Described as the New Year’s Day of the Italian summer months, La Notte Rosa – Pink Night – brings a riot of colour, fireworks and music to the Adriatic Coast.
The Riviera blushes for one night only as hoards of locals and visitors take to the street to paint the town, er, pink. Lasting from sun-up until dawn the following day, Pink Night – so called as the colour pink represents hospitality and kindness – has become one of Italy’s hottest annual events. To be held this year on 1 to 2 July, the event comprises a range of light installations, art exhibitions, concerts, street theatre, music, parades and costumes, turning the town’s piazzas, bars, restaurants, clubs and shops lining the stunning coastline into a pink paradise.
The event – which originates from the Nuit Blanche or White Night, held in Paris – turns the entire Riviera into an enormous stage, with events and parties taking place from Comacchio to Cattolica. The heart of Pink Night is in Rimini, one of the most popular holiday spots for Italians and tourists alike, enticing millions of visitors a year to its buzzing nightlife and beautiful beaches.
Located a three-and-a-half hour drive from Rome, Rimini boasts vast tracts of fine sandy beaches – and endless amounts of fun. The city lays claim to having one of the highest concentrations of bars, nightclubs and restaurants in Italy, leading to it becoming known as Italy’s seaside tourism and nightlife capital.
Rimini comes into its own during Pink Night, with concerts starring Italian rock and pop stars, theatrical extravaganzas in the ancient Malatesta Castle, beach parties, and firework displays. All of the shops and eateries are swathed in pink decorations and the town’s monuments – including the famous bridge of Tiberius, Sigismund Castle and Augustus Arch – are lit up with pink lights.
Cinderella needn’t have worried – the party continues all night long, with new celebrations kicking off on the dot of midnight, and all the area’s bars, restaurants, clubs and attractions staying open all night long. Alongside the main events taking place in Rimini are smaller concerts, firework displays and art shows held in several other cities, including Ravenna, Cervia, Cesenatico, and even the minute town of San Marino.
Pink Night sparks plenty of activity held in anticipation of the main event, with Italians enjoying Aspettando la Notte Rosa, – Waiting for the Pink Night – events in the few days preceding the party.
Visit Pink Night’s website www.lanotterosa.it to read more about this years’ La Notte Rosa.
(Images: www.lanotterosa.it)
