NB24

We are going on a tour to Italy Sept. 3 for 12 days. I understand it is still warm that time of year. We will be going to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, Isle of Capri. Can we wear shorts and short sleeved tops? Or are long pants the norm there? I have heard that some churches do not allow shorts. I am just thinking it might still be quite warm and shorts seem much more comfortable. Is this appropriate for Italy?

atlcity

Warm winter coats and snow boots.

Eloise

Yes, shorts are more comfortable. If you prefer comfort to the possibility of viewing all the great art in the churches of Italy, by all means wear shorts!

Oh, and don't expect particularly good service if you walk into a reputable restaurant in shorts.

Cicerone

I live in Europe. I would not wear shorts in any church in Italy, and you won't be allowed in St Peter's if you are wearing shorts (includes men). You may get unkind looks in other churches from locals. I am not sure I would wear them in any of the cities, but they are fine in Capri if you are more comfortable in them. I don't wear shorts much anyway so it?s a personal thing for me about wearing them in cities. (Watch enough off BBC's "What Not to Wear" and you may lose your confidence in wearing shorts at any age. . . ) Wearing shorts will instantly identify you to Europeans as being American, not sure if this bothers you or not. Capri pants on men will instantly idenify the man as a European. . . .

SeaUrchin

I would suggest you bring one pair of shorts for Capri, the rest of the places you mention are cities.

I wouldn't wear shorts into any city but I would wear capris. In Sept. it might not be as hot as you anticipate especially at night so bring long pants too.

SeaUrchin

Oh I just reread your post, are you going on an organized tour? In that case you might as well wear shorts, the rest of your group will wear them too I bet. Your guide will probably tell you which days to wear your long pants so you can get into churches, etc.

jabez

I often wear shorts in Tuscany and Umbria, but not in Rome,Florence,etc.
Most churches will have a sign that says no shorts.

amy_zena

all right now....it has been very hot in italy lately. There is nothing wrong with shorts in Italy in the summer or if it is very hot! However, on the days you visit churches, wear pants. I live in Italy and if I am hot then I wear shorts. My Italian boyfriend wears shorts more often than I do! But I don't wear shorts at night, only in the day.

SuzieC

Do people wear shorts into their personal places of worship in the US for a service?

amy_zena

oh brother....
wasn't it already decided that shorts are not appropriate to wear in places of worship in the States or in Italy? Other than that...I don't get the whole no shorts thing in Italy. If the Italians are wearing them...
When in Rome...

Eloise

I do not recall seeing Italian men or women in shorts in downtown Rome, Florence or Venice...

amy_zena

The Italian tourists and residents of the city or the Italian people that are working in shops and restaurants? The Italians that are working usually don't wear shorts. But the Italians who are tourists in that city or residents of the city who happen to not be working that day may be wearing shorts if it is hot and they want to wear shorts. Listen, I said the same thing to my boyfriend when we went to Venice a couple weeks ago for the weekend...I said, "Why are you packing shorts? Shouldn't you wear pants in Venice?" He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "In thissa heata, I am notta wearing trousers!" He lives in Florence and wears shorts all the time when he is not working. As does his sister.

You must use common sense though. If you are planning on having lunch at a nice restaurant, then you should not wear shorts. But for walking around and sightseeing in the heat, I think it is perfectly acceptable. As long as they are not daisy duke shorts!

dln

NB24, I'm assuming you're asking this question because you want to do what's correct. Why don't you bring your shorts and play it by ear, as it were? Observe the local mores and follow suit. As a rule, shorts really aren't worn in cities but an unexpected heat wave could change a lot of that!

We were in Italy last year the same time you will be this year. I didn't notice any shorts in the cities, but really, the weather wasn't such that we neeeded them. Lightweight pants were fine (and short sleeves). I bought a pair of convertible pants for my husband--I think from either L.L. Bean or Lands' End--just in case he got hot, but he never unzipped them into shorts. Luckily, these pants didn't look half as geeky on his person as I thought they would (thank god) and they had special pockets on them for travel items, which was a bonus.

We traveled down to the Amalfi Coast and everyone was wearing shorts in the towns like Sorrento, Amalfi, etc. Though not in Naples. It was hotter there than in Rome.

mgfit

I usually wear casual skirts (Below the knee...) or capris. I didn't see anyone wearing shorts over there...it's an American thing I guess.