Cortili Aperti: Italy’s Annual Open Courtyards Event

For more than 20 years, ADSI (Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane), aka the Historic Home Association of Italy, has been working in conjunction with the owners of the country’s estates and villas to bring a program called Cortili Aperti, or “Open Courtyards,” to the public.

The annual open courtyard event, also called Giornate ADSI, usually takes place in late May and gives visitors the unique opportunity to see inside historic properties in more than a dozen cities, including Rome, Bologna, Florence, Lecce, Milan, and Palermo. Participating estates typically choose to open their courtyards and landscaped gardens. But some go as far to open up their living rooms.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take a peek behind the gates and doors of Italy’s very private palazzi. Visit the ADSI website for more information on this year’s program and participating cities.

Photo © redbeetle