From March 5 to 10, state-owned museums, galleries and archaeological sites across Italy will waive their entry fees, meaning you can visit for free.
Italy’s Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli has dubbed the occasion “Museum Week”, as part of an initiative that will make entry to state museums free for 20 days of the year.
The initiative replaces Italy’s “free museum Sundays”, in which museums opened for free on the first Sunday of every month.
Under a new decree that takes effect this week, Italian state museums will instead offer six free Sundays between October and March, eight free days of their choice throughout the year and six during Museum Week.
In addition, entry remains free for those under 18, while people aged between 18 and 25 will be able to visit state-owned museums and archaeological sites for just €2 all year round.
The aim is to reduce long queues and overcrowding at tourist sites, which were exacerbated on the first Sunday of every month due to the previous scheme.
For example, participating sights might choose to offer free entry on a weekday instead of at the weekend, to help them manage visitor numbers.
Sites taking part in the new initiative include the Colosseum, the ruins of Pompeii, and the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.
Find a full list of participating sites or plan your trip here.
