Dayle |
Jan 11th, 2003 01:18 PM |
Hi Angelique!<BR><BR>Interesting that you are debating between the same two months in which I took my 2 trips to Italy. So, here is my experience.<BR><BR>Mid-March in Venice was cool and damp & deserted! We loved it. We wore wool coats and layers (had been skiing in Cortina), but didn't need hats or gloves. Florence was a tiny bit warmer and very hazy. Not what I had expected weather-wise or visually. The photos weren't great. Very busy the week prior to Easter with school tour groups. Amalfi Coast was much warmer and partly cloudy during the days. Again, almost deserted and very beautiful. We did have two nights of rian with lightening! Strictly locals only in March. (We visited family.) Rome on Palm Sunday was warm & sunny and very busy!<BR><BR>Next trip was in mid-May for nicer weather. Knowing the major cities would be busier, we did mostly countryside. Milan, Lago Maggorie, Chianti, Orvieto, Cinque Terre * Portofino, and finished in Venice.<BR><BR>Venice in May was much busier with lines that moved quite quickly to see the major sites inspite of scads of tour groups following thei flag-wielding guides. Weather was lovely & it was nice to see the water in the lagoon sparkling! This is why people fall in love with Venice. You could still avoid the crowds by walking a short distance away from Piazza San Marco & the Rialto Bridge.<BR><BR>All in all, I felt the extra cost was worth the nicer weather. Loved dining outdoors, seeing the red poppies in Tuscany, and visiting the Borromean Islands off Stresa.<BR><BR>If you go for May, make advance reservations for as many of the major sites as you can. They didn't have that option when I visited the major cities, & I sure wish they had. We stood in line for Ufizi for 2 1/2 hours!<BR><BR>Buon viaggio!
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