On Rome’s New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, there is a big street party and in normal years an extensive official program. Leave the old behind and start a happy new year in Rome.
New Year’s Eve is a street festival in the Roman city center. Many Romans eat at home or in the restaurant and usually at midnight they flock to the city center, to the Colosseum or to the lookout hills to celebrate and watch the fireworks. Unfortunately, however, the official events are cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Please do not forget the safety rules against the coronavirus even on New Year’s Eve. You must wear a mask even outdoors. Possibly groups of No Vax will want to spread unrest in the city center around Piazza del Popolo. Therefore, you should avoid this area and rather celebrate happily in a place where you have enough space around.
New Year’s Eve traditions in Rome
If you want to be lucky in the new year, then you have to wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve, that’s the tradition. A good dose of lentils with cotechino, a kind of coarse cooked sausage, promises financial success. In the past, porcelain was also thrown out of the window, but this custom is no longer common today for safety reasons.
Events New Year’s Eve 2021/22
You can celebrate the New Year in many restaurants. Discos are unfortunately closed.
In St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope will celebrate a Te Deum at 5 p.m., which will be broadcast online.
Fireworks on New Years Eve
At midnight there is usually a fireworks display by the Roman municipal utilities on the Palatine Hill. However, the fireworks in the city are more interesting. Many Romans flock to the viewpoints such as the Pincio and the Gianicolo to be able to observe them well.
The previous Roman city administration has been trying to ban fireworks for years. The order of the Mayoress of Rome of December 21, 2016 banning fireworks in the urban area from December 29, 2016 to January 1, 2017 was revoked by the regional administrative court on December 28, 2016. On December 30, 2018, a ban was announced for December 31, 2018 and January 1, 2019. Nevertheless, there were quite impressive fireworks in the center. Also in 2019 and 2020 there were a last minute regulations by the mayoress to ban fireworks.
Even the curfew on New Year’s Eve 2020 did not keep the Romans from the fireworks. They already started while Gianna Nannini sobbed “io ti voglio” “I want you” on the live broadcast at midnight. Then the mayoress gave a short speech and in the background we could see the most beautiful fireworks, far more impressive than those of the municipal utilities.
The new mayor Roberto Gualtieri continues the tradition of last minute ordinances, announcing via Twitter on the afternoon of Dec. 30 the ban on fireworks until Jan. 6, 2022. He was also unsuccessful with this ordinance, as documented by a member of our Facebook group in this video.
Watch fireworks
The fireworks of the municipal utilities you see very well from the Circus Maximus.
You can watch the fireworks in Rome very well from the various viewpoints. Many Romans come to the terraces of the Gianicolo or the Pincio.
Buy fireworks in Rome
In the supermarkets in Rome you will only find adult free fireworks. There are very few specialized shops in Rome selling real fireworks. The addresses can be found on the internet under the search term “vendita fuochi d’artificio Roma”.
Before New Year’s Eve, long lines formed in front of the fireworks and it may take several hours to get your turn. If you want to crack properly, you should already stock up two to three days before.
Rome New Year 2022
At New Years it is very quiet in Rome. Many Romans went to bed very late.
Therefore, January 1 is a very quiet day. You can take a walk around the city or a trip to the sea or the mountains. In our category 3 days in Rome you will find many suggestions.
Museums
Good news comes from the new Councillor for Culture, Miguel Gotor, who is making every effort to offer a quality cultural program despite the restrictions because of Corona. On January 1, the museums of the Municipality of Rome are open 14 – 20 and admission is free. Reservation is necessary and possible from 28.12. on the website www.culture.roma.it/romacapodarte or by calling +39060608. For access you need the Super Green Pass, which proves full vaccination or recovery.
The National Museums and the Vatican Museums are closed on Jan. 1.
Restaurants
Many restaurants are open on January 1st. If you want an extensive menu or a brunch, you should make a reservation.
Amusement parks
New Year’s Eve at Luneur
The Luneur amusement park is located in the EUR district. Luneur celebrates New Year’s Eve with Christmas decorations and mythical creatures. You can find the opening times in the calendar.
Via delle Tre Fontane, 100
Bus 30, 170, 714, 791 Colombo/Agricoltura
Public transportation
Due to the possible curfew, the operating times of public transport are not yet known.
The metro runs on December 31 until 2:30 a.m. The line to Ostia Lido and the line Rome-Flaminia Montebello run until 2:30 a.m. From 2:30 to 8:00 along the metro lines and the line to Ostia Lido run the buses nMA-nMB-nMB1-nMC-nME.
On January 1, the metro runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. After that, nMA-nMB-nMB1-nMC buses run along metro lines A, B and C.
Bus and tram: Last departure on Dec. 31 at 9:00 p.m., except for lines H-2-128-170-200-280-301-336-544-766-881-905, which run until 2:30 a.m.. In addition, the night bus line n913 runs from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
On 1st January the holiday schedule starts from 8 a.m.
Information on long distance bus and rail connections can be found on Trainline.
The weather on New Year’s Eve
It’s cold on New Year’s Eve. It is windy at the viewpoints and if you want to light fireworks you should have a storm lighter with you.
If you want to party outside at night, you need warm clothes and gloves. The probability of rain can be found in the current weather report.
The holy Sylvester
Sylvester was bishop of Rome in the years 314-335. He was buried on the 31st of December and he is celebrated on that day.
During the rule of Pope Sylvester occurred the Christianization of the state by Emperor Constantine and four important basilicas were built: St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Many other churches were built during his rule over the graves of martyrs. He is venerated in the Basilica of San Silvestro e Martino in Monti in Viale del Monte Oppio 28.
Good job leaving a note where tourists can buy fireworks and bypass the ban. It’s not like there is any good reason for such a ban.
Maybe a link to hundreds of birds that die from fireworks should educate the author of this article and the uneducated tourists who do not care about wildlife.
We pointed out the ban. In fact, the fireworks this year were probably more extensive than usual. We doubt whether our article has made a significant contribution to this. Obviously, many Romans felt the need to chase away the spirits of 2020 and to welcome a new, better year.
Bird protection is of course important. Perhaps, in this regard, it would be helpful to restrain the seagull plague that is devouring all other birds.
Great information, thank you! 🙂
Thank you 🙂 , have fun!