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Hi there. DH and I are planning our first trip to Italy. Rough plan is Venice, Rome, maybe Florence, maybe Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast for about 14 - 16 days. We're in our 50's, and like to walk, BUT I don't like the heat at all - it makes me very cranky, which will make for a very unhappy husband! In fact Paris in February is perfect for me! 10-15 degress C or even slightly cooler would be great. So what do you think, is March weather any good or should we wait until April. It would have to be after Easter, which is April 4th I think.
Thanks for any advice, and I'll be asking lots of questions once we get a bit further along in the planning.
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March or April for Italy
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markland,
My first trip to Italy was in March, but then we were skiing in Cortina! After the ski week, we went on to Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast and Rome.
Venice had some visitors in addition to us, but really was very uncrowded and very atmopheric with a little fog. Not cold enough to need a hat, but we did wear our wool coats and gloves.
Amalfi Coast was beautiful and much warmer, but did have heavy rain and thunderstorms 2 nts out of 3. Days were very pleasant. A great time to visit Pompeii.
Florence was extremely crowded with every tourist and school field trip group in the world (or so it seemed). But then, we were there the week before Easter!
Rome was sunny and warm, busy but a big city so crowds were not a problem. Sistine Chappel was closed on Palm Sunday.
Biggest advantage to you for March are temps and lower lodging rates. I don't think there is more rain in April than March, so if you like the colder weather go for it!
My recommendation for 2 weeks in March would be Venice, Florence and Rome. If you actually do have 16 days IN Italy, add a little time in the countryside between Florence and Rome. I would not try for the CT in either. Not a bad weather destination.
For cooler weather March is better - but before easter a lot of things own;t be open along the AMalfi Coast - which is really a summer resort. (Some restaurants and hotels will be closed and the ferries will still be on a reduced schedule.)
Having been there in both months, I would opt for April, but then I do tolerate a bit of warm weather. We were in Rome and the Amalfi coast area one year during Holy Week in March. The weather was a bit cool on the coast, but generally tolerable. It drizzled a bit a couple of days. I think the Amalfi coast area is a better desintation for April. Nytraveler is correct; many of the ferries were on reduced schedules. We spent a week in Positano and while we absolutely loved it, many things were still closed.
I would avoid the weeks directly before and after Easter which is April 4th next year. It is much too crowded.
I would opt for early March to avoid crowds but that is not prime time for CT and AC. If you wait til late April, it may indeed be warmer than you will enjoy.
After 15 April for me---the flowers.
hi markland,
kfusto got in first with the warning about the date of easter next year - the ist weekend in april. we have been in both venice and Rome in the week after Easter and they were both very busy, though getting better towards the end of the week.
Rome in April is lovely - not too hot but warm enough to eat outside at lunchtimes, and the evenings are starting to get lighter. the wisteria going up the side of the capitoline hill was gorgeous.
Venice in March was much more hit or miss - some days it was quite hot in the sun, others it was really cold and wet, even inside [the Doge's palace to be precise]. the last day we were there, the air was so much warmer it was as if a heater had been turned on!
only you know how much you dislike hot weather!
Went to Rome and the AC this past March/April.
Some overcast and rain in Rome the last week of March.
For the first week of April, right before Easter week, there was plenty of sun in the AC. Just some haze though, but people were lying out in Positano and Capri.
It wasn't hot weather but if you walked a lot , especially in Capri where I found myself climbing and descending more than I expected to, you could work up a big sweat.
Prices were good and the weather was temperate but some things in the AC were closed, like the chair lift in Anacapri.
I chose AC based on recommendations here over CT because the weather was expected to be better down south than in the CT, where I'm going this upcoming May.