All over the world, cities are opening their most treasured buildings to the curious eyes of strangers.

The phenomenon plays on one of our basest instincts – that of wanting to stick our noses anywhere we’re not allowed to.

In case you hadn’t guessed, I’m referring to Open House. It’s a movement started in my old hometown of Melbourne, Australia as a free and rare opportunity for people to discover a hidden trove of architectural, engineering and historic buildings nestled around their city.

Inspired, my new hometown of Manciano has decided to hold its own Open House. We’re calling it Top Secret Maremma and it’s on next weekend from Nov 1 to Nov 4.

The event is the first of its kind to be held in the Maremma and I cannot wait!

The Comune of Manciano has an incredible heritage of buildings that aren’t normally open to tourists. There are privately owned castles, closed museums and houses opulent enough to have hosted ancient kings. Every one of them is of a rare beauty that’ll leave you stunned.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of Manciano’s more secret buildings and I always feel incredibly blessed. They are magnificent. Not to mention, all the more special because you know you wouldn’t be able to visit them under normal circumstances.

About 22 buildings will be open for the inaugural Top Secret Maremma. They’re scattered across Saturnia, Montemerano, Poggio Murella, Marsilliana, Capanne, San Martino sul Fiora and Manciano.

A significant amount of organisation has gone into making this event possible.

Manciano’s tourism team has gone to every one of the owners and not only begged them to open their buildings, but also explained the otherwise foreign concept of the Open House movement. I can imagine a great amount of sucking up was involved, and probably some luncheons.

I want to see everything, but there are a few buildings I’m particularly excited about.

One is the Terme di Saturnia Spa Complex. It’s one of the most luxurious buildings in Italy. The world’s rich and famous pay a pretty penny to have spa treatments in its gold and mosaic-tiled rooms. You get to visit it for free with an expert guide who knows the history of Saturnia and who will take you to the hot spring’s source.

Another building I can’t wait to see is the castle that looms over Marsilliana. It’s a private residence, built by the Aldobrandeschi in the 13th century and owned by their descendants  the aristocratic Ciacci family. I’ve heard the walls are still lined with tapestries, and that, unlike castles open to tourists, the furniture is still there and all original.

In Manciano, the castle’s watchtower is open for an incredible 360 degree view of Tuscany from mountainside to coastline. You can also go on a guided tour of the famous Caseficio Sociale di Manciano– the Maremma’s premier cheese factory.

For something a little more lavish, there’s the private cellar of the three-star Michelin restaurant Da Caino in Montemerano. It’s home to thousands of wines, some that date back to the 19th century and are worth thousands of dollars. And I could go on and on.

Unless you live in the Comune di Manciano, you mightn’t understand how incredible this event is. I have spent years admiring the facade of these buildings, wishing I could get inside.

This is a once off experience to see architecture, history, legend and local culture combined. The majority of the buildings open this weekend have never been visited by the public, and it’s all free.

All I can say is, wherever you are next weekend, don’t miss this.

Click here to see the events flyer for Top Secret Maremma 2012.

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