Venice is the Italian city known for New Year's Eve celebrations in St. Mark's Square.
St. Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, is Venice's principal public square and one of its most recognizable landmarks. New Year's Eve gatherings there have included concerts, fireworks, and a collective midnight kiss known as “Love,” a tradition associated with the square's celebratory atmosphere. The setting is especially distinctive because the piazza is surrounded by St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, arcades, and the Campanile.
Venice's geography shapes the event. The city is built across islands in a lagoon, and high water, called acqua alta, can affect access to the square. Organizers may also adjust crowd controls and programming to protect the historic site. This means that a description of the tradition should not imply that every year's schedule or exact performance lineup is identical.
The square is sometimes mistakenly assigned to Rome, Florence, or Milan because all are major Italian tourist destinations. St. Mark's Square is specifically Venetian. Its Italian name, Piazza San Marco, is also the name readers may encounter in travel coverage and event listings.