The Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s in Italy

From the legendary fireworks over some of the most famous Italian cities to historic traditions celebrated with locals, here are the best places to celebrate New Year’s in Italy. 

The romantic city of Venice lights up the night sky on the 31st of December. The winding canals, historic architecture, and winter wonderland feel offer the ultimate place to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Italy. 

On any given day, St Mark’s Square is a tourist hotspot and for good reason. Surrounded by historic buildings and bustling bars and restaurants, St Mark’s Square is a true Italian treat. Come New Year’s Eve, the square is full to the brim with families, friends, couples, and kids, with everyone looking to the skies for the ultimate firework display that lights up the canals. This, along with the towering St Mark's Campanile striking twelve, you can truly ring in the new year.  

Citalia’s Discover Venice on Foot tour is one of the best ways to take in the best this famous city has to offer. From the lively atmosphere of Piazza San Marco to walking across Rialto Bridge, your professional tour guide is on hand to take you through these famous sites. 

Head to Teatro La Fenice to experience some of the best Italian opera. Each year there are different performances to celebrate the new year with the sound of sweet serenades. To make the most of your Venice holiday, Citalia’s Venice Opera Break offers a three-night opera extravaganza, putting you in the heart of one of Italy’s most famous pastimes. 

Historic Rome offers a history lover's dream Italian New Year's Eve celebration. The backdrop of some of the most prevalent historic sites like the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel make the celebrations an all-out history spectacular. 

Music and festivities are a big part of New Year’s in Rome, with many heading to the famous Circus Maximus, an ancient chariot racing stadium. Here, music fills the air, bringing in the new year from a classic historical site. Quirinal Square also offers beautiful classical music with blissful sounds radiating through the square’s historical architecture. 

Another fun evening awaits at Piazza del Popolo where you can celebrate with locals and visitors. Live music performances, dancing, singing, and a New Year’s parade bring everyone together to toast new beginnings. Just be sure to leave enough time to look to the skies where bursts of colours fill the night with the fantastic firework displays. 

While New Year’s in Italy is fantastic, you should leave enough time to see the historic sites in all their glory during the day. Citalia’s Walking Tour of Rome takes you through the city’s over 2,000-year history with a professional guide. From the Spanish Steps and cobble-stoned streets to the Pantheon and famous piazzas, Rome has it all. 

To experience a wonderful Italian tradition, Bologna on New Year’s Eve is where you want to be. Taking place at Piazza Maggiore, Rogo del Vecchione is a celebration in the heart of the city where a massive puppet of non-polluting materials is set alight to represent the closing of the year gone by. This tradition dates back to the 19th century. Today, the puppet is created by local artists, with a new theme each year. This is a fantastic way to get in on an Italian tradition and celebrate like a local. 

Before the celebrations, you should make your way to some of the fantastic restaurants and bars of Bologna. It is, after all, one of the many foodie gems in Italy. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a piazza that isn’t serving up delectable local delicacies. 

For true foodies, Citalia’s Gastronomic Highlights of Emilia Romagna Small Group Escorted Tour is an absolute must. This six-day escorted tour takes you around this stunning region where you’ll experience some of the best food in Italy from some of the most famous foodie destinations, including Modena and Parma, to name a few. 

Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence offers a feast of historical architecture and famous art. If the sounds of duets and arias filling the Church of Santa Monaca sound good, the New Year’s Eve performance is sensational. 

Fireworks and Florence go together like fine cheese and wine—a match made in Italian heaven. As the sky lights up, head to the famous Ponte Vecchio to get a glimpse of the fireworks. The reflection of colours on the water below is beautiful. 

To take in the best of Florence, Citalia’s Small Group Walking Tour of Florence Including its Famous Cathedral guides you through the historic cobbled streets of the city, stopping at some of the most famous piazzas, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, and the Ponte Vecchio. 

Holidays in Florence are all about the legendary food and your Italian New Year’s Eve is no different. The city is home to seven Michelin-star restaurants and a range of hidden gems serving sensational traditional cuisine, accompanied by a glass of the region’s best Chianti. Be sure to get your bookings in early because everyone is looking for a table at some of the best restaurants in Italy. 

Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, is a gorgeous coupling of history and modern art. One thing that hasn’t changed is the city's merry atmosphere around the Christmas holidays, with towering Christmas trees and luminous lights hitting the streets. 

For an all-out New Year's Eve party, the Piazza del Duomo, Piazza Castello, and many others offer a host of fantastic events with live DJs, performances, games, and awesome firework displays at midnight. 

For a more relaxed evening of opera brilliance, La Scala Opera Theatre offers amazing performances each year. Dating back to the 18th century, this historic theatre takes you back to a simpler time when operatic serenades filled the streets of Milan, along with amazing displays of costumes throughout the years. 

Are you ready to experience the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Italy? Citalia are the UK’s leading Italy specialist with over 90 years' experience in tailoring holidays to Italy. Experts are on hand every step of the way to ensure you make memories to last a lifetime. It’s never too late to start planning your Italian escape!

Visit citalia.com to discover the real Italy on your next adventure. Andiamo!

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