Which square in Venice hosts the traditional New Year's Eve “Love” countdown and mass kiss?

St. Mark's Square hosts Venice's traditional New Year's Eve “Love” celebration and mass kiss.

The square, called Piazza San Marco in Italian, is Venice's principal public space and one of its most recognizable landmarks. Its New Year's festivities have included concerts, a midnight countdown, and a mass kiss intended to symbolize love, peace, and harmony.

The celebration is staged in the historic center near St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile. Venice's lagoon setting and tightly packed urban layout give the event a character different from large fireworks-centered celebrations in many capitals.

The English and Italian names can cause confusion: “St. Mark's Square” and “Piazza San Marco” identify the same place. The mass-kiss event should also not be confused with Venice's separate Carnival celebrations, which take place later in the winter and have different historical traditions.