FAI Spring Days
The FAI weekend uncovering the hidden treasures of Giovinazzo
About FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo
FAI Spring Days in Giovinazzo
The FAI Spring Days are the most important grassroots event dedicated to Italy's cultural and landscape heritage, promoted every year by the FAI - National Trust for Italy in hundreds of cities. In Giovinazzo, an elegant seaside town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, the event is organized by the volunteers of the FAI North Bari Group. For an entire weekend, they open normally inaccessible or little-known sites to the public, sharing their stories with passion through the Apprendisti Ciceroni, students trained to guide visitors.
A journey into the heart of the old town
The historic center of Giovinazzo, clustered around the Adriatic port, holds a wealth of churches, palaces, and medieval alleys that the FAI Spring Days allow you to see with fresh eyes. The heart of the openings is often the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a splendid example of Apulian Romanesque architecture that has been modified several times over the centuries, along with its crypt and the adjacent rooms of the Bishop's Palace. Each edition features a different theme, highlighting architecture, sacred art, monastic history, or the traditions of the Giovinazzo community.
How to visit
- Admission by voluntary donation to support the FAI mission
- Guided tours in small groups, with staggered departures every twenty minutes
- Accompanied by FAI volunteers and Apprendisti Ciceroni
- Reserved access or special routes for FAI members
Why participate
The FAI Spring Days are more than just a visit: they are a way to rediscover the identity of Giovinazzo and concretely support the protection of our heritage. Walking between the Co-Cathedral and the palaces of the old town, listening to the stories of the student guides, and observing frescoes, mosaics, and liturgical vestments up close means connecting with centuries of Apulian history in just a few hundred meters. A spring appointment that every year engages families, curious visitors, and art lovers, both in the province of Bari and beyond.
FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo — edition 2026
The 34th edition of the FAI Spring Days in Giovinazzo, on Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22, 2026, focused on the theme 'The Romanesque of the Cathedral and liturgical vestments in the Bishop's Palace'. The route allowed visitors to rediscover the Romanesque forms and decorations of the church that emerged during the 1979-1990 restorations, distinguishing them from the interventions of the so-called 'Romanesque restoration' carried out by skilled local stonemasons. In the Bishop's Palace, an unprecedented exhibition of sacred vestments and furnishings linked to the bishops who shaped the history of the cathedral was set up.
The visits, organized by the volunteers and the Apprendisti Ciceroni of the FAI North Bari Group, were held on a voluntary donation basis.
Programme FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo 2026
Friday, March 20 — Preview
- 7:00 PM — Preliminary meeting in Sala San Felice with archivist Diego de Ceglia and architect Luigi Guastamacchia
Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 — Openings
- 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM — Visits to the Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the crypt, and the rooms of the Bishop's Palace
- Departures for groups of 15-20 people every 20 minutes, on a first-come, first-served basis
- Tour focusing on the Romanesque architecture of the cathedral, the reconstruction hypothesis of the ancient presbytery mosaic featuring the griffin and warriors, and the exhibition of liturgical vestments (chasubles, stoles, mitres, and dalmatics)
Theme: 'The Romanesque of the Cathedral and liturgical vestments in the Bishop's Palace'. Organized by: FAI North Bari Group, head of group Bibi Mastroviti.
Highlights FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo 2026
Prices FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo 2026
Practical information — FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo
How to get there
Giovinazzo is located about 20 km northwest of Bari, along the Adriatic coast. It is served by the Adriatic railway line (Trenitalia) and the Ferrotramviaria; the station is just a few minutes' walk from the historic center. By car, it can be reached via the SS16 Adriatica road, with parking available near the port and the old town.
Opening hours and admission
The openings take place during the FAI Spring Days weekend, generally from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Admission is by voluntary donation to support FAI; reservations are not usually required, and visits take place in groups on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tips
Arrive early during peak hours to avoid queues, wear comfortable shoes for navigating crypts and alleys, and consider becoming a FAI member to access exclusive routes.
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Where does it take place — FAI Spring Days Giovinazzo
Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Largo Cattedrale, 70054 Giovinazzo