The social ritual of evening strolls across Spain, Italy and Greece

Monocle explores the cultural traditions of evening walks in San Sebastián (Spain), Pietrasanta (Italy), and Greece. In San Sebastián, the 'paseo' is a daily ritual with morning, after-dinner, and main evening strolls between 19:00 and 21:00, where locals dress smartly and walk without destination. The city has 26.6% residents over 65 and joined WHO's Age-Friendly Cities framework in 2010. The beachfront is part of the Camino de Santiago (Camino de Norte, 803km). In Pietrasanta, Tuscany, 'la passeggiata' takes place in pedestrianized streets among art-filled public spaces, with sculptures by Isamu Noguchi, Fernando Botero, and Igor Mitoraj. The town is a hub for marble carving and bronze casting, with galleries and museums like the Igor Mitoraj foundation and Museo dei Bozzetti. Local figures include Sara Ferron Cima (Bloc Studios), artist Paolo Ciregia, and designer Marco Guazzini. The Greek tradition 'peratzada' is also mentioned. The article contrasts these with the situationist 'dérive' of 1950s Paris.