On Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, FAI Spring Days return, a unique opportunity to explore Italy’s cultural and historical heritage, with a wealth of extraordinary openings accessible from the A24 and A25 highways.
It starts in Rome, where a number of historic institutional buildings will be open for visits, such as the Navy Palace in the Flaminio district, the Palazzo dell’Agricoltura, theHistorical and Cultural Institute of the Arma del Genio in the Vittoria district and Villa Maraini, a jewel of Roman Art Nouveau and home to the Swiss Institute. For fans of industrial archaeology in the Ostiense district, it will be possible to explore the complex of the former Magazzini Generali, one of the earliest examples of reinforced concrete work in Rome, designed in 1909 by Tullio Passarelli and since 1994 home to the Istituto Superiore Antincendi, a highly specialized school for the Fire Brigade’s executive corps.
On the outskirts of Rome, Tivoli celebrates the days of spring with one of its magnificent parks, a perfect encounter between Art and Nature, the Villa Gregoriana. An admirable example of a “romantic garden” created in 1832 to meet the need to contain the continuous overflowing of the Aniene River, thus giving rise to the 120-meter drop of the new Cascata Grande, the second largest waterfall in Italy.
Not far from Tivoli, in the province of Rieti, visitors can visit the medieval village of Salisano perched on a rock overlooking the Farfa Gorges, which, for the occasion, will open to visitors the tunnels of the historic Hydroelectric Power Plant, part of the Peschiera-Capore aqueduct and hydroelectric system and of fundamental importance to Rome.
There will be 8 locations involved throughout the Abruzzo region for a total of 21 openings. Among the most anticipated events are visits to the Michettiano Cenacolo in the high town of Francavilla al Mare (CH) or those to the village of Ortona (CH). In the Marsica region is scheduled the evocative opening of the Piccolomini Castle in Balsorano, in the past the set of numerous movie films, while in the province of Pescara one will explore the village of Tocco da Casauria among art, nature and culture. Finally, in the territory of Teramo, in Colonnella one can learn about the stories of the ancient pinciaje or walk along the path of the lakes.
But the initiatives do not stop there: museums, churches and archaeological sites will open their doors to the public, offering an immersion in Abruzzo’s history and culture. From medieval frescoes to rich food and wine traditions, FAI Days are an unmissable opportunity to discover the many facets of this fascinating region.
Below are all the openings in Abruzzo:
FAI Delegation of Chieti:
- Francavilla al Mare. Old town of Francavilla al Mare – Cenacolo Michettiano – Michetti Foundation: the 100 award-winning works.
Ortona FAI Group:
- Ortona. Ortona: on the trail of battle.
- San Vito Chietino. Village of Sant’Apollinare.
FAI Delegation of Vasto:
- Gissi. In the heart of Abruzzo crystal – Palazzo Carunchio: convent, bourgeois mansion, town hall – Remo Gaspari, the mansion tells – Palazzo Spadaccini and the “gissana automobile society” – Former central hotel in the days of spa tourism – Gissi, a history written in plaster – visit to the bell tower of the church of s. Maria Assunta.
Marsica FAI Delegation:
- Balsorano. Piccolimini Castle of Balsorano.
FAI Delegation of Sulmona:
- Introdacqua. Introdacqua the village of musicians and poets – excursion: church of St. Anthony and the frescoes of the 16th century.
FAI Delegation of Pescara:
- Tocco da Casauria. The village of wind between art, nature and culture – the observance convent on the slopes of Mount Morrone – the dwelling is told: palazzo Toro.
FAI Delegation of Teramo:
- Colonnella. Colonnella, between history and landscapes – inhabiting the earth: the ancient pinciaje – the path of the lakes.
All information about the locations, times and how to visit are available on the FAI website:
