Italian Steps - Enjoying a night out - Cultural notes

Fact File

• Italy's nightlife ranges from as sedate to as wild as you wish. From relaxing in a bar simply watching the world go by or a night at the opera to frantic 24 hour partying for the energetic, it's all available. And because the legal drinking age in Italy is 16 and there are no licensing laws, drinking is possible at all hours of the day and night, although Italians don't go in for heavy drinking sessions.



• When it comes to bars, you're spoilt for choice in Italy, but be aware that drinks can double in price if you sit down and many bars don't accept credit cards. Pubs and beer gardens are very popular in Italy and the number of Irish-style pubs is growing fast. Unlike their counterparts in Ireland and England, service in these pubs in Italy is at the table and not at the bar. Italians are big fans of jazz and you'll find jazz clubs throughout the country.



• When in Rome, why not do as the Romans do and see and be seen? Romans, like many Italians, favour the lifestyle highlighted in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita', starting with la passeggiata, a stroll around the city after dinner, stopping off at the trendy wine bars and lively late-opening cafés of Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona and Via della Pace for a drink, a coffee or ice cream, before heading onto a club, such as the famous Piper Club, Alibi or Jackie O', a notorious celebrity hang out.



• Florence is a university city and has a large number of bars and discos, offering all types of music from techno to Latin rhythms and Brazilian beats every day of the week. Nightlife centres around Piazza della Signoria, where some of the pubs stay open as late as 3am. Popular cafes include Zoe, Dolce Vita and Porfirio Rubirosa while Central Park, in the Parco delle Cascine, is on the outskirts of the city. For a more cultural experience, many of Florence's beautiful churches play host to free classical music concerts.



• Nightlife in Venice is very limited, with only a handful of clubs, such as El Souk and Casanova, and most restaurants closing early, at around midnight. Most of the action takes place in the early evening, when Venetians take to the streets for their passeggiata, daily stroll, occasionally stopping off for an aperitif in the area of St Mark's Square. For less swanky establishments, head for the backstreets of Cannaregio and San Polo, where you'll find bacari, pubs similar to osterie. The most famous bar in Venice is Harry's Bar, Ernest Hemingway's favourite watering hole. This exclusive venue is famous for its cocktails, in particular, the Bellini, made with fresh peach juice and Prosecco.



• In contrast to Venice, Milan has a very lively nightlife scene, partly due to its ties to the fashion and design industries, where the city's young professionals work hard by day and play hard by night. The city is full of restaurant-bars, all vying to keep hold of their customers for the whole evening. But the Milanese tend to move on to take in several venues during the night. Most bars and restaurants stay open until around 1am and the most popular areas are around the canals of the bohemian Navigli district and the swankier Brera area, north of the Cathedral. And if you want to rub shoulders with Milan's beautiful people, Hollywood is one of the hottest venues on Milan club scene.



• Italians are big fans of House music and some of Europe's finest DJs, like Mario Più, come from Italy. The summer sees rave-like fiestas featuring DJs from Italy, the U.S., and the UK and if you're on the coast, look out for the numerous beach parties. Even the lakes aren't always a tranquil get-away-from-it-all. Lake Garda offers trendy discos and pubs and parties galore in the summer.