March 17, 2025

Fai Days of Spring 2025: all the places open in Tuscany on March 22 and 23

Our mini-guide to choose which FAI visits to book province by province

Fai Days of Spring 2025 return on March 22 and 23 throughout Italy and allow free access to more than 750 places in 400 cities, most of them usually inaccessible or little known.

Many special places can also be visited in Tuscany, revealing an extraordinary wealth whose importance in terms of culture, history and traditions, sometimes hidden or unconventional, tells the identity of our country.

We remind you that to participate in the FAI Days, it is necessary to book (no later than midnight of the day before the visit) through the FAI website.

Arezzo

Santa Maria Nuova Church (Cortona)

Located near the famous Porta Colonia in Cortona, the Church of Santa Maria Nuova is an elegant example of Renaissance architecture. Designed by the famous Giorgio Vasari and completed in 1610, it has a Greek-cross plan and houses an important stone-serena shrine, which holds the revered icon of the Madonna dell'Ellera, dating back to the early 1500s. As a collegiate church, it is not always accessible, making this special opening a unique opportunity to admire one of Cortona's artistic jewels. On Saturday 22, at 5:30 PM, the Mons. Luciano Giovannetti exhibition hall at Via Gino Severini 29 will host an evocative display of sacred vestments, complemented by a refined harpsichord concert by Maestro Giacomo Benedetti. Special guests include the renowned papal tailor Filippo Sorcinelli, who will present a chasuble and mitre worn by Pope Benedict XVI.

Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio Sanctuary (Cortona)

Typically accessible only during religious services, the church will be exceptionally open for the entire day on these two days, offering a unique opportunity to admire its art and architecture. In 2014, the Sanctuary received significant recognition within the national program "I Luoghi del Cuore," gathering 22,314 votes and ranking 11th. This extraordinary achievement, thanks to the efforts of many supporters, made possible a project for restoring and securing the river channels upstream of the Sanctuary, with particular attention to the tunnel crossing the building's foundations. This is a less visible but essential intervention for the preservation of this precious historical monument.

San Giovanni Valdarno: Art, History, and Beauty Path (San Giovanni Valdarno)

San Giovanni Valdarno holds a rich artistic heritage, linked to great masters like Masaccio and Beato Angelico. The city tour begins at the evocative Palazzo d'Arnolfo, a symbol of the community, where there is also a FAI desk. Visitors can explore the Museo delle Terre Nuove, which tells the story of the birth and development of the Valdarnese towns. Continuing, you reach the majestic Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses a museum rich in art from the 14th to the 18th century. Among the highlights is the Annunciation by Beato Angelico, one of the Renaissance's absolute masterpieces. The journey continues with the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, restored in the 17th century in Baroque style, and the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, an important place of worship and devotion. The route ends at Casa Masaccio, now transformed into a lively Contemporary Art Center, promoting modern art exhibitions and new creative expressions.

Florence

Evangelical Cemetery of Allori (Florence)

Nestled in the green at the gates of Florence, the Evangelical Cemetery of Allori, inaugurated in 1878, was created by the city's evangelical communities as an alternative to the English Cemetery. Designed by Giuseppe Boccini, it combines the elegance of the Italian monumental cemetery with the Anglo-Saxon model of the garden cemetery. The cypress-lined avenues and sculptures by great artists make it an open-air museum, preserving the memory of intellectuals, collectors, and artists connected to Florence. The FAI opening offers the chance to discover this place of evocative beauty and historical value.

Villa Vittoria: From Private Residence to Congress Palace (Florence)

Now the headquarters of Firenze Fiera and usually closed to the public, this villa, part of the Tuscan Region's heritage, was built between 1886 and 1891 by the Strozzi family of Mantua, based on a design by Gerolamo Passeri. It was later modified by Michelucci with the addition of the belvedere in 1925. Once a private residence, it was transformed in the 1960s into Florence's largest congress complex. Surrounded by a large garden with elements of contemporary architecture and installations, the building consists of two wings separated by a central hall. Little remains of the original late 19th-century furnishings, but visitors can admire Renaissance-style coffered ceilings, intarsia doors based on models by Feltrini and Vasari, and the original polychrome stained glass, as well as some applied arts by Burchi, including wrought iron, stone mosaic floors, and worked door frames.

