English
Spend New Year´s Eve, or ´Notte di Capodanno´, in Rome: Spending December 31st and January 1st in Italy is a unique experience, especially knowing that instead of eating grapes they eat lentils! Actually, they eat a plate of lentils for dinner and do the countdown at midnight, like most places in the world. The lentils, however, are good-luck lentils. As I said, it´s a great experience that mixes superstition and partying. There are also still people who chuck their old junk out of the window at midnight, as it is a way of getting rid of what one doesn´t want, in all senses. However, this was banned, obviously.
Rome
It´s an excellent choice to spend NYE because its activity is frenetic, its avenues change colour and the monuments are flooded with magic. Piazza Navona also fills with colourful balloons, carousels, Christmas markets and small food stalls where you cannot miss out on buying the Tre Scalini truffles. Delicious! There is also a very famous market in Piazza Ankara, next to the Flaminium Stadium, and with Italy being such a religious country, the nativities are also everywhere. You can even go on a route from Piazza di Spagna through Piazza del Popolo and ending on Via Cavalleggeri, made with stones from all over the world. You´ll enjoy it if you´re travellers.
Here are other alternative destinations:
Berlin
It is one of those places that the last night of the year, December 31st, is very special. There are many travellers that look for snowy northern European cities, with their idyllic landscapes and lights and so, the German capital is one of those charming Christmas cities. You cannot miss out on the Christmas market in Alexanderplatz, which runs from the 25th of November to the 6th of January, where you´ll find mulled wine, sausages, grilled meats and cheeses, especially raclette cheese which is a crowd favourite. In the very same square you´ll find an ice rink where you can skate, a great idea for lovers, but let me tell you that it´s going to be cold, so get some warm clothes on.
Lisbon
There are many neuralgic points on these dates in the Portuguese capital. One of them is in the central Praça do Comerço and the other one is on the other side of the Tejo river, at Parque das Naçoes. The party will go on all night, as it is commonplace to find free concerts on the streets and fireworks in the night sky. As well as grapes, here you will also eat sponge cakes. On NYE, if you want to eat out, it´s best if you head towards Bairro Alto, one of the highest and most bohemian areas of the city, and make sure you order cod. With a full belly, it´s best to do a route around the area on foot, weather permitting. It´s not just cosy but also fun, relaxed and very beautiful.
DianaRPretel
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