Rome and Milan are trialling a new way to make summer nights unforgettable

Picture cooler air, quieter piazzas and a famous skyline glowing under perfectly positioned floodlights. Italy has given travellers a fresh reason to swap the midday queue for a moonlit stroll.

Culture and Tourism Ministers have joined forces with the City of Milan on a month-long pilot scheme designed to spread out crowds and make August visits more comfortable during the fierce summer heat. Rome’s Colosseum and Pantheon, together with Milan’s Castello Sforzesco, will stay open at night as part of the trial. Evening openings differ slightly between the two Roman sites. Guests can explore the Colosseum on Friday and Saturday evenings between 7:45pm and 11:30pm, with the Pantheon staying open from 7pm to 11pm every day except Thursday for visitors to soak in these stunning landmarks after the sun goes down.

Milan’s Castello Sforzesco joins the trial

Not to be outdone, Milan’s medieval fortress has extended its own timetable too. Castello Sforzesco will stay open until 7:30pm daily, two hours later than its usual closing time. Discounted tickets are also on offer throughout August for the Museum of Ancient Art, Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà, and the exhibition Passione e Disegno, spanning centuries of art from Leonardo da Vinci to Keith Haring.

Culture is now Italy’s biggest travel draw

Culture became the leading reason people travel to Italy in 2026, climbing from seventh place a decade ago to first place today, a sector already worth €58 billion in visitor spending. Growing museum attendance in Milan backs up the trend with the Castello Sforzesco alone welcoming roughly half a million visitors over the past year, while the city’s museums have seen annual visits rise from 1.3 million in 2019 to 1.7 million.

Could this become permanent?

Nothing has been confirmed beyond August just yet. Officials plan to review how the pilot performs before deciding whether extended evening hours could roll out to other historic sites across Italy, giving travellers even more chances to explore the country’s heritage after dark. If you are heading to Italy this summer you can enjoy the opportunity to chill by day and sightsee by night.