Before planning your travel Italy do check the weather forecast. Sunny
days could make your impressions yet brighter!
Encyclopedias say climate in Italy is diverse. But here are some
general tips of what to expect of the weather this or that time of the
year:
The month opening the year, January, is usually chilly, so be ready for
the freezing tramontana winds sweeping down from the North. Days of the
blackbird (January 29, 30 and 31) are the coldest of the year.
Nevertheless a winter vacation does not lack obvious advantages: once
the Christmas holidays are over, the sights become almost deserted so
you can expect a warm welcome everywhere. Moreover in low seasons more
agreeable prices apply in hotels.
February is often called "corto e maledetto" – that is, short
and accurst. Sometimes it is as cold as January, though winter is
traditionally expected tobe at an end if the weather appears nice on
the Feast of Candlemas (February 2). Again, tourists are few, so cheap
flights and hotel rooms abound.
Hurray, here comes the spring... and brings unbelievably capricious
weather: it is still cold, and often windy and rainy, too. As the
Italians say, "Marzo e pazzarello" - March is crazy. Anyway, the days
are becoming longer, and March 21 officially marks the commence of
spring. The clocks go forward in the late month, giving more time for
sightseeing. There inevitably appear more tourists, particularly if
Easter falls early.
It's funny to see what different nations say of the same things:
according to the English, April showers bring May flowers, while the
Italians find it more important to observe, Aprile, ogni goccia un
barile. (In April, every raindrop is a barrel of wine.) In April,
tourists begin flocking to Italy. "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi
vuoi", as another proverb advises: Christmas with the family, Easter
with whoever you want. Many nationals have holidays at Easter, adding
to the crowds of tourists. The temperature rises, along with the prices.
May, the month of roses, is famous for its fine weather that is warm
but yet not unbearably hot for sightseeing. Thus it's not surprising
that the major sights already appear crowded. Though early June is
mild, much like May, the temperature rises steeply by the second half
of the month, particularly in the south of the land. Seaside resorts
are gradually filling up.
We beleive that July and August are far too scorching to make
sightseeing comfortable this time of the year. So if you have a chance
to choose, think twice before going on an Italian holiday this time of
the year.
On the other hand, September is far more advisable. Temperatures
are dropping down while the weather is rather dry. Summer
resorts are not so crowded as a schoolyear begins and noisy kids are
busy studying. September 23 is the "official" beginning of autumn.
Connoisseurs say, October is the best month of all for visiting Rome: it's time for
the sunny "ottobrate romane". In northern Italy, however, the weather
becomes more and more chilly. During the last weekend of the month the
clocks go back.
November is another month that will not help make your visit
to Italy more pleasant. The days've become shorter and it often rains.
Some hotels and restaurants may close for renovation. Yet if you do
choose to have a November vacation, don't miss the "vino novello" (new
wine) and chestnuts tastings that are traditional at this time of year.
The land prepares for the winter sleep.
In December, cold weather returns: forget about sitting outside on the
piazza with cappuccino. With the holiday season, prices begin to rise
and hotels are filling up: take care to book early to avoid
disappointment.
Yet, whatever the weather might be, we wish you to enjoy the good
company of Italian
sightseeings and attractions all year round!
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