The last day of the year can be bright and beautiful in Italy as the natives love festivals and fireworks. The celebration of New Year in Italy starts like any other country on New Year’s Eve as the Italians celebrate La Festa di San Silvestro. People spend most of their time with their families and friends. As you might have imagined, food plays a major role in any Italian festival, and the celebrations for the New Year in Italy are no different. Italians believe that evil spirits loathe noise, so they make as much noise during New Year’s Eve, from setting off fireworks, banging pans, shouting or simply opening a bottle of fine Italian champagne.
8 Ways To Celebrate New Year In Italy
If you are worrying about where to spend your New Year’s Eve in Italy, it is time for you to stop doing that. We present the best ways to celebrate your New Year in Italy and start your year with a kickoff.
- Feast And Party
- Countdown Kisses
- Fireworks
- Palazzo Ducale
- Traditional Celebration Of Bologna
- Sunrise
- Dance Till Dawn
- Wine And Fiery Performances
1. Feast And Party
When you talk about mouthwatering cuisines, Italian food always cuts. Italians get together this year with their friends and families for huge feasts. One of the famous traditions in Italy is having lentils on the menu for New Year’s Eve dinner. Italians believe that lentils are a sign of wealth and good fortune. Likewise, many parts of Italy also consider a cotechino or a campione in the dinner—both pork meals that symbolize the richness of life. Most big cities host parties of different varieties—from concerts to musicals to dancing until dawn—offering more varieties within the events themselves. If you don’t want to watch something live, there are also numerous clubs you can attend during New Year’s in Italy.
Also Read: Italy In December
2. Countdown Kisses
A famous tradition of counting down to strike the clock next is everywhere, and the midnight kiss tags along with the tradition. With its annual ‘Love’ event, the Piazza San Marco makes Venice in Italy special. Tens of thousands of people, after their feast, gather in San Marco for the countdown, witnessing the fireworks and singing the new year song, waiting for that midnight kiss. Most kiss with a belief of peace and love, while others are just looking for a smooch. If you can’t make it to Venice, find a partner for yourself and experience the tradition no matter the destination during New Year in Italy.
Location: Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
Price: Free
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3. Fireworks
As we mentioned at the start of the article, Italians believe that evil spirits hate noise. Therefore, fireworks are a common sight during the New Year in Italy and are very loud. They last for more than hours in some places, brightening the entire city with colourful lights. In most cities, the public fireworks take place in the central square. Fireworks display with the view of Castel dell’Ovo in Naples, over the Colosseum in Rome and the reflection of fireworks in Arno during New Years Eve in Florence, Italy, are considered the best displays in the country, adding to the already lit nightlife in Italy. The Castle of the EStense Family in Ferrara also displays fireworks with its view with beautiful music and hundreds of spectators.
Location: Rome, Florence or Naples.
Price: Views should always be free.
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4. Palazzo Ducale
If you are looking for something different or if you find your place in peace and less noise, Italy still has plenty to offer for New Year in Italy. Most museums are closed during the festival, but few museums open throughout the night during this day. Lose yourself in the masterpieces of Picasso at midnight in Genova at the Palazzo Ducale or enjoy a classy gala dinner with a guided tour in the Museum of the Ancient Delta in Comacchio. Also, eight of Genova’s famous Palazzi dei Rolli will welcome visitors until the early hours. Do not forget to check what’s open while you plan your visit.
Location: Genova or Comacchio, Italy.
Price: NA
Tip: A peaceful New Year in Italy or a classy gala dinner.
5. Traditional Celebration Of Bologna
The richness of culture, tradition and food never surprises the world. Bologna, a city in northern Italy, witnesses a unique New Year’s tradition. Every last day of the year, December 31st, the Rogo del Vecchione is made – named after a specially made dummy (of the old man) designed by a different artist each year. It is then burnt on a bonfire, a sign of forgetting all the bad things that happened during the year and welcoming the new, fresh one. This happens precisely at midnight, but other events (usually a concert) occur before the burning event. You can stay at any of the classic homestays in Italy to experience this best.
Location: Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy
Price: Free
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6. Sunrise
Usually, around the world, you eat, drink, party, kiss, wish and go to bed to wake up late tomorrow, forgetting all your New Year’s resolutions. It is quite different in Italy. Italians stay awake to watch the sunrise on the very first day of the year. If you want to indulge intensely in the Italian New Year, get ready to gulp a few cups of espresso. Give an end to your New Year in Italy celebration by watching a new day unfold. While most may argue this, the best thing about Italy has to be the traditions followed in different parts of the country rather than its food. Italy is highly diverse regarding welcoming tourists and satisfying everyone’s needs.
