Open House Roma 2019: Rome’s hidden gems, for free!

Over the weekend of May 11 & 12, Rome residents as well as tourists and visitors will be able to visit hundreds of sites where access is usually limited – for free!

The event, called “Open House Roma“, includes a stunning list of ancient libraries, foreign academies, art galleries and studios or private palaces and mansions. Attention will also be given to those museums which are hidden gems to Romans themselves, and licensed guides will be involved in unusual tours throughout the city.

Among the buildings available for visits and tours, don’t miss out on:

• The Hertz Library, located inside the “Monster House” at Palazzo Zuccari;
• Palazzo Salviati, a Renaissance-era building now home to a military think-tank, the Italian Military Centre for Strategic Studies;
• The Santa Maria Maggiore Church;
• The Roman remains below the Santa Prisca church on the Aventine Hill;
• The archaeological area around the Santa Croce in Gerusalemme church.

Open House Roma is not just about ancient buildings and hidden archaeological gems: a large majority of events will revolve around modern and contemporary mansions or former government offices.

Some of the visits during Open House Roma, now in its eighth year, will require a booking (indicated by the button “Prenota” on the right hand side of each description on their Italian-only website), but most will work on a “first come, first serve” basis.

Look at the bottom of said website for an email address, should you need any more information.