The Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) weekend this year will be on 24-25 March when 500 buildings, monuments and places of special artistic interest throughout Italy will be open to the public free of charge (although visitors will be encouraged to make a contribution to the FAI). Museums, palaces, schools, towers, banks, archives, private residences and archaeological sites will be opening, many of which are not usually accessible to the public. In Rome these will include the Cappella di S. Silvestro alla Scala Santa, the crypt of SS. Luca e Martina and the Liceo Visconti.

For a full list and information, tel. 0141 720850 (24 hours a day), or www.fondoambiente.it.