Location: The best place to watch a sunrise is Otranto in Apulia, Italy. If you happen to be in Rome, welcome the New Year in Italy at Ponte della Scienza bridge, where the sunrises sync perfectly with jazz pianist Daniele Rea’s tunes.
Price: Free
7. Dance Till Dawn
The best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Italy for dance and party lovers is to head to Piazzetta in Capri and party till dawn. With rockstar DJ music, a fantastic ambience, and a thrilling vibe, Capri is the place to be this New Year if partying mainly revolves around dancing for you and your amigos (or maybe just you!). Lined with the happening international pubs and bars on all sides, it lives up to its reputation as the best dance party zone in Italy.
Location: Piazzetta in Capri
Price: Free
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8. Wine And Fiery Performances
If you want to further jazz up your all-night dance party with some booze and glamour, you can head to Piazza del Popolo. The all-night NYE party with an endless supply of wine (Prosecco) and some dazzling street performances will make your New Year celebration in Italy thrilling! And the fireworks following the party at midnight will make you want to come here yearly for the New Year celebration! Rumour has it that sumptuous New Year dinner feasts and free outdoor concerts will accompany this year’s party on Piazza del Popolo!
Location: Piazza del Popolo, Rome
Price: A bottle of Prosecco (wine) may cost you around INR 1,070/- ($15)
8 Places To Celebrate New Year In Italy
Here are some locations in Italy where you can join the party for a superb start to the new year. If you feel celebrating New Year at these places in Italy can get a little pricey, you can consider staying at any fabulous hostels in Italy to cut costs and make new friends! Scroll down and pick the best place in Italy for New Year’s Eve that you would want to visit.
- Rimini – World’s Longest NYE Celebration
- Bologna – Decorating Oxen And Burning Effigies
- Milan – Opera And Good Food!
- Venice – Cruise Parties And Wine On The Streets
- Ferrara – A Fiery Display Over An Ancient Castle
- Florence – Feasts, Music, And Dance
- Rome – Head Out And Party On The Streets
- Naples – Music Concerts And Fireworks
1. Rimini – World’s Longest New Year’s Eve Celebration!
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The Italian New Year traditions at Piazzale Fellini in Rimini are so huge that they are televised throughout Italy so that no one would miss out on the fun occurring on the fabulous coast of Rimini. The celebrations usually start on December 1 and last till January 8 each year, making it the longest-ever New Year’s celebration in the whole world! And it’s not just about fireworks, feasts, and partying. New Year in Rimini involves dancing, ice skating, outdoor concerts, pub gigs with complimentary Prosecco, and much more.
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2. Bologna – Decorating Oxen And Burning Effigies
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Bologna uses some of the oldest Italian New Year’s Day traditions, including the Fiera del Bue Grasso (fat ox fair) at the Piazza San Petronio. People decorate an ox in vibrant colours, flowers, and ribbons from head to tail, lighting candles and setting fireworks outside the church. The ceremony ends with a unique lottery where the winner gets to keep the ox. Before midnight, people celebrate with live music and performances and a street market at Piazza Maggiore. Finally, at midnight, an effigy of an old man is thrown into a huge bonfire to symbolize the end of the old year.
3. Milan – Opera And Good Food!
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The Milanesi ring in the New Year at Piazza Duomo in an extraordinary way! It’s the best place in Italy for New Year’s Eve for those who love music and dancing! There’s a free concert held in the main square with music and street performances, stand-up comedy sessions, and special guests to entertain the spectators. Or you can even head to Teatro alla Scala for the New Year’s Eve Gala Verdi concert or Milan’s Auditorium for the Beethoven concert if you’re not a fan of massive crowds. For an even quieter New Year celebration, head to any good restaurant for the classic “none”, a multi-course meal that will make you fall in love with Italian cuisine!
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4. Venice – Cruise Parties And Wine On The Streets
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Imagine sailing on those long gondolas of Venice and watching the sky ablaze with fireworks! Yeah, that’s precisely the kind of New Year celebration this city will treat you with! The evening is typically accompanied by snacks and wine in small alleys, making it the best place for New Year in Italy. If you receive an invite for a party in one of Venice’s gigantic palaces or have dinner on any fabulous cruises in Italy, it’ll turn the excitement up a few notches.
