Italy is undoubtedly one of the most magical and romantic countries in the world that boosts some scintillating and pulsating nightlife. Going out there can be quite different from going out in other places in Europe. Night clubs, restaurants and dancing pubs can be found in most of the cities and tourist centers. The restaurants and coffee shops through all Italy will invariably have tables in the outside, a way to enjoy the colorful street theater and the wonderful Italian weather. The concerts outdoors in summer are organized by the Opera House and the academy of Santa Cecilia; also there are theatre representations outdoors in the baths of Caracalla.
Romans like taking it easy; and Rome's nightlife may seem rather tame to those accustomed to the cutting-edge buzz of other European cities. There's some excellent clubs, playing the very latest in alternative, techno, ambient and drum and bass music. There are also some fantastic open-air concerts held all over the country during the summer evenings. A typical night out for Romans usually involves a long dinner with a group of friends, starting after 9 pm and continuing until after midnight. Bars in the center of town are good places to begin. Most have tables outside where you can sit around and people-watch until the small hours. There have lately been initiatives aimed at reducing noise by earlier closing hours, but this isn't yet widespread.
Campo dei Fiori, the Piazza Navona area, and Trastevere are some of the best places for an evening out. Locals and tourists alike stroll around the streets all evening, or sit at the many welcoming bars, which range from the stylish to the homely. If you want drunken good times, meeting other foreigners and predatory locals, head for one of the hundreds of Irish/Scottish pubs. For nightclubs and discothèque, the best area to head for is Testaccio. The area around Piramide metro station and spreading down the Via Ostiense contains the highest concentration of nightclubs. In the summer most nightclubs close down, and nightlife relocates to the seaside and to 'villages' around the edge of town. |
