Open courtyards 2017

List of the “Open Courts” inserted in the 2017 edition of the event “Open Cortili” is an exceptional opportunity to make an extraordinary trip to the ancient village of the Baroque city. It is much more than a “walk” between the courtyards of ancient palaces, the alleys of the villages and the charm of the streets, admired among other things at a time when Lecce and Salento show all their beauty. “Open Courts” is an expected cultural event, organised by the Italian Historical Houses Association (ADSI) and supported by the Municipality of Lecce. It stems from the conviction that the first step towards raising awareness of the protection of the national architectural heritage is in knowledge of the heritage itself and therefore in offering the general public the possibility of knowing enchanting views that are normally inaccessible. The leg of “Cortili Aperti”, now in its twenty-second edition, every year attracts thousands of people who are exceptionally offered the opportunity to visit some of the many courtyards and historical gardens. In fact, during “Open Courts” the citizens, and the many tourists — Italian and foreign — can enter and visit the andrones and the internal courtyards of numerous noble palaces of the historic city center, which, as private residences, during the rest of the year are inaccessible. Historic residences of historical and architectural interest are certainly an integral part of the national historical-artistic architectural heritage and, as such, an essential part of the Italian cultural identity The Italian Historical Houses Association (ADSI) is a non-profit association founded in 1977 with the aim of promoting and implementing forms of conservation, enhancement and management of historic dwellings. The ADSI, which is a member of the Union of European Historic Houses Association, a foundation that deals with the conservation of the most important private properties of architectural and artistic interest in Europe, is a moral body recognised by Presidential Decree of 26 November 1990 whose statutes include cooperation with public institutions among the different tasks. Sunday 21 May 2017, 10.00-13.00 and 16.30-21.00