The people of Italy love celebrating festivals especially the New Year celebrations, fondly remembered as Il Capodanno. Il Capodanno specifically refers to New Year’s Day, while La Festa di San Silvestro refers to New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve in Italy is one of the vividly and popularly celebrated festivals here.
Plan your holiday and get your tickets as well as tourist visa to Italy in advance as there is a major rush during the New Year’s season in many parts of Italy. We have listed some of the highlights which will help you plan your holiday in Italy and be a part of the vivacious New Year celebration in Italy.
Celebrating Il Capodanno: Your Guide to New Year’s Eve Traditions in Italy
What is it like to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Italy?
Across the peninsula, numerous cultural events and artistic showcases await visitors. Old traditions come alive with vibrant celebrations, lively dance gatherings, and charming eateries serving hearty traditional meals. To experience the authentic Italy celebration yourself further, visit the bustling main squares where live music resonates and fireworks light up the sky. And also, you should definitely join the locals in toasting with Prosecco as the clock strikes midnight!
8 Unforgettable New Year’s Eve Experiences in Italy
1. New Year’s Morning Swim
Start your year with an invigorating plunge into Italy’s waters! This refreshing tradition sees brave souls diving into cold seas, lakes, or rivers on January 1st. Venice’s Lido Beach hosts one of the most famous New Year’s dips, where swimmers battle the chilly Adriatic waters. Locals say it’s the perfect hangover cure after a night of celebrations! Join the cheerful crowd of swimmers, or just watch and cheer from the beach. Either way, it’s an unforgettable way to welcome the New Year!
2.La Festa di San Silvestro
This is celebrated on December 31st each year. Families and friends get together and enjoy a huge delicious feast. The dinner mainly consists of traditional Italian dishes such as zampone, stuffed pig’s trotter or Cotechino, which is a spiced up sausage preparation. Pork and Lentils symbolize good fortune, richness, and money in the coming year.
3. Traditional Tombola Night
Gather around with locals for an exciting game of Tombola, Italy’s beloved New Year’s tradition! This fun-filled game brings families and friends together on December 31st, creating unforgettable memories. Picture yourself sitting at a cozy table, numbered cards in hand, as the game master pulls numbers one by one. The room fills with laughter and excited shouts of “Tombola!” when someone wins. Many Italian families make this game the centerpiece of their evening before the midnight celebrations begin. Don’t forget to grab some traditional snacks and prosecco to enjoy while playing!
4. Lo Sciuscio Musical Adventure
Discover the magical tradition of Lo Sciuscio, especially alive in Naples’ outskirts! Watch as local musicians move from house to house, filling the streets with traditional songs and dances on New Year’s Eve. These amateur performers keep an old custom alive, spreading joy through music and receiving small gifts or treats in return. Some say these musical visits bring good luck to both performers and hosts. It’s like caroling but with an Italian twist – complete with traditional instruments, regional songs, and the warm hospitality Italy is famous for!
5.Fireworks and Dancing
There is a grand fireworks display at midnight of New Year’s Eve in almost every part of Italy. Many fireworks are hosted in a central square, with several private parties also joining with sparklers and firecrackers in the recent past. Naples is one of the popular towns where you can experience the best fireworks displays in Italy.
Dancing comes naturally to Italians and fireworks are often coupled with local music and dance in major cities in Italy such as Rome, Bologna, Palermo, Milan, and Naples. There are several live rock bands who perform on New Year’s Eve with some of the events even broadcasted on television.
6. The Red Underwear Tradition
Join in one of Italy’s quirkiest New Year’s customs – wearing red underwear! This fun tradition sees both locals and tourists sporting red undergarments on December 31st, believing it brings good luck for the coming year. Shops across Italy stock up on red underwear weeks before the big day, with displays full of lucky garments. The tradition says you should receive your red underwear as a gift for the best luck. Whether you believe in luck or not, it’s a fun way to join in the local spirit and start conversations at parties!
7. The Window Tossing Ritual
Experience one of Italy’s most unique New Year’s traditions – the symbolic tossing of old items from windows! While this custom isn’t as widely practiced as it once was, some areas still keep it alive. The idea is simple: throw out old things to make room for new beginnings. Today, most people participate safely by tossing small symbolic items or joining organized events where they can safely discard old belongings. Remember, this tradition is more about the symbolic fresh start than actually throwing things from windows!
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Places in Italy to check out this New Year’s Eve
1.Rome
The celebrations in Rome is centered in Piazza Del Popolo. This is home to classical and rock music coupled with dance and fireworks till wee hours of the New Year. Early morning there are acrobats and performers who entertain children across all age groups with their magical performances. The Colosseum on Via Dei Fori Imperiali is another place to check out in Rome. Popular international and local bands feature as a part of the New Year extravaganza. Spectacular fireworks display in front of the Quirinale marks the beginning of the New Year. You can also indulge in an elegant evening dinner at the beautiful Casina Valaier in the park which gives you panoramic views of the city of Rome. Apart from this, there are symphony or opera shows in several theaters with some nightclubs in the city featuring special events.
2.Naples and Capri
You will not find a better fireworks display on New Year’s Eve in Italy than the one in Naples. Outdoor musical events in Piazza Del Plebiscito in the city center feature the best of classical, rock, and traditional music as a countdown till the New Year.
An old tradition called Lo Sciuscio is practiced mostly exists in the outskirts of the city of Naples. Here a group of amateur musicians play music going from house to house singing and dancing on New Year’s Eve in return for small gifts of money or sweets, which is considered as a sign of good luck.
Local folkloric bands perform in the Piazzetta and Piazza Diaz on the island of Capri near Naples on New Year’s Eve. These are some of the best things to do in Capri and Naples.