Palazzo Lenzi Quaratesi – French Institute Florence (Florence)

The world’s first French cultural institute, the Institut Français in Florence, is housed in the historic Palazzo Lenzi, overlooking Piazza Ognissanti. Built in 1456 by the Lenzi family, the palace passed through various ownerships until it was bought by the French state in 1949, after the Institute had settled there in 1911. The building, with its elegant graffiti decorations, blends history and contemporary culture. The FAI opening will allow visitors to explore its spaces, including the refined J. Luchaire reading room, the Teatrino, and the Biblioteca-Mediateca, discovering a place where Renaissance heritage meets today's cultural vibrancy.

Benini Palace – Town Hall and Teatrodante (Campi Bisenzio)

In the heart of Campi Bisenzio, just outside Florence, are Benini Palace with the Council Chamber and the 19th-century Teatrodante, both symbols of the town's transformation from an agricultural center to an industrial hub. The theater, designed by Mariano Falcini (1870-1873) and restored in 2003, retains its elegant neoclassical facade and is now a lively cultural space. Next to it is the Council Chamber, designed by Marco Dezzi Bardeschi (1985) and built in 1993, representing a bold example of contemporary architecture. The FAI opening offers a unique opportunity to explore these spaces, typically inaccessible to the public.

Grosseto

The Walls, Gate, and Village of Capalbio (Capalbio)

Capalbio Castle (Capalbio)

During the FAI Days, visitors will discover the charm of the Castle, a place full of history, from lordships to battles and political changes. A large staircase leads to the three floors, where the Hunting Room, the Puccini Room—housing a fortepiano by Conrad Graf, possibly played by the composer—an ancient fireplace, and the evocative Green Room can be found. Each room tells a piece of the past, offering a timeless atmosphere.

Providence Church (Capalbio)

San Nicola Church (Capalbio)

Located in the heart of Capalbio's historic center, this church houses precious frescoes from various periods, some attributed to local masters. The decorations depict scenes from the life of Saint Nicholas, the city's patron saint, with symbolism that tells the faith and traditions of the community. Its central location makes it a reference point for both the faithful and visitors interested in the town's historical and cultural heritage.

Military Veterinary Center (Grosseto)

Livorno

Palazzo de Larderel – Civil Court of Livorno (Livorno)

Palazzo de Larderel is the most impressive and lavish 19th-century building in Livorno and currently houses the Civil Court. The first section, which resembled a countryside villa, was commissioned starting in 1830 by the French entrepreneur François de Larderel, who moved to the Tuscan city. By exploiting the geological resources of the Volterrano lagoons, he promoted and developed the boric acid industry, amassing considerable wealth and becoming the leading entrepreneur in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, symbolizing an aristocracy of bourgeois origin. In 1837, having become a nobleman in Livorno, he began expanding the residence. The building, completed in 1839 and designed by Gaetano Gherardi, was extended with two lateral wings, each topped with terraces. Later, various sections were unified into a single facade by Ferdinando Magagnini. After 1850, a new wing was added, extending toward the garden to complete the new staircase leading to the first floor, decorated with copies of statues from the Uffizi loggia. Enriched with furnishings and an art collection ranging from ancient to modern, the palace placed Larderel among the city's patrons and benefactors. During the FAI Spring Days, visitors will have the exceptional opportunity to access many of the palace's interior spaces, with the history and evolution of the building being narrated, deeply intertwined with the history of Livorno.

Palazzo di Giustizia of Livorno (Livorno)

Chiesetta di S. Stefano alle Trane (Portoferraio)

Lucca

Ancient games at the former Casino of Bagni di Lucca (Bagni di Lucca)

San Cassiano di Controne between sculpture and mystery (Bagni di Lucca)

Church of Santa Caterina (Lucca)

The tour will begin at the entrance of St. Catherine's Church, where groups of up to 25 people will be accompanied by the Apprentice Tour Guides. The young guides will explain the architecture and interior decorations, delving into the history and art of the church. The itinerary will continue in the building built in 1875, once part of the Galli Tassi hospital complex and built on the remains of the ancient convent of Santa Giustina. Located in the heart of Lucca, a short distance from Porta San Donato and the Cathedral of San Martino, the itinerary offers a glimpse of places of great historical value.

Village and Castle of Nozzano (Lucca)

Municipal Historical Archives (Lucca)

Theater of Vetriano (Fraz. Vetriano - Pescaglia)

Hangar of the Viareggio Carnival (Viareggio)

During FAI Spring Days, visitors will have the unique opportunity to enter the hangars where the monumental Carnival floats are born and stored. The creation of these impressive works begins with the artist's idea, which takes shape through a sketch and a structure made of rushes, wood and wire. This base is then shaped with clay and plaster, before being covered layer by layer with papier-mâché, resulting in spectacular figures. Visitors will be able to meet artists and artisans at work and discover the technique of cast paper, better known as papier-mâché, invented in Viareggio in 1925 by builder and painter Antonio D'Arliano. Thanks to this lightweight and versatile material, floats have become increasingly imposing, turning into real traveling theaters.

