Entertainment
A typical weekend night for a young person in Italy might consist of meeting friends and going out for an informal dinner at either a pizzeria or a pub. The group might decide to go to a movie, or simply have dinner and drinks before showing up at the club between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. There is a wide variety of clubs in Italy to accommodate a range of ages. A typical Italian city club might have between two and three dance floors, each featuring a different style of music. The age group of the club is defined in part by the types of music played. Clubs open at around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. and close anywhere from 3:00 - 6:00 a.m., although at certain summer resorts, clubs may stay open even through breakfast. Some clubs open on Sunday afternoons, which is convenient for young teens wanting to dance. For a more traditional crowd, there are often dances for those who prefer ballroom and latin dancing. There is no drinking age in Italy, and there are no restrictions on cigarette smoking in restaurants and bars.
The cinema is an important part of Italian entertainment, and for moviegoers there is always a fine array of Italian, French, and American movies. Generally English films are dubbed in Italian. However, one can often find movies shown in their original language if one goes during the week.
Each major city in Italy has its own orchestra, theatre, dance troupe and opera company. Opera is one of the treasured art forms of Italy. Ballet is somewhat rare and generally confined to international troupes that tour. Each city has its own rich selection of world-renowned historic sites and collections of fine art.
The most beloved sport to watch in Italy is soccer, which is viewed either on TV or at the stadiums. As well, Italians love to watch basketball, skiing and Formula I car racing. Italians love to play soccer themselves, as well as basketball. Skiing is another popular sport and there are numerous resorts with nearby clubs, movie theatres and bars. In the summer, beaches or lakes are popular destinations, and for those who do not travel to the sea, there are public swimming pools one can frequent for a small fee. Le vacanze (vacation) is an important part of Italian life and conversations frequently center around trips, short or long, to various destinations.