Aperitivo is as much a part of Italian culture as a siesta is. As you walk down a typical city street, you will pass numerous cafes, bars and restaurants, all the stores that offer little treats throughout the day--pastries, appetizers, snacks, etc.--which cannot be carried over to the next day. No one wants to throw these out, so they offer: "buy a drink and eat all you want." Some places take this a step further and make special aperitifs, and others even have hot foods like pastas and risottos, etc. Aperitivo can be offered any time after 4 and it might go as late as 9 depending on where it is (and how late the owners feel like working that day!).
It could almost be compared to a cocktail hour, except that it is just a normal, everyday occurrence. People stand around socializing, sometimes inside the given establishment, more often, on the sidewalk (or even the middle of the very small streets).Across the nation, the favorite drink for aperitivo is prosecco. It is a sparkling white wine, similar to champagne, but without the price tag and produced in Veneto (the “state” around Venice).
For budget travelers, this can also be a cheaper way to eat out and get great local food.
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