What is it like in central Italy to travel at this time of the year, temperature etc.?

Not too crowded. October weather can mean a little of anything, and usually no extremes. Invariably this includes some rain of course.<BR><BR>There were serious floods October 18-20 in 2000, as reported by Paolo.<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=851967<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

up, for judy<BR>

Probably unpredicatable. When I was in Tuscany early to mid October a few years ago, the weather was mostly very good, surprisingly warm (almost hot) with only one heavy rain in a two week period.

Are there any such things as long range forecasts for areas of Europe? Were they accurate in any way predicting these flood risks in Italy?<BR>

Rex/Carol: thanks for your replies as I thought variable and hopefully not too much rain.<BR><BR>Janet: I'll give you long range for next year July and Aug. over 30 C everyday. You can call me on it.

Will a jumper be needed at this time of year? or will a short sleeve shirt and pants be fine? <BR>Thanks

Carol:<BR><BR>Unlike in the Us, in Europe the weather is highly unpredictable. Weather forecasts can be accurate for no more than a couple of days. On the other hand, weather phenomena are less dramatic than in the most part of the world: we do not have typhoons and such things.<BR>In Italy, when the weather causes any damage to the land it is because of the too bad management that rivers and mountains have been undergoing in italy for too long, not because of really huge rains or other extreme weather phonomena.<BR><BR>Alex:<BR><BR>In October, in the south during the day you might have short sleeve weather, in northern and central italy you will need a heavy jumper during the day and probably something warmer in the evening. Usually in the north in late October I pull the wintercoat out and have it ready for when I go out at night.

Since my anniversary is late october, we are often in Italy at this time of year. There has always been some rain, often quite heavy. Other than that, the weather has been fine except for very heavy fog in Emiglia Romagna and in Toscana. The weather problems we did have are completely made up for the great light you get on overcast days making all the colors much more rich and saturated (if you have an SLR take a polarizing filter to give more contrast to you photos when its coudy). Also black and white truffles are in season-- the real thing not the winter of summer truffles which don't ahve the rich purfume of the fall varieties. Finally wild mushrooms will abound any day after it rains.

Rome seems to be very heavily booked Oct 18-21 for hotel room availability. Anyone know why?<BR>

up<BR>

Rome is ALWAYS heavily booked.

Several things are going on in Rome at that time. It will be just after a canonization of a new saint, and members of a particular religious order will be coming to Rome in high numbers to attend it. There will also be a librarians' conference and a symposium of doctors presenting papers on hematological disorders. Rome usually is humming at a good clip, and it's probably, all things considered, a pretty good venue for a business trip!<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC