The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will once again be opening its doors to the general public with the “Farnesina Doors Open” initiative, this year running from 22 to 28 May.
For many years now “Farnesina Doors Open” days have renewed the Ministry’s commitment to promote its heritage in Italy and abroad. The initiative provides an opportunity to enter into a direct dialogue with citizens; increase the transparency of its institutional activities; tell the story of the building itself and of its art collections, its archives and its collections of books and historic documents; and transform a public space into an asset shared by the entire community.
This year, to mark the centenary of Italy’s entry to the First World War, the Ministry will be taking part in the commemorations being held throughout the country, with an exhibition entitled “Italy and the Diplomacy of the Great War: origins, development and consequences”. A rare exhibition of historic cipher machines will also be held. Alongside these initiatives, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the Ministry’s most representative spaces and the Farnesina Collection of Contemporary Art.
The “routes”
Visitors will be able to choose one of two routes:
1) the “history” route
2) the “art” route.
The “history route” will include two stages: the “Italy and the Diplomacy of the Great War: origins, development and consequences” exhibition, and the exhibition of historic cipher machines.
The “art” route will focus on the history of the Farnesina building itself and on the contemporary art collection of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It will also feature a photography exhibition by the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) entitled “Under the Lens: justice and the post-2015 agenda”. Read more about the routes, in Italian.
How to take part
You can book your visit through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website from 7 May onwards, selecting one of the two routes.
Links
Access to the building
Priority will be given to visitors who have registered. Subject to availability, non-registered users will also be admitted.
There will be no cloakroom for bulky items such as motor-cycle helmets, trolley-cases and other large bags.
All visitors will be issued with a badge, which they must return when they leave.
Link