Getting Ready for New Year’s Eve (Part One)

Do you want to escape the crowds, far from it all, or hold hands and plunge into dancing and celebrations, soaking up an atmosphere of chatter and concerts—without missing the traditional toast and fireworks? The only rule: welcome the coming year together. If you’ve just tied the knot but must wait a little longer for your honeymoon, don’t forgo ringing in 2019 as the newly minted couple you are. And if you’re still on the path to marriage, celebrate the family you’ll soon start. Here, then, are some leisure ideas offered by a handful of Italy’s major cities to their visitors…

Romantic as the monuments it showcases, Rome glows under its festive lights. Your route can stretch from the Colosseum to the Imperial Forums, from Piazza Navona to Campo de’ Fiori, from Piazza Venezia along Via del Corso and onward to the Vatican. Centuries are heaped one atop another in a back-and-forth of sensations that wink conspiratorially at lovers. Feeling lazy and craving pampering? Reserve an exclusive evening at a spa. At Palazzo Montemartini, you can even privatize the entire facility. In addition to gifting yourselves a few hours of true relaxation amid luxury, you’ll take home an indelible memory.

If the Eternal City doesn’t spurn high-society gatherings, Milan reigns supreme. Numerous venues in and around the city offer elegant New Year’s dinners—Boatta, Classico Bio, Ca’Solare, to name a few. But if you want the ultimate finale, book a soirée at Castello di Pomerio, about half an hour from downtown. A roaring fireplace and frescoed halls, illuminated gardens… it’s an Eden for those who, after admiring the beauty of the Navigli, the Duomo terraces, the Pinacoteca di Brera and Piazza San Fedele’s Manzoni monument, aspire to a year-end fit for royalty.

On the eve of 2020, savor the charm of bygone eras without sacrificing an ounce of fascination. Venetian craftsmanship is unparalleled: witness Murano’s master glassblowers or the lace artisans of Burano; don a mask—pride of the lagoon’s artisans—and lose yourself in Venice’s winding alleys, gently rocked by a gondola under the moonlight. Bringing laughter back to a city that—now more than ever—must not sink under the weight of its priceless heritage could be the ethical journey’s starting point.

For over twenty years, the “Luci d’Artista” festival has dressed Turin’s streets in brilliant artworks for the holidays. Extended through January 12, it stops locals and tourists alike with heads tilted skyward, marveling at a dazzling display by Italian and international artists. Prefer dance? Teatro Regio presents Roberto Bolle & Friends. Or indulge at the QC Terme spas, where wellness-focused stays promise pure rejuvenation.

In Biella, ethnic eateries like Ikura in Chiavazza or Gao Fusion bring the heart of Eastern cuisine to Piedmont. Meanwhile, Florence’s Four Seasons hotel hosts “Florence Rouge,” draping its venue in cascades of red velvet to evoke memories of old-world Paris, complete with live music and gourmet delights. In the mood for comedy? The trio Panariello, Conti & Pieraccioni performs at the Mandela Forum. For sheer luxury, don’t miss a five-course storytelling dinner at Palazzo della Gherardesca—an unforgettable feast for the most discerning palate.