Massimo Ballabene describes 1970s and 1980s nightlife

Massimo Ballabene, a 65-year-old former artisan and former town councillor in Piandimeleto, spent his youth in the 1970s and 1980s when the hinterland discos drew crowds from the coast, a dynamic that has now completely reversed.

From Packed Dancefloors to Quiet Evenings

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, young people from the coastal areas regularly traveled inland for weekend entertainment. Ballabene recalled that evenings began early, with dinner around 6:30 PM followed by card games at the bar by 7:30 PM to secure a table and a partner. The social calendar required strict planning, with groups coordinating their outings to use as few vehicles as possible. Popular venues included the Nuovo Mondo in Lunano, founded by Riccardo Ferrarini, the Duemila in Sassocorvaro operated by the Polidori family, and the seasonal Pocol in Carpegna run by the Crinelli family. Others traveled further to the Lady Moon in Fermignano or the Rendez Vous in Borgo Pace.

Venues opened their doors at 9:00 PM after youth made their choice between the cinema or the disco at 8:30 PM. The Magi cinema in Piandimeleto screened national first-run films, while the discos hosted major recording artists and bands such as the Pooh, Nomadi, Fiorella Mannoia, Fiordaliso, Massimo Ranieri, Marcella Bella, and Alan Sorrenti. Parents routinely accompanied daughters to the entrance or allowed them to attend in groups, while local DJs like the recently deceased Cillo DJ sourced the latest vinyl releases by driving around in a Citroen Dyane 6.

The Shift in Regional Nightlife

While occasional clashes broke out between rival groups during that era, Ballabene noted that disputes typically resolved over a drink at the bar. Pizzerias stayed open late to serve patrons before a strict 1:00 AM curfew, monitored by mothers waiting outside for their daughters. Over time, the regional spotlight faded. The Nuovo Mondo in Lunano now opens only on Saturday nights from October to April, the Duemila in Sassocorvaro remains closed, and the Pocol in Carpegna hosts only occasional events upon request. Aside from the Accademia discotheque in Auditore, rare evening events mark the area today, as the magnetic pull of larger coastal centers took over.

Contrasting the two eras, Ballabene described modern nightlife, or movida, as a different world shaped by technology that expanded the horizon of desires compared to the simpler past.