Jo1

We're planning to go to Italy (probably Tuscany) in August, but have heard that many restaurants/shops are closed during most of August (round about the Aug 15th national holiday)? Is that true?
Also wondering if the fashion outlet stores nr. Florence would be open then?

cmeyer54

We drove from Munich to Rome via Laga DiGarda last August and had no problem with closures. If anything, the country area might be full of Italian tourists since that is their holiday season.

Alice_Twain

Why should reatraurants placed in touristy close in the right period when these areas get the largest crowds? Sure, milano can be a bit closed up in August, but Tuscany is a touristy area, and the crowds of people from Milano who flee the city for the month of August... Well, lots of us can be found right where YOU want to go. The only reason to avoid Italy in August is to keep pff these crowds. Travelling to non-tourtisty areas can get difficult, in but Tuscany (and I suppose that when you think of Tuscany you think either of Chianti, Florence or the coast, surely not of the industrial towns surrounding Florence, Pisa and Livorno) everything will be open.

bienemaus

Some food shops may be closed, dry cleaning, hairdresser, flower shop...etc. But not for anything in the world a restaurant, hotel, souvenir shop, fashion outlets and any kind of business involved with tourism would close down in August, THE high season.

AntoninoC

Jo1;
As stated before, a few restaurants and/or shops may be closed, but I'm sure you can find a good restaurant, unless you're going to be there two weeks and are afraid that you may tire of Tuscan food. Now how could that EVER happen.