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VISIT TUSCANY'S RENAISSANCE GARDENS FOR FREE: MAY 25, 2014

Every year on a Sunday in May countless private Tuscan villas open the gates of their immaculately kept Renaissance gardens to the general public. 

Organized by the Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane (the association of historic mansions in Italy) some of Tuscany's most beautiful gardens in historical estates, medieval castles and Renaissance villas can be visited for free on the day. Many of these are not accessible through the rest of the year, or if so only on payment. 

The Italian gardens of Villa Cetinale near Siena


Near Siena visits to the sublimely trimmed gardens of the recently restored Villa Cetinale in Sovicille and to the park of Villa Geggiano in the Chianti will be two of the highlights. Further south in the Maremma you'll be conceded access to the castle in Marsiliana, which consists of an entire hamlet which has been the property of the Corsini family since the 18th century (apartments on the Marsiliana estate can be rented in case you're not here on the day or you'd rather have the gardens to yourself). 

CORTILI E GIARDINI APERTI: SUNDAY MAY 25, 2014
From 10 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm. 
Guided tours are also available to Renaissance gardens in villas around Florence, Viareggio, Pisa, Lucca and the Lunigiana. For details check the event map on Pinterest and the ADS TOSCANA website

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