10-05-2025
La Bella Vita: Italy's beach opening dates and what time do Italians eat dinner?
La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to newsletter preferences in 'My Account' or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.
As much of Italy prepares for a wet May, beach lovers across the peninsula will be dreaming of the moment when they finally can put on their costumi and ciabatte and dip their toes in the sea.
But before you head off to the seaside, it's worth knowing that there are rules governing when the summer beach season can officially start.
While you can visit Italy's public beaches at any time, nearly 70 percent of the country's coastline is given over to privately managed beach clubs, and the dates these can open on are strictly controlled by regional - and sometimes local - authorities.
Here's a breakdown of when Italy's private beaches will open and close this year by region.
What time is dinner time in Italy? If you've spent many summer evenings here, you'll probably say 'very late'.
But like so many other things in Italy, it really depends on which part of the country you're in and even the time of year.
If you're planning to book a restaurant or want to invite your Italian friends or neighbours over for dinner, here's a look at what time la cena is normally eaten in different parts of the boot.
From Aperol and Campari Spritz to Negroni and Bellini, Italy's iconic aperitivo drinks and cocktails are known and appreciated around the world.
But if you're looking for an alcohol-free alternative for when aperitivo hour rolls around, there's no need to resort to sugary soft drinks: Italy has plenty of more adult-tasting options on offer.
One of the most popular is Crodino, which is said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative to Aperol Spritz. With the same bright orange colour and zesty herbal taste as its alcoholic counterpart, it's typically served over ice cubes and with a slice of orange.
Find out about other popular Italian alcohol-free aperitivo drinks in the article below.
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