What outerwear should we pack for our trip to Italy in the last 2 weeks of December? We are going to be in Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice and Milan.

Is a down jacket too heavy?

Thanks!

Hi,

I was in the same places, same time last year. Rome and Florence were 16-18C (65F) during the day though it may have been a warm year. Venice felt cold at night and that was the only place I saw Italians wearing parkas and furs.

Other than Rome, most parts you are traveling to will be cool to cold, Rome will be cool with a chance of being cold. Take a look at weatherbase.com and worldclimate.com for historical average temps, this should be helpful. Also remember that you are fairly far north even in Rome, so your hours of daylight will be shorter, take a look at sunrisesunset.com for info.

Have a great trip, I think Italy in December is really romantic -- in the sense that there is beauty in it all, and no tourists!

Two years ago friends of mine experienced bitterly cold weather at the end of Dec in Rome and Venice, esp, and unusually, Rome.
I think you will have to check forecasts before you go.

Thanks for your helpful replies, Karla, Cicerone, and Elaine!