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The roots & rituals behind Italy's beloved Aperitivo

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Despite being known for our spirited disagreements and fiercely proud regional identities - whether it's about the best way to make a ragù or who has the strongest football team - you’ll find the observance of the daily aperitivo in almost every part of Italy.

From the bustling piazzas to the quiet side streets, a traditional old bar to a modern setting with music, it has a history as rich and layered as a tiramisù.

The very word ‘aperitivo’ is from the Latin aperire, meaning ‘to open’, and truly it does open things: your appetite, yes, but also your senses, your conversations, and your attention to the present moment.


“Dove facciamo l'aperitivo stasera?”

Literal translation: “Where are we doing aperitivo this evening?” Notice that you ‘do’ an aperitivo, you don’t just drink one.

This is a question that puts the mind at ease. You start thinking about the sun setting on the day, a light drink (hopefully with a view), those icy hues in your glass, whether the red-orange from a Negroni or the translucent gold from a Metodo Classico, paired with big green olives and salty crisps.

There’s an excitement for that moment but also an anticipation for the evening that comes after it. It marks a shift in the day when the whole place around you seems to draw breath.

Apart from the setting and the snacks, the heart of the aperitivo is of course what to drink. It’s not common to order a creative fruity cocktail, but rather an aperitif-based one or your favorite wine or beer. The beautiful amaro-based drinks, with their touch of bitterness, sweet vermouth, and refreshing fizz, are designed to awaken your palate, not overwhelm, preparing it for the delights ahead.


From Ancient Rome to Turin and modern Milan

While the aperitivo is a fixture of Italian life, lovingly practiced and preserved through the generations, it’s actually a bit more manufactured than you might think.

Some suggest a nascent form of it existed in ancient Rome where wine was mixed with water, honey, herbs, and spices. The perceived wisdom was that these helped the stomach to relax and kickstarted a feeling of peckishness. They balanced the gut and encouraged hunger for those who needed to put on some weight. Lucky them.

More likely, the genesis of the modern aperitivo came in 1786 in Turin.

This is when Antonio Benedetto Carpano created the first commercial vermouth, a fortified and aromatized wine that was specifically crafted to be enjoyed before meals. It was an instant triumph in Italy and then abroad, particularly in America, where it became a cornerstone for cocktails.

While Turin may have birthed the beverage, Milan arguably became the capital of the ‘aperitivo moment’ in the early 20th century thanks to the marketing of another iconic bitter brand, Campari.

Campari put Futurist art on their posters, ran commercials directed by Federico Fellini (famous for films such as ‘La Dolce Vita’), and created the ‘Campari hour’ (giving bars special clocks marking 6pm). The aperitivo became a daily affair: a glass of wine, perhaps with a splash of soda, or something bitter. Campari in Milan or Select in Venice. A few crisps, some olives, or maybe a leftover piece of mini-pizza.


Guest favorites

Andrea, our Bar Manager, has seen other drinks rise in popularity: “Now a lot of people order an espresso martini. The first time someone asked me for one I said, “what is this?!” I had never tried it but it’s popular now.”

Of course the Aperol Spritz is also popular among guests, but it’s not so common for Italians to have a spritz for their aperitivo. It’s not quite like ordering a cappuccino after midday but it’s close!

Andrea adds: “Gin is also a favorite, and we have a delicious one from Lake Garda called Gin Mario. It's homemade by a passionate sommelier Mario, hence the name, and the bottle’s label is a drawing by his children. It shows a tortoise with some lettuce, symbolising how their father Mario loves gin as much as tortoises love lettuce."


Why do we love it so?

The aperitivo is an elegant excuse to stop the clock, toast for no grand reason, and start a conversation. It gets the juices flowing in so many delightful ways. You snack on just enough to not ruin your appetite and not get too tipsy too quickly.

But the true beauty of the aperitivo, especially here at Belvedere Bellagio, lies in that profound feeling that you are in Italy, celebrating life.

No matter what you are sipping, it’s that delightful flutter of excitement, knowing that you are at the very beginning of a special night with special people.

Simply, it’s a moment of joy. Every single day.


The best bars in Bellagio (according to Andrea)

After you’ve enjoyed an aperitivo with Andrea - whether at our Lounge Bar, Pool Bar, or on the terrace - here are two of his recommendations for in-town drinks:

Caffè Bar Sport

Andrea: "Three brothers own this spot in Bellagio. I think they’re 92, 88 and 79 years old but they never want to think about retiring. It’s a beautiful bar with so much history hiding in plain sight: the biliardo in the back, an old cabina telefonica (telephone box) still present, the tiles which have a different color as they are so worn out from people walking on them, and the Pastiglie Leone candies. It’s also the only place in town where you can buy a fresh bottle of milk after 8pm. Useful if you’re coming from a night serving aperitivi in the hotel bar!”

Enoteca Cava Turacciolo

Andrea: "A small hidden cellar with a few tables out on the street. Norberto, the owner, loves champagne and full-body reds from Tuscany so you have a very nice selection of wine and, while you don’t get a plate of pasta, you do get high-quality cold cuts and a good cheese selection."