18th Annual Spring FAI Weekend

There’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with a visit to Italy’s most beautiful artworks. All over Italy, the 18th edition of Giornata FAI di Primavera on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28, allows you to do just that.

Every year, FAI—Fondo Ambiente Italiano (Italian National Trust)—opens the doors to some of Italy’s most exciting and surprising historic heritage sites. Nearly 600 “hidden” gems are opened up to the public for one weekend only. Palazzos, castles, churches, gardens, convents, libraries, archeological sites, theatres and even bike trails allow visitors a unique glimpse at Italy’s incredible beauty and history.

In Florence, visitors can see the Palazzo della Banca d’Italia—a building that has never been open to the public. Built between 1865 and 1869 when Florence was the capital of Italy, the grounds include what used to be the Pazzi Gardens.

Don’t miss this chance to visit the Teatrino di Vetriano in Lucca, where a special film of the opera, Tosca, will be shown. The production was put on in collaboration with the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala.
Following is a list of open sites in Tuscany:

AREZZO
Sansepolcro
Palazzo Cappucci
Via Piero della Francesca
Palazzo Gherardi – Sala affrescata da Cherubino Alberti
Via Gherardi
Palazzo Alberti
Via XX Settembre
Fortezza Malatestiano – Medicea (outside only)
Aboca Museum
Sites open on Saturday from 14.30 – 18.00
Sunday, from 10.00 – 13.00 / 15.00 – 18.00
Entrance reserved for FAI members (you may register on site)

FLORENCE
Palazzo della Banca d’Italia (già Banca Nazionale nel Regno d’Italia)
Via dell’Oriuolo, 37
Saturday and Sunday 10.00 – 17.00
Guided visits by Ciceroni® interns: Liceo Scientifico “G. Castelnuovo”, classes IIIª A, IVª A and IVª B
Villa Il Gioiello (Galileo Galilei’s place of exile)
Via del Pian dei Giullari, 42
Ciceroni® interns: Liceo Scientifico “G. Castelnuovo”, classe IIIª B; Liceo Classico “N. Machiavelli”, classe IIIª B
Biblioteca degli Uffizi
Loggiato degli Uffizi
Ciceroni® interns: Liceo Scientifico “G. Castelnuovo”, classe IVª I; Istituto d’Arte di Sesto, classe IVª A sez. Porcellana

All sites open on Saturday and Sunday 10.00 – 17.30. Guided visits available.

LUCCA
Appartamento Estivo di rappresentanza di Palazzo Tucci*
Via Cesare Battisti, 13
Saturday and Sunday 15.00 – 18.00
Guided visits
Ciceroni ® interns: Allievi Istituto Superiore Artistico “A. Passaglia” di Lucca
Pescaglia
(Bene FAI) Teatrino di Vetriano
Saturday and Sunday 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday, March 28, from 15.00 - 17.30: projection of Giacomo Puccini’s opera, “Tosca”

PISA
Past and future on the right side of the Arno (by car, bike, boat or train)
Palazzo Toscanelli
Lungarno Mediceo, 15
Chiesa e Monastero di San Michele degli Scalzi
Piazza San Michele degli Scalzi
Sunday, March 28 from 10.00 to 11.00: Palm Sunday procession followed by Mass
Nuovo Polo Culturale di San Michele degli Scalzi – SMS
Viale delle Piagge
The Cultural Center will project FAI films and present other materials from the City of Pisa

San Miniato
Noble city in the heart of Tuscany
Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra
Piazza del Duomo
Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso
Via Vittime del Duomo (in front of Palazzo Comunale)
Oratorio del Loretino
Via Vittime del Duomo, 8
Palazzo Comunale
Via Vittime del Duomo, 8

PISTOIA
Palazzo Amati Cellesi – Sede del Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Agenzia n. 5
Piazza Garibaldi, angolo Via Panciatichi
Saturday 15.30 – 18.30; Sunday 28, 10.00 – 12.30 / 15.30 – 18.30
Saturday 27, 10.00 – 12.30: FAI members only (can register on site)
Saturday 10.30 guided visit for FAI members by Professor Romby
Saturday 16.30: guided visit by Professor Beccarelli
Sunday 28 10.30 guided visit by Dr. Benassai; 15.45 and 17.00 guided visits by Prof. Beccarelli and Dr.  Benassai
Ciceroni® interns: Liceo Classico “N. Forteguerri” di Pistoia; Liceo Scientifico “Amedeo di Savoia Duca D’Aosta” di Pistoia; Liceo Socio-Psico-Pedagogico - Istituto Suore Mantellate di Pistoia; Istituto Professionale per i Servizi Turistici “L. Einaudi” di Pistoia; Istituto Tecnico per il Turismo “F. Forti” di Monsummano Terme (PT); Istituto Alberghiero “F. Martini” di Montecatini Terme (PT)

PRATO province

Prato
Conservatorio San Niccolò – Le stanze segrete: le celle monacali
Piazza Cardinale Niccolò, 6
Sabato 27, ore 9.30 – 12.30 / 15.00 – 18.00
Friday, March 26, at 15.00: guided visits for FAI members (can register on site) with Professor Gelardo Gelardi
Guided visits by art historians and Ciceroni® interns: Liceo Scientifico Conservatorio “San Niccolò”
Sunday 10.00 – 12.30 / 15.00 – 17.30 – guided visits by prioress Sister Armida Fresia and Sister Angela De Luca

SIENA province

San Quirico d’Orcia (SI)
 “Comunello” di Bagno Vignoni e Parco dei Mulini
Piazza delle Sorgenti – loggiato di Santa Caterina
Thermal springs
Loc. Bagno Vignoni
Palazzo Chigi Zondadari
Piazza Chigi, 2
San Quirico d’Orcia
Saturday 14.00 – 17.30; Sunday 10.30 – 17.30

Collegiata dei SS. Quirico e Giulitta
Piazza Chigi, 2
San Quirico d’Orcia
Saturday and Sunday 14.00 – 17.30

All guided visits are with guides from the Siena and province Tour Guide Association
Open to FAI members only (can register on site)

Related shows:
Palazzo Chigi Zondadari historic automobile show
Organic and traditional products market (will be cancelled in event of rain)
The “Club Automobili Storiche Firenze” will lead an itinerary with departure from Florence and arrive in San Quirico d’Orcia

For information:
http://www.giornatafai.it