Venice
When not busy staging environmental protests or avant-garde performance art, this counterculture social centre throws one hell of a party, with…
Venice
When not busy staging environmental protests or avant-garde performance art, this counterculture social centre throws one hell of a party, with…
Milan
This tiny, unpretentious venue down the heavily graffitied Via Gola has an outsized reputation for hosting stellar live-music performances for serious…
Milan
Despite Milan's huge international community, it's often hard to find movies showing in their original version. Not so at Cinema Mexico, where Thursday is…
Turin
An intriguing, and very Torinese, venue that will feed you breakfast or lunch, surprise you with an alternative cinema screening pre-aperitivo, have an…
Florence
Contemporary dance, mime, comedy, theatre and other edgy performing arts take to the stage at this innovative theatre that never fails to disappoint…
Palermo
This grandiose 19th-century theatre is a popular venue for classical music, staging year-round concerts of works from composers such Beethoven, Strauss,…
Vatican City, Borgo & Prati
Fonclea is a great little pub venue, with nightly gigs by bands playing everything from jazz and soul to pop, rock and doo-wop. Get in the mood with a…
Reggio Emilia
Reggio's splendid neoclassical theatre – recognised as one of the finest in Italy – stages a full season of dance, opera and theatre. It's named after…
Cagliari
This is Cagliari’s premier venue for classical music, opera and ballet. The line-up is fairly traditional, but quality is high and concerts are well…
Alghero
A historic multipurpose venue serving up cocktails, pizza by the metre and regular live music. Concerts, staged between October and June, cater to most…
Trieste
Trieste's opera house is a little bit Scala and a little bit Fenice (thanks to a pair of duelling architects), but wears the mix well. Don't miss a chance…
Teatro dei Pupi di Mimmo Cuticchio
Palermo
This puppet theatre is a charming low-tech choice for children (and the child within), staging traditional, one-hour shows using exquisitely handcrafted…
Florence
Live jazz and blues lures a loyal crowd to this atmospheric jazz club across the river. Concerts kick off most nights at 9.45pm and under 25s get free…
Trieste
The place where musical blockbusters come to live in Trieste, the Rossetti also has a program of local plays, ballet, dance and rock concerts. There's…
Bay of Naples
The biggest of Naples' beachside clubs, head here for poolside cocktails, see-and-be-seen aperitivo sessions, live bands and dancing under the stars.
Turin
This long-established live-music venue, a 10-minute taxi ride north of the city centre, is the city's main venue for international indie acts, interesting…
Naples
Locals hit this down-to-earth, barrel-vaulted watering hole for its regular programme of live music. Acts span everything from rhythm and blues to rock,…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
If Gregory's were a tone of voice, it’d be husky: unwind over a whisky in the downstairs bar, then unwind some more on squashy sofas upstairs to slinky…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
Left-field in vibe and location, this independent fringe theatre in off-the-beaten-tourist-track Monteverde stages interesting, cutting-edge new work,…
Milan
Most big-name music artists that play Milan do so at major venues outside the city centre. Mediolanum Forum is one of the largest venues and has hosted…
Le Marche
With its grand ceiling and ornate box seats, Pesaro's historic theatre sets a lavish stage for theatrical performances, concerts and opera, especially…
Sassari
Sassari’s neoclassical theatre in Palazzo di Città stages plays, classical music concerts, film projections and cultural events. Seasonal programs are…
Southern Rome
Once at risk of being turned into a bingo hall, the historic Teatro Palladium (1926), with a beautifully renovated 1920s interior, stages a rich…
Agrigento
This city-run theatre is Sicily's third largest, after Palermo's Teatro Massimo and Catania's Teatro Massimo Bellini. Works by local hero Luigi Pirandello…
Verona
Named after the great Italian tragedienne, Adelaide Ristori, this beautiful 19th-century theatre continues to put on a dynamic programme of music, dance…
Bologna
One of Italy's top indie cinemas, run by the world-renowned Cineteca di Bologna. Films are shown in their original language. Tickets are reduced to €5 on…
Verona
This 18th-century theatre, just south of Piazza Brà, has a programme of ballet, opera and symphony concerts that will have you rubbing shoulders with the…
Treviso
Benetton Treviso has 15 Italian rugby championships to its name and is ever-present on the European rugby scene. The stadium in the northwest suburbs is…
Palermo
A short, summer program of mostly popular and operatic music (including prolific national and international acts) in the lovely gardens of the Villa…
Bologna
The city's best alternative-rock club, located about 5km northeast of the centre. It has drawn the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Mars Volta, the Decemberists,…
Trieste
It's always worth checking the Miela calendar for its legendary Pupkin Kabarett nights, but the regular live music program is also a nice way to tap into…
Venice
Award-winning films and blockbusters screen year-round at the city's main cinema. Films are screened in their original language on Fridays and Mondays,…
Perugia
Dating back to 1717, this grand theatre plays host not only to musical performances and special events but also films. At the time of research it was…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
Head to this cramped basement for a mellow night of Eternal City blues. A long-standing venue, it also stages jazz, funk, soul and R&B acts, as well as…
Sassari
Inaugurated in February 2012, Sassari's largest theatre stages opera, concerts and plays. Check local listings for upcoming performances, or visit www…
San Gimignano
Hour-long classical-music concerts staged in the bijou Teatro dei Leggieri. Book and purchase tickets at the tourist office.
Bologna
The annual San Giacomo Festival brings regular free chamber-music recitals to this lovely space. Check the website or the board outside for upcoming…
Bologna
This venerable theatre, where Wagner's works were heard for the first time in Italy, is still Bologna's leading opera and classical-music venue.
Sassari
One of Sassari's historical theatres, the Nuovo Teatro Verdi hosts dance, opera, concerts, musicals, shows for children and cultural events.
Naples
Inside Galleria Umberto, this ticket agency sells tickets to concerts, major theatre productions and football matches at Stadio San Paolo.