Palazzo Borghese (courtyard), Rome
Must-SeeCalled "il Cembalo" (the harpsichord) for its shape. Walk through the entrance to find an elegant columned courtyard. Free.
Palazzo Ducale, Urbino
Must-SeeFederico da Montefeltro's perfect Renaissance courtyard — harmonious proportions and delicate inscriptions.
Palazzo dello Spagnolo, Naples
Must-SeeAn extraordinary external staircase (scala aperta) in the Rione Sanita. Walk in off the street and look up. Free and staggering.
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence
Must-SeeMichelozzo's courtyard for the Medici — the first Renaissance palazzo courtyard. Classical columns, Benozzo Gozzoli's chapel upstairs.
Spanish Quarter Courtyards, Naples
Must-SeeThe Quartieri Spagnoli hide dozens of courtyard surprises — baroque staircases, palm trees, and hanging laundry framing the sky.
Where to start
Italy has the world's greatest concentration of italian courtyards. Use this guide to find the masterpieces — then let yourself be surprised by what you discover on your own.