5. Ferrara – A Fiery Display Over An Ancient Castle
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This is the most bizarre New Year’s Eve celebration in Italy and the most fun one! Ferrara ends the year with the classic ‘L’incendio del Castello Estense’, which means the fire of the Este Castle. One of the most famous castles in Italy, the Este Castle serves as the symbol of this Emilia-Romagna town and the centre of all the festivities on New Year’s Eve in this city, including the mega firework show launched into the sky from this very castle at midnight. The show is accompanied by music and dance, the perfect way to welcome the new year!
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6. Florence – Feasts, Music, And Dance
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The historic city of Florence turns into a fun and frolic hub on New Year’s Eve. With lovely New Year’s Eve dinners at restaurants and palaces, live jazz music at Caffe del Verone terrace, outdoor music concerts, and music gigs in bars and pubs with deals on food and drinks, Florence is probably the best place to ring in the New Year in Italy for music lovers. You can also enjoy the New Year time by heading out for some therapeutic and fun shopping in Florence. No matter which cafe, palace, museum, or street you enter that day, you’ll be met with celebratory music and snacks that won’t run out before the clock strikes 12.
7. Rome – Head Out And Party On The Streets
The New Year festivities in the Eternal City of Rome last 24 hours, with something exciting happening every couple of hours. There are several music performances, a fireworks display, a guitar performance, street parties, cheerleading, marching bands, jazz bands, dance performances, and 450 U.S. artists performing several stunts. You can head to places like Piazza dell’Emporio, Giardino degli Aranci, Circo Massimo, Via Petroselli, Lungotevere Aventino, Lungotevere dei Pierleoni and Isola Tiberina to see some of the other part of the action. You can also take one of the fantastic day trips from Rome to celebrate New Year a little unconventionally.
Related Post: Bologna Nightlife
8. Naples – Music Concerts And Fireworks
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The New Year celebrations will kick off with the ‘Concertone di Capodanno’, essentially the New Year’s Eve big concert held every year in the stunning setting of Piazza del Plebiscito. You’ll be able to witness several artists perform all night long, and the fabulous pool of talent will ensure you’re not bored or distracted even for a second. This will be followed by the famous Naples New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Gulf that blow your mind!
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Whether you are a music head, a food lover, an avid dancer, a party animal, a beauty lover, or simply someone who likes solitude during the New Year, Italy has something for everyone. And wherever you visit for New Year in Italy, you will always be welcomed and surrounded by the locals – making sure your New Year’s Eve is cheerful, healthy and especially – Italian. There are numerous events you can attend, but make sure you check beforehand for the tickets. Your enjoyment is inevitable when you plan your trip to Italy for the New Year’s festival, making every penny you spend worth it.
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Frequently Asked Questions About New Year In Italy
Is Vatican City open on New Year’s Day?
The Vatican Museum including the Sistine Chapel remains closed on every New Year’s Day.
What is Capodanno Italy?
The literal translation of Capodanno or Capo d’anno in English would be the head-day of the year. It is just another way to refer to New Year’s Day in Italy.
What do Italians eat on New Year’s Eve?
We all know how particular and passionate the Italians are about their food. However, on New Year’s Day, the people lay out a traditional platter that includes cotechino con lenticchie, sausages and green lentils. Many also prefer legumes viz. lentils, peas and beans. The idea of including such food items in the meal on New Year’s Day is to symbolize wealth and abundance.
Why do Italians eat lentils on New Years?
The meal on New Year’s Day in any Italian household is rich and hearty. Lentils are a must along with other items because of their resemblance with coins which further implies bounty.
What is New Year’s Eve called in Italy?
New Year’s Eve is called St Sylvester’s Feast or La Festa di San Silvestro in Italy.
What is Rome like for New Years Eve?
Rome is one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe. While it may be a little religiously inclined, it doesn’t mean that you won’t have an absolute ball spending New Year’s Eve here. The city comes alive with an air of vigour and jive on 31st December. Here are a few places in the city that you can visit on this day to have a great time: – Villa Borghese – Centro Storico – The Vatican City – The Colosseum – Trastevere Area
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Anjana is a writer, journalist, and a full-time wallflower. She holds a Master’s degree in Media and Mass Communication and firmly believes that travel blogging is nothing less than art. Combining her love for writing with her passion for globetrotting, she brings to you some amazing tips on traveling perfectly, be it any season of the year! In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to obscure indie bands, and writing poetry – all of this while being a crazy dog lady.
