Fancy a few hours in the Uffizi gallery, a stroll round the Caserta palace or catching the view from the Colosseum? Next week you can visit them all for free. Scores of state-owned attractions across Italy will waive their entry fees from March 5-10th as part of an initiative to make the country's most precious heritage available for free on 20 days each year.

Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli has declared next Tuesday to Sunday "Museum Week", meaning that locals and tourists alike have six days to visit some of Italy's most famous museums, galleries and archaeological sites without paying a cent.