Italy Weather

January

It's generally cold, with the freezing tramontana wind sweeping down from the north. January 29, 30 and 31 are known as the "giornate della merla" (days of the blackbird) and are supposed to be the coldest of the year. A winter vacation has some advantages however, once the Christmas holidays are over (after January 6), the sights are almost deserted and you will find a warm welcome everywhere. In hotels, low season prices apply.

February

Referred to as "corto e maledetto" - short and accursed. It can be almost as cold as January, although winter is traditionally held to be at an end if the weather is good on the Feast of Candlemas (February 2).
Again, tourists are few and far between and cheap flights and hotel rooms abound.

March

Weather is notoriously capricious: Italians say "Marzo è pazzarello" - March is crazy. It is still chilly, and often windy and rainy too. The days are longer however, as March 21 officially marks the start of spring. During the last weekend of the month, the clocks go forward, allowing more daylight for sightseeing.
Tourism picks up, particularly if Easter falls early.

April

Travelers begin to flock to Italy. Italians say "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi" - Christmas with the family, Easter with whomever you want. Many Italians take a city break at Easter, adding to the crowds. High season rates are charged at hotels everywhere. The weather is a little warmer.

May

This is the month of roses in Italy., Temperatures are warm but not too hot for sightseeing. The major sights are crowded - not only with visitors from abroad but also with Italian schoolchildren, as schools often organize trips at this time of year.

June

Similar to May. Later in the month the temperature can rise steeply, particularly in the south. June 21 is the longest day of the year. Seaside resorts begin to fill up after schools close in the middle of the month.

July and August

are too hot for comfortable sightseeing. Although it is no longer true that everything shuts down in August, the cities are best avoided at this time.

September

Good time of year to visit Italy. Temperatures are beginning to drop and the weather is usually dry. Summer resorts are less crowded after the schools open in the middle of the month. Autumn officially begins on September 23.

October

Best month of all for visiting Rome. Sunny days are known locally as the "ottobrate romane". In Northern Italy and at higher altitudes, however, temperatures may already be quite low, particularly at night. The evenings are closing in and during the last weekend of the month the clocks go back.

November

A stylish holiday in the Renaissance city of Florence. Staying at the luxurious Savoy Hotel you will see the best of Florence and the surrounding countryside.

The program includes: a day in Chianti sampling local wines and

December

The cold weather returns. You can forget about sitting outside on the piazza sipping a cappuccino. The days are at their shortest. With the holiday season, prices begin to rise and hotels fill up. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment. If you decide to come to Italy over Christmas and the New Year, try visiting some of the less famous sights. This way you'll see something different and avoid the worst of the crowds.