I am in the preliminary stages of planning a trip to Italy for my partner's 40th birthday in the end of October. We will have one week, he loves Italian culture and speaks <BR>Italian. In deciding what part of Italy to visit, I am trying to determine what the weather will be like in the last week of October in the different places I am considering. He has been to Rome, Florence and Venice, so I'm looking elsewhere. I have been to Rome and the Naples/Sorrento area, but would consider going again since he has not. We have also discussed previously our interest in the Lake Country and Cinque Terre. Can anyone give advice on the typical weather in these three areas (Naples, Lake Country, Cinque Terre)for the end of October? We are obviously not looking for beach weather, but want to be able to enjoy the outdoors while we're there. Thanks in advance for your help.

Tammy, don't know if it's typical but in October 2001 Italy was hot, hot, hot. We were swimming in the sea on the Amalfi Coast. <BR><BR>If you are planning your trip for October 2002, may I suggest that you don't delay. The best places book out early.

Hi, we were in Florence, Siena and Pisa last October. Shorts weather nearly every day. It did rain for a few days, but still warm.<BR>At the end of our 2 weeks we had 3 nights in Milan, which was NOT shorts weather, in fact fairly chilly and drizzly.<BR>I found a small collapsible umbrella to be the perfect thing for hiding in rucksacks and whipping out when needed.

Depending on how hot you want it to be, I would highly suggest Cinque Terre! Loved, loved it! <BR>Here's website<BR>http://www.5terre.com/FrameSet.php?LeftFile=HomePage.php<BR><BR>

Thanks for the replies everyone. Please keep them coming.<BR>Anyone have anything to say about the Lake Como area in October? <BR>Gordon - how brave you all were to buck the Fodors trend and wear shorts!

We loved Liguria in October year before last -- a great break from the cold and rain in Emilia-Romagna.

We spent two weeks in the Milan-Bolzano-Venice-Rome area in mid-November 2001 and it rained so much I felt like we should have been building an ark. We met some other folks leaving as we were arriving and they said it had been like that for the two weeks prior as well. I got the sense that it was generally regarded as the rainy season, at least in northern Italy.

October is usually the most rainy month of the whole fall. The Lakes district are a very rainy area. I will let you guess what is the weather like in the area in october ^_^.<BR><BR>Naples might still be warm enough for swimming or it may not. Last october was uncommonly warm, but it is not unlikely to find warm weather in the area.<BR><BR>In Liguria you will most likely find sunny and coolish weather, you will be able to enjoy walks and cities, but you will not be able to swim for sure.<BR><BR>Also, you might consider Sicily, which in October is still pretty warm and sunny. In Sicily you will be able to swim for sure.

We have traveled Italy 5 times in Oct. and find it to be delightful from Liguria and Tuscany south. It can be iffy in the Lakes. We are going back to Venice and Slovenia early Oct. this year. To be safe, try to make it for the first half of Oct. Have fun !<BR>Oops--just saw "last week" in your post.<BR>Hmmm ! That can be rainy--I would stay Tuscany and south.

Tammy,<BR><BR>October has proven to be the best month for us. I guess we've been lucky cause we haven't had much rain. I think Tuscany is glorious this time of year, if you're into wine late September and October are the vendemia, and there are lots of festivals, etc. saluting the grape. I think maybe a stay in Tuscany in the chianti area would be good. You could take a day trip to the Cinque Terre. Its not enough time but..... Or maybe split the week between the two?

We had great weather in Bellagio on Lake Como in the middle of October. About 68 degrees during the day and perhaps 55/58 in the evening. <BR><BR>FYI, however, the "season" was just about over by then and some things (like outdoor cafes, the tobacconist who sells bus tickets) were closed. Two weeks later at the end of the month would be even quieter. The up-side is that there are few tourists.

What would be the best clothes to take for Oct 1-18th? We be visiting Rome, tuscany, SML and Bellagio? Will pants or shorts be better to have more of? Will we need warm jumpers and clothes or just shirts? Thankyou

Tammy and Alex: Bring a little of everything. Best to be prepared for any type of weather - cool days / cold evenings, or hot days and cool nights. Most importantly, pack an umbrella.<BR><BR>

If October is the rainy season in the lake country, then we lucked in during our trip to Lake Como is 2000. The weather was beautiful--ranging from leather-jacket temperatures to shirtsleeves weather. Previous posters are correct about the absence of many tourists....but, it's active enough to make it most pleasurable!