3.Venice
Being one of the most romantic cities in Italy, the restaurants in Venice hosts grand feasts coupled with fine wine is served until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Only early birds can make a reservation and enjoy an elegant evening in the finest Italian restaurants. Make sure your pockets are loaded as the restaurants charge a huge premium.
St. Mark’s Square marks the New Year celebrations with loud music, grand fireworks, bellini brindisi – which is a toast, and huge group kisses at midnight in Piazza Ferretto in Mestre. There are also several live concerts which are coupled with welcome drinks, dinner, and midnight toast.
Reservations for popular New Year’s Eve events and restaurants often need to be made weeks or even months in advance, not just for early birds. Many people also prefer to take a chill dip in the cold waters of Venice’s Lido Beach. A perfect way to get rid of your hangover.
4. Milan
Fashion Capital’s Grand Welcome Milan welcomes the New Year with incredible style! The city’s famous Piazza del Duomo transforms into a massive outdoor concert venue, hosting free performances that draw thousands. The magnificent Duomo cathedral provides a stunning backdrop for midnight fireworks. For music lovers, Teatro alla Scala offers special New Year’s Eve gala concerts featuring world-class opera performances. Fancy a more intimate celebration? Milan’s high-end restaurants serve traditional “cenone” (big dinner) with multiple courses of Milanese specialties. Don’t miss the fashion district’s exclusive parties where locals dress in their finest to welcome the New Year!
5.Bologna
New Year’s Eve is celebrated in traditional style with the Fiera del Bue Grasso. An ox is decorated from top to bottom with ribbons and flowers. People light their candles and the church bells are rung and fireworks set off in the sky. At the end of the function, a special lottery is held with the winner gets to keep the ox. This procession ends before midnight in Piazza San Petronio. There are live music performances and street markets in Piazza Maggiore.The Fiera del Bue Grasso tradition is not universally practiced throughout Bologna and may be more of a regional or historical tradition.
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6.Florence
Extravagant meals and Italian delicacies are served in many restaurants in Florence. Early reservation is the key as the rush intensifies as New Year draws to a close. Catching the best seat gives you a wonderful display of the grand fireworks set off on one of the Arno bridges. There are public concerts held in Piazza Della Repubblica and Piazza Della Signoria. Tenax which is one of the most popular clubs in Florence holds a surprise New Y ear’s Eve party for its guests.
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7.Rimini
Situated on the Adriatic coast, this is one of the most popular nightlife spots in Italy and probably one of the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Apart from the happening socialite parties in several nightclubs and bars, there is a grand festival in Piazzale Fellini which starts at 9pm on New Year’s Eve. Side by side, there are musical concerts, dancing, entertainment and grand fireworks display which are going to make your New Year truly spectacular.
8. Ferrara
Experience New Year’s Eve in Ferrara, where history meets celebration! The highlight is the spectacular “L’incendio del Castello Estense” – a breathtaking fireworks display over the medieval Este Castle. Thousands gather in the castle square for what locals call Europe’s most beautiful New Year’s show. The entire UNESCO-listed city center comes alive with concerts, street performances, and food stalls serving local delicacies. The magical atmosphere of this Renaissance city combined with modern celebrations creates an unforgettable New Year’s experience. Don’t forget to try the traditional “salama da sugo” at local festivities!
Where to stay in Italy
Arranging an accommodation in one of the popular areas in Italy can sometimes be heavy on your pocket. There are several pocket-friendly & stylish hotels in Italy which provide cheap accommodations and are best for tourists and guests who are just looking for an overnight accommodation. There is a host of youth hostels and campgrounds which are ideal for budget travels. If you are looking for better options, then you can also opt for B&B options, rifugi – mountain huts, agriturismi – farm stays. Options are endless which will more than ever capture your imagination. It all depends on the budget you have allocated for your accommodation.
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FAQs
Why lentils is eaten on New Year by Italians?
In every Italian home, the New Year’s Day feast is lavish and satisfying. Lentils are a must, symbolizing coins and abundance, alongside other delectable dishes
What are some of the New Year’s traditions of Italy?
Italians celebrate New Year’s Day in a really special way, following their old traditions and enjoying fun and interesting rituals. Some of those things are:
- Wearing Red Clothes: On New Year’s Eve, Italians wear red from top to bottom. It is not a fashion choice only. They believe it keeps away bad spirits and negativity.
- Different Foods: Instead of having pizzas and pasta for the special meal, Italians eat lentils and grapes. Each of these foods means something special.
- Bingo for Everyone: People of all ages come together to play Bingo on 31 December. It is believed to be a fun way for families and friends to spend time together.
- Breaking Plates: In the countryside, they have a unique way to start the New Year – by breaking plates and cups. It’s a noisy and symbolic way to welcome the new beginning.
- First-Person Superstition: There is a belief that if the first person you meet after midnight is an older person of the opposite gender, it means you will have a fantastic year. But if it is a child of the same gender, be careful, as it might bring some bad luck.
How is Rome on The New Year’s Eve?
Rome stands out as one of the most gorgeous spots in Europe. Even though it has a touch of religious vibes, you will still have a blast celebrating New Year’s Eve here. The reason is that the entire city buzzes with energy and excitement on 31 December. Here are a few awesome places to make the most of your time:
- Villa Borghese
- Centro Storico
- The Vatican City
- The Colosseum
- Trastevere Area
What do we call New Year’s Eve in Italy?
St Sylvester’s Feast or La Festa di San Silvestro is the other name for New Year’s Eve in Italy.
Is Vatican City open on New Year’s Day?
On New Year’s Day, the Vatican Museum, along with the Sistine Chapel, is not open to visitors.