On Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March, the eagerly awaited FAI Spring Days return. A special weekend dedicated to rediscovering the beauty of the territory, combining art, nature and heritage. The Marche region — the only region in Italy with a plural name — will once again take centre stage with a selection of extraordinary sites. Thanks to the commitment of FAI volunteers, visitors will have the opportunity to explore monuments, gardens, palaces and panoramic viewpoints, many of which are usually unknown to the public.

Here are the locations in the Riviera del Conero:

ANCONA

Palazzo Benincasa

Palazzo Benincasa, overlooking Via della Loggia and having survived wartime events, still preserves its 18th- and 19th-century frescoes. The Benincasa family shaped Ancona’s cultural life for centuries, from shipowners to cartographers, poets and promoters of the city’s first public library. The façade, commissioned by Dionisio in the 15th century, is attributed to Giorgio Orsini of Sebenico, while the interiors feature frescoes by Giuseppe Pallavicini. Today, the palace houses the Amatori Library, accessible by appointment.

Opening hours:

Saturday: 10:00 – 13:00 / 14:00 – 18:00

Paolini Barracks – Regional Command of the Guardia di Finanza

The Gian Maria Paolini Barracks are located within the former convent of San Domenico, a site that has intertwined religious tradition and military history since 1831. Renovated in the 18th century and marked by Napoleonic requisitions and the unification of Italy, the complex suffered heavy damage during wartime bombings but was later restored. Among its notable features are sculptures by Varlé and the long-standing presence of the Military Engineers. Since 1984, it has been named after Lieutenant Paolini, a partisan executed in 1944.

Opening hours:

Saturday: 15:00 – 18:00 (last entry 17:30)

Sunday: 10:00 – 12:30 / 15:00 – 18:00 (last entry 17:30)

Fincantieri

The Ancona shipyard, active since Roman times and later a Papal arsenal, became an industrial site in the 20th century and assumed its current configuration in 1988. Today it covers 360,000 square metres and includes the entire production chain, from material storage to hull block prefabrication. A 500-ton crane and a large dry dock allow for assembly, outfitting and testing of onboard systems. The facility is designed to build two ships of 54,000 GRT per year.

Opening hours:

Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

RECANATI

The Infinite Garden

The garden on the Hill of the Infinite, reopened by FAI in 2019, is a quiet space overlooking the hills of the Marche region, a place of contemplation linked to Leopardi’s poetry. Originally a hortus conclusus of the Monastery of Santo Stefano, it went through Napoleonic suppressions and 20th-century restorations while preserving its original layout. The visit begins at the National Centre for Leopardi Studies and leads to this simple space, dotted with trees, vegetable plots and pergolas. From its wall, visitors can still enjoy one of the most evocative views in the Marche, stretching from the Sibillini Mountains to the sea.

Opening hours:

Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00 (last entry 17:30)

Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00 (last entry 17:30)

Foundation I.R.C.E.R. Assunta Headquarters, Recanati

The former Convent of the Assunta, now home to the I.R.C.E.R. Foundation in Recanati, originates from the legacy of noblewoman Barbara Massilla, who in 1595 dedicated her house to a monastery for widows. From 1622, it hosted teaching nuns, an orphanage and a boarding school attended by figures connected to the Leopardi family. In the 20th century, a kindergarten named after Donna Laura Simonetti Carradori was established, supported by Ettore Leopardi and the Carradori family. Since 1952, the complex has been managed by I.R.C.E.R. and remains one of the most significant historical sites in Recanati’s town centre.

Opening hours:

Saturday: 15:00 – 19:00 (last entry 18:30)

Sunday: 10:00 – 13:00 / 15:00 – 19:00 (last entry 18:30)

Teatro Persiani

The theatre of Recanati was commissioned by Monaldo Leopardi in 1823 and inaugurated in 1840, designed by Tommaso Brandoni. Since 1898, it has been named after composer Giuseppe Persiani. With its 400 seats, horseshoe-shaped auditorium and boxes decorated with gilded stucco, it is a classic Italian-style theatre. Artists such as Mascagni and Beniamino Gigli performed here; the latter is now celebrated in an internal museum. Managed by AMAT and the municipality, it continues to host theatre and music seasons and is a candidate for inclusion in the network of historic communal theatres.

Opening hours:

Saturday: 15:00 – 19:00 (last entry 18:30)

Sunday: 10:00 – 13:00 / 15:00 – 19:00 (last entry 18:30)