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In Rome, a Reason to Stay Up All Night

The idea of staying out all night long in Rome is a captivating idea, especially if you know you won't be alone. Rest assured that if you decide to paint the town from dusk to dawn on Saturday, September 8, you'll be doing it with millions of others.

That's because September 8 in Rome is the celebration of the fifth annual "White Night," when museums, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, and other cultural organizations all over the city stay open till dawn. Night owls who partake of this year's event can expect concerts, plays, dance performances, fireworks, magic shows, readings, installations, and plenty of other activities in the Eternal City.

More than a dozen important museums and cultural institutions will roll out the welcome mat on the 8th, including the Borghese Gallery, the Palazzo Senatorio, the Villa Medici, and the Palazzo Farnese, among others. Additionally, some two dozen art galleries will remain open along with some of the city's best film venues.

"White Night," or "Notte Bianca" as locals know it, is free for all, though you should expect to pay if you dine in a restaurant, cafe, or wine bar. Public transportation is free after 10 p.m.

"White Night" has become a popular annual event throughout Europe, and similar nocturnal adventures have been planned for Paris, Riga, Madrid, and Brussels. For more information, see La Notte Bianca.

---Chris Culwell