My husband and I will be visiting Vernazza, Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan in October. We have hotels, transportation and guided tours planned (well, I hope it's all done!) However, we don't want to spend all our times in museums. We definitely want to spend time visiting local neighborhoods, seeing local culture. Since we love live music, does anyone have suggestions for places to go in any of those cities? For example, one of our best memories from Paris a few years ago is great night in a jazz cellar. We have rather eclectic taste and are willing to try new things, so we welcome any suggestions. Thanks!
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1852 posts
Interpreti Veneziani in Venice is a great string quartet that does concerts in a church very close to the Accademia bridge. There are a number of other companies in Venice. If you google something like
' musical events' plus the name of the city, you should be able to find a number of companies.
Posted by
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1246 posts
I will only reply to Vernazza. The town is so small (the immediate area where everyone goes) and I have never seen live music.
However, there is a great night life! Start at Blue Marlin Bar, near the train station. They actually open for breakfast so that is why they close early.
When they close, locals and visitors go down by the harbor (2-3 min walk) to the only open bar to continue their evening. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming, a true Italian experience. That is why I have gone back 5 times!
Posted by
1 posts
In 2013, I went twice to the Venice Jazz Club, as it was just across the canal from the Rick Steves-approved hotel where we stayed. It's just down from San Barnaba at the Ca' Rezzonico vaporetto stop.
Posted by
OP
Florida
6 posts
Thanks for the tips! We will definitely join the locals at the water in Vernazza. And in Venice, we will check out both the classical music and the jazz club. I haven't had time yet, but I do plan to do a computer search for live music venues in Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice. Less than 3 weeks and we'll be on our way!
Posted by
693 posts
Have you considered seeing an opera or other performance at La Fenice in Venice? Not inexpensive though. Their webpage is in Italian and English.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
debb,
One tip about live music in Venice.......
DON'T sit down at any of the places around Piazza San Marco that have high brow musicians playing as it will be VERY expensive!!! I was there this past Monday and looked at the price list for drinks at one of those fancy joints, and as I recall they were charging €19 for a cup of coffee! The prices for some of the cocktails was astronomical.
It is possible to get cheaper coffee. I stood at the Bar at the historic Cafe Florian and only paid €5 (a bargain, compared to what the people in the pricey seats outside were paying).
Last time I was in Rome, I found some talented amateur musicians playing in Piazza Navona. It was the same in Florence, in the streets surrounding the Duomo. A lot of the musicians seemed to be from Russia or Ukraine, and there were a few very talented opera singers as well.
Posted by
OP
Florida
6 posts
Thanks for the tips! We plan to do lots of walking through different squares, neighborhoods, so hopefully we will find some street musicians to stop and enjoy. Thanks for the tip about the expense of sittting at outdoor cafes. I'm not sure about trying an opera, both because of the expense and because it is not our favorite musical style.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
If you like jazz, in Florence I used to go to the Jazz Club on via Nova de Caccini. It was the most important venue there for live jazz, an institution in Florence, when I lived there.
I'm sure it's still around although haven't been back in ages. Just google it.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16769 posts
In Florence, there were street musicians/groups playing in Piazza della Repubblica at night. We danced a bit to a really fun jazz ensemble there one evening!