From free concerts and fireworks on the piazzas to theater performances, from historical re-enactments to street parties, you won’t be bored on New Year’s Eve in Italy. Here’s what’s happening in some of Italy’s major cities, with tips and recommendations offered by local experts.
MILAN - Opera and dining with a view in the city of fashion
We asked Milan-based blogger Thea Duncan of to share her insider's knowledge of how the Milanesi ring in the new year:
"Without a doubt the most traditional way to ring in the New Year is in Piazza Duomo. Every year the city of Milan hosts a free concert in the main square with music, comedians and special guests. If you’d like to listen to music but you’re not into massive crowds, then maybe the New Year’s Eve Gala Verdi concert at Teatro alla Scala or Beethoven at Milan’s Auditorium are better options for you.
There is also the classic “cenone”, a massive multicourse meal, which s all over the boot will be enjoying. There will be restaurants and hotels all around the city offering meals to meet various tastes and price points. For example, you can celebrate the arrival of 2019 at restaurant Ceresio 7 with their rooftop deck that promises stunning views of the city as fireworks go off all around the city at midnight."
VENICE – Bacari, boats and baci
Venice is quite a coveted destination for New Year’s Eve, and there is much to do, starting the evening at the typical bacari, small taverns that offer plates of snacks and wine to serve as appetizer. Unless you’ve managed to get an invite for a party in one of Venice’s sumptuous palaces, you could opt for dinner on a boat, while navigating the lagoon until you reach the vicinity of Piazza San Marco, where you can enjoy the classic midnight fireworks display that is one of the highlights of the evening, when people gather for the 'Bacio di Mezzanotte', a collective kiss in the most romantic city in the world, a tradition that started 10 years ago.
FERRARA – A Medieval Castle is Set on Fire
Ferrara celebrates the end of the year with ‘L’incendio del Castello Estense’, the fire of the Este Castle, the monument that is the symbol of this Emilia-Romagna town. A spectacular fireworks display begins at midnight, right above the castle, accompanied by music. While you wait for midnight, there are several events to keep you entertained, such as the Cenone Rinascimentale or the Gran Cenone in the rooms of the castle, which dates from the Middle Ages. The Ducal Palace, the residence of the Este before the castle was built, also hosts some dinner events, like the Gran Cenone (cenone is the ‘big dinner’ of New Year’s Eve) and a lighter ‘Apericena’.
FLORENCE – Foodie feasts and music
For Florence, we turned to our Georgette Jupe, who has this list of recommendations:
“My friends over at Osteria dell’Enoteca have organized a lovely New Year’s Eve dinner that includes quite the menu of treats, I’m especially drooling over that braised Chianina beef and risotto. Read more about it .
The team at Curious Appetite has put together in Florence! There will be progressive feasts, moving from one place to the next, bubbles, truffles, pasta, wine, cheese & meat boards, holiday sweet breads like panettone with an expert guide to explain how these foods connect to the season, peppered with twinkly sights in between. Dates for tours are the 24th (Christmas Eve) 25th (Christmas Day) and January 1st (New Years Day). There is also a special NYE tour to ring in the New Year on a gourmet note.
A New Year’s Eve on December 31st, in the ancient Byzantine Tower at the “Saloni delle Feste” (drinks at the table included) at Hotel Brunelleschi otherwise has an exciting set menu (100€) offering a tasty gourmet menu including roasted duck breast with an orange and whiskey sauce.
Or head to the Caffe del Verone terrace of Innocenti Museum , you can also choose the option of a guided tour of the museum (well worth it) around 18:30.
Outdoor concerts (waiting for the official notice to be announced) are mainly with performances by Baby K and Francesco Renga, moderated by Radio Bruno. A fifties-themed musical concert will also be at Auditorium Flog on December 31st with affordable tickets around 25 euros a pop.
ROME – Take to the streets
The Eternal City celebrates the arrival of the new year for 24 hours, from 9 pm on the 31st to 9 pm on the 1st. It’s called ‘La Festa di Roma’ and involves the following areas: Piazza dell’Emporio, Giardino degli Aranci, Circo Massimo, Via Petroselli, Lungotevere Aventino, Lungotevere dei Pierleoni and Isola Tiberina. At Circo Massimo, there will be several music performances beginning at 9 pm; at midnight there will be a fireworks display, followed by more music, until 3 am. At 7 am on the 1st, Giardino degli Aranci will host a guitar performance by orchestra 100 Chitarre. At 2 pm, there will be a major street party in the area between Piazza dell’Emporio, Giardino degli Aranci, Circo Massimo Lungotevere Aventino, Lungotevere dei Pierleoni e Isola Tiberina, headlined by Rome Parade, which will see 450 U.S. artists, including marching bands, jazz bands, choirs, dancers and cheerleaders, perform along the streets.
For the complete program, click here.
NAPLES - Music over the Gulf
The ‘Concertone di Capodanno’ (New Year's Eve big concert) will be held like every year in the beautiful setting of Piazza del Plebiscito, located near the gulf of Naples. Several artists will perform all night long. It is a good spot to see the midnight fireworks over the sea. If you’ve never been to Naples during the holidays, make sure you visit Via San Gregorio Armeno, in the ancient heart of the city, to admire the unique statuettes and decorations of Naples’ famous nativity scenes. Be careful of firecrackers, which cause injuries to people every new year’s eve.
