Cortili Aperti (National Day of Historic Houses - ADSI Lazio)

A widespread museum for one day only

Cortili Aperti is the Roman chapter of the National Day of Historic Houses, promoted by the Italian Historic Houses Association (ADSI). Once a year, on a Sunday in May, the families who own the great noble palaces of the City of Rome open their courtyards, loggias, monumental staircases, and gardens—usually private—to the public for free. It is a simple and direct way to understand the true fabric of the city: behind the austere facades of Via del Corso, Piazza Navona, or Corso Vittorio Emanuele lie hidden green spaces, fountains, nymphaeums, and architectural perspectives that no guidebook can show when doors are shut.

A Roman tradition since 1992

The initiative began in Rome in 1992 under the name Cortili Aperti and subsequently became the model for the National Day that now involves all Italian regions. The formula has never changed: no tickets, no barriers, and often the owners themselves or volunteers share the history of the house. The goal stated by ADSI is to make the public perceive private heritage as a living asset, which requires maintenance and care but restores identity and beauty to the community. It is no coincidence that the association defines the collection of Italian historic houses as «the largest widespread museum in the country».

What to visit in Rome

The Roman itinerary is concentrated in the Historic Center and is designed to be explored on foot, hopping from one doorway to another throughout the day. Among the residences that appear most frequently in the program:

• Palazzo Odescalchi, in Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, with its Bernini-style facade and grand courtyard;
• Palazzo Taverna, on Via di Monte Giordano, on the hill overlooking the Ponte district;
• Palazzo Torlonia, on Via Bocca di Leone, in the heart of the Tridente district;
• Palazzo Sforza Cesarini, on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II;
• Palazzo Santacroce, at Piazza Cairoli;
• Palazzo Massimo Lancellotti dè Torres, overlooking Piazza Navona;
• Palazzo Montoro, on Via di Montoro.

Visiting hours and procedures vary from one residence to another: some welcome visitors with continuous free entry, while others organize guided tours. It is always advisable to check the updated list on the ADSI website in the days leading up to the event, as the program may be subject to last-minute changes.

Beyond the Capital: the entire Lazio region

The day is not limited to Rome. Throughout the Lazio Region, and particularly in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital and the provinces of Frosinone, Viterbo, Latina, and Rieti, dozens of villas, agricultural estates, fortresses, and castles open their doors: from the Castelli Romani, with the estates of Frascati and the villas of Rocca di Papa, to Lake Bracciano, and even the fortresses of the Ciociaria region like the Castello di Fumone. It is the perfect opportunity to plan an excursion and discover villages that usually remain off the beaten tourist path.

Tips for your visit

Expect crowds, and since the Roman residences are concentrated within a few hundred meters, it is best to start early, choose four or five stops in advance rather than trying to see them all, and be prepared for some queues in front of the most famous entrances. In many cases, the visit is limited to the courtyard and garden, not the private apartments, which remain occupied. Photography is generally allowed in open spaces, but it is always good practice to ask.

Why it is worth it

Cortili Aperti is not a spectacular show: it is a slow experience, made of silence, shade, and detail. Crossing an entrance hall in Piazza Navona to find yourself in front of an Italian-style garden, or climbing a staircase that no one uses anymore, is perhaps the most intimate way to read the stratification of Rome, from the Renaissance to the Baroque era and up to the 19th and 20th-century interventions. And the fact that all this is free, for just one day, makes it one of the most anticipated events in the Roman cultural calendar.