend of spring and aims to promote awareness, conservation and public appreciation of Italy’s cultural and natural heritage.

During the two days, hundreds of sites across the country will open to visitors, usually with a voluntary contribution. Thousands of volunteers from FAI delegations and local groups coordinate guided visits and activities.

The programme includes a wide range of locations, such as historic villas, castles, churches, theatres, educational institutions, artisan workshops, industrial sites and natural areas.

This year’s edition will also include a selection of openings linked to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, highlighting places connected with the saint’s spiritual and cultural legacy.

Sites open in Florence and its province

In the province of Florence, several historic buildings and neighbourhoods will be accessible during the event.

In Florence, visitors will be able to explore the Caserma Simoni, located in the former monastic complex of San Jacopo di Ripoli, as well as the Borgo di San Pietro a Varlungo, a historic settlement on the eastern edge of the city. Two historic palaces in the city centre — Palazzo Buontalenti (European University Institute) and Palazzo Cerretani — will also open their doors.

Outside the city, in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, about 15 kilometres south of Florence in the Chianti area, visitors will have access to Villa del Cigliano, a historic country residence known for its architecture and landscaped gardens.

Other openings across Tuscany

Across Tuscany, dozens of additional sites will be included in the programme.

In San Gimignano, in the province of Siena about 50 kilometres south-west of Florence, visitors can access Torre e Casa Campatelli, a historic tower house representing the town’s medieval architecture. Nearby, in Monteroni d’Arbia, the Grancia di Cuna — a fortified agricultural complex dating back to the Middle Ages — will also be open.

Other notable openings include the Accademia Navale in Livorno, Italy’s naval academy, the Forte Falcone in Portoferraio on the island of Elba, and the Teatrino di Vetriano in the hills above Lucca, often described as one of the smallest historic theatres in the world.

In Prato, visitors will be able to enter the Teatro Politeama Pratese and the local Chamber of Commerce, while in Arezzo the site of Colle Pionta, an important historical and archaeological area of the city, will be accessible.

Practical information

Most locations participating in the FAI Spring Days can be visited free of charge, although a voluntary contribution is usually encouraged to support the foundation’s work in preserving cultural heritage.

Detailed programmes, opening hours and booking requirements for specific sites are published on the official FAI website.

Because many of the sites are normally closed to the public, the event has become one of the largest cultural initiatives in Italy, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

(Cover photo Palazzo Cerretani via FAI)

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