Rome, the capital city of Italy, celebrates its New Year in concord with its mother country on January 1st. New Year’s Eve is referred as ‘La Festa di San Silvestro’. When Rome is in celebration, one definitely ends up having lot many choices to choose from. It reflects the cult Italian traditions and customs, as well hosts the modern day New Year celebrations with class and style. Catholics from all around the world gather in Roma to have their first dawn of the New Year rise through the skies of the Eternal city.

New Year Celebrations in Rome

In almost every corner of the Rome, a party is placed. People love to eat, drink, dance, cheer, and party hard during the time, usually with close friends and family. People come together, either in social parties, concerts, on streets, or in parties organized at home. Villas and old palaces host some of the grandest parties of the evening. During New Year’s time, most of the hotels, restaurants, and pubs offer typical New Year menus, with a lot more offered as complimentary.

People start to come out of their houses as soon as the moment of midnight gets closer. The most famous place to be in is the Squares in the Rome, where one can find thousands others cheering, eating, drinking, and dancing to the tunes of classic, modern, and rock music. You can easily find many holding a bottle of champagne in their hands, which is planned to be toasted at twelve.

The celebrations organized in and around Piazza del Popolo is perhaps the grandest New Year open air party in the entire Rome, with thousands in attendance. However, those looking to have comparatively calmer and at the same time delightful New Year celebrations can move to the Roman city centre quarter of quartiere di Trastevere. This place, which is said to reflect the authentic Rome, has some blazing fireworks planned to be set off at the midnight. Other places where one be certain of having blisteringly enjoyable New Year celebrations are in via dei Fori Imperialli, which is near to Coliseum, which have a live music show and fireworks show at midnight, and Via Nazionale, which have a classical music concert.

During the midnight time, entire sky of Rome turns into an illuminating blend of vibrant colors, created out of the pre-planned fireworks show. Also, toasts are raised with all those present around to mark their cheer and pleasure for the arrival of a New Year. Rock concerts, live shows, musical concerts, amusements, and symphony music in auditoriums play perfect hosts to those who wish to have their New Year celebrations in an astounding way. Moreover, most of them are free. There is a yearly custom of organizing a classical music concert in Piazza del Quirinale, with some of the most eminent personalities of Italy, such as President of Italy and senior members of the government, marking their presence in it.

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Rome

Traditionally, New Year’s time is associated with grand feasts, and with the eating of traditional dishes such as pasta and fish, with wine in company for sure. It is also necessarily to have a meal starting with antipasto, followed by zampone, cotechino, smoked salmon, and capitone along with salad. Eating of pork is also important as according to beliefs, it reflects for prosperity in the entire coming year. Similarly, eating of lentils is believed to confer one with wealth in the coming year. However, if you choose to move out top some restaurant or an eating joint, you will find yourself inadequately incapable to choose from the long menu reflecting some of the best eating delicacies of the world.

More New Year Traditions