Carnival Museum (Viareggio)

Massa-Carrara

Carrara unseen: the hidden wonders of the city (Carrara)

On the occasion of this event, the Church of Our Lady of Tears will exceptionally open to the public, thanks to recent restorations that have restored its ancient splendor. Next door, the still inhabited Palazzo Monzoni will offer a true journey through time: from the refined 17th-century and Baroque rooms to the striking 1920s-style rooms. For the first time in history, the palace will be accessible to visitors. Another important reopening concerns the Church of Saints James and Christopher, closed since the 1994 earthquake and restored in the early 2000s. The FAI guided tour will start from the Church of Our Lady of Tears, allowing visitors to explore these three places rich in history that are usually inaccessible.

Pisa

The Oratories and Parish Church of Cascina (Cascina)

Courts and Church of San Domenico (Pisa)

The tour will lead participants through an area between Corso Italia, Via Pascoli and Via Turati, revealing the profound transformations that took place from the 14th century to the 20th century. Through the narration of historical figures and the observation of architectural assets, the evolution of these places will be traced. The protagonists of this journey will be Chiara Gambacorti, whose extraordinary life will be narrated by the Apprentice Ciceroons of the IIS Pacinotti of Pisa, accompanied by Tempesti's canvases illustrating her life; Leonardo Chetoni, the first director of the hospice of mendicity, who in the courtyard of the hospice will talk about the daily life of the hospitalized; and Roberto Mariani, the architect who marked the current appearance of the area, whose work will be narrated by architect Riccardo Ciuti.

Amedei Toscana (Pontedera) access reserved for FAI members.

Pistoia

St. Leo's Church and Cino Garden murals (Pistoia)

On Sunday, March 23, on the occasion of FAI Spring Days 2025, the Pistoia Sistine Chapel of San Leone will open its doors to the public. Voted by 3,459 people in the 2016 I Luoghi del Cuore census (where it ranked eighth in Tuscany), the church was recently restored and will be accessible thanks to volunteers from the FAI Group of Pistoia and Montagna Pistoiese, who will guide visitors to discover its beauty. The opening will also include a visit to Cino's Garden, an example of urban redevelopment curated by the Spichisi association, which hosts street art works. Between Piazzetta Sant'Atto and Vicolo dei Bacchettoni, visitors will be able to admire Johnatan Calugi's mural (2024) and Millo's No hesitation graffiti (2018). This space, which connects the historic center with contemporary art in Pistoia, will enrich the visit with an interesting dialogue between historical heritage and modern artistic expressions.

Ballroom - Kursaal (Montecatini Terme)

Benedictine Monastery - Montecatini Alto (Montecatini Terme)

Prato

Conservatorio San Niccolò: the restored novitiate (Prato)

The Novitiate Wing, an area of the medieval complex that once housed the novice cells, was recently restored and brought back to life after a century of neglect. The two-year restoration was overseen by two excellencies in the field: the Studio Comes, headed by Florentine architect Carlo Blasi, who designed the intervention and collaborated on the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and the firm Centro Restauri Piacenti, internationally renowned for its work, including the restoration of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.A guided tour of the Novitiate, which covers about 1,000 square meters on three levels, allows visitors to admire the interventions that respected the original materials and decorations. Every stone of the historic floor has been carefully removed and reassembled in its original form. An excellent example of how the preservation and reuse of historic buildings can protect beauty and cultural heritage.

Oratory of San Bartolomeo in Via Cava (Prato)

Siena

Campatelli Tower and House (San Gimignano)

Vignoni (San Quirico d'Orcia)

The village of Vignoni Alto, located in the heart of the Val d'Orcia, is a gem to explore, offering spectacular views of the valley and the spa town of Bagno Vignoni, a UNESCO heritage site. Reachable only on foot, either from Bagno Vignoni or San Quirico d'Orcia, the village will be visible all day.Four tours accompanied by the Gruppo Trekking Senese (two in the morning and two in the afternoon) are planned, which will take visitors on a hike of about 1.5 km from Bagno Vignoni, discovering the natural beauty of the area. It is recommended not to arrive by car, as there is no parking in the village, which also has no services or businesses.

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