On February 21, International Tourist Guide Day, Tuscany’s various monuments and museums will throw open their doors for the whole weekend, offering free tours of little-known places.
In and around Florence, pay a visit to the Medici villas, declared as UNESCO sites in summer 2013. Nestled in the hills of Castello, take a free guided tour around Villa La Petraia at 9.45am on February 22, a historic location that boasts breath-taking views over the Tuscan capital. On February 22, free guided tours will also be on offer at the Medici villa of Cerreto Guidi (at 3pm).
In Florence city centre, the Sacristy of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine will be open to the public this weekend, a space that miraculously survived a terrible fire in the 18th century. Admire the frescoes believed to be by Lippo d’Andrea and the wonderful windows.
In Arezzo, take a Vasari walk, discovering the works and places linked to the ‘life of the artist’ Giorgio Vasari and his family.
In Grosseto, visit the Palazzo Vescovile (bishop’s palace) and wander around the old city centre. On February 23, amateur archaeologists will be in for a treat with a guided tour around the Roselle dig site at dusk and at night.
In Lucca, tour guides will lead visitors around the city’s age-old walls as well as taking a walk around the Basilica di San Frediano, a beautiful example of Tuscan medieval art.
In Siena, join a guided tour known as Seen from the back, starting at 3pm in piazza del Mercato and finishing in Valle di Porta Giustizia with a snack at Orto de’ Pecci. It’s a chance to see the real Siena, not the one seen on postcards and posters all over the world.
In Asciano, you can see theBasilica di Sant’Agata, vaunting recently restored frescoes believed to be by Raphael.
In Pisa, there will be guided tours around the San Matteo national museum and the Basilica di San Piero a Grado.
Click here for more information (in Italian) for the entire programme for Italy.
