As part of the Spring Days event run by FAI - Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (the National Trust for Italy), the Catania branch of the Banca d'Italia will open its doors to the public on Saturday, 21 March (9 am-3 pm) and Sunday, 22 March (9 am-1 pm; 2:30 pm-5:30 pm). Visitors will be invited to follow a guided tour enriched with multimedia content from the Money Museum. Among these resources are two videos produced by the Museum: 'The birth of minted money', which traces the origins of coinage from the first issues in the ancient kingdom of Lydia to the Greek poleis and Rome; and 'The Middle Ages and the Renaissance', highlighting Italy's role as the cradle of modern banking and financial instruments.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to admire a selection of artworks preserved in the building and to explore the architectural features of the premises, with particular attention to the mural 'Banco di vita'.
A special guided visit for blind and partially sighted guests will be held at 5 pm on Saturday, 21 March, organized in collaboration with the Catania branch of the Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted (UICI). The visit will feature tactile materials and specially designed educational resources to ensure a fully accessible and inclusive experience. Participants will be guided through a tactile exploration of relief reproductions and Minolta prints of Greek and Roman coins, which will form part of the Money Museum's future tactile itinerary.
This initiative offers a rare opportunity to explore one of the landmark sites that epitomize the presence of the Banca d'Italia in the region.
