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Planning to visit Italy in first 2 weeks of Jan

Planning to visit Italy in first 2 weeks of Jan

Old Nov 16th, 2017, 09:12 PM
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Planning to visit Italy in first 2 weeks of Jan

Hi, I am planning to visit Italy with family during first two weeks of January. We are keen to visit Rome, Florence, Naples, Amalfi coast and Venice. We wanted to know about the weather conditions during this time in Italy, specifically with reference to rainfall. Usually, does it rain in short spells in Italy or does it drizzle throughout the day or is it the kind of rain that you can't do anything outside the whole day ?

Does it rain a lot in Amalfi coast as well in January ? Will Sicily be ok to visit during this time? We checked weather forecast on Accuweather and to our dismay found that it will be raining during first 10 days of Jan almost throughout Italy. I understand that it might not be very accurate so I wanted to know other opinions.

Thank you.
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 09:38 PM
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If we could give you an accurate weather forecast two months out we would. The weather forecast for next week is likely wrong.

Last January was unusually cold. Canals in Venice froze. Fountains in Rome turned to ice.

Other years Rome has shirt sleeve weather.

BTW you've got way too much planned for two weeks. Weather is the least of your worries if you're spending that much time inside a train.
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 10:17 PM
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Every part of Italy has its own microclimate, and places south of Rome typically have more dry weather than north of Rome. But It's very typical at that time of year for any rain to be very strong and last all day or more than one if it is raining. And that is true whether it is north or south. Often the rain happens overnight and will clear by morning into a sunny day, but it is less common to have brief showers.

If you spend two weeks in Italy in January it is likely that you will have at least some rainy days.

From Jan 1 to January 6 is a very popular time for travel to Italy, so you will need reservations wherever you go. But after that, you can book last minute, especially for the Amalfi. I would suggest that you plan to visit the Amalfi area last. Book a hotel in Naples but also one in Positano that you you can cancel last minute for free. If the weather is nice, to to the Amalfi and cancel the hotel in Naples -- and vice versa if it is raining.

There is lots to do indoors in Venice, Florence and Rome, so if the weather is bad you will still see beautiful things. Be sure to book a hotel in Venice that is not in the parts of Venice that might get flooded if there is an "acqua alta". Usually a "safe" area for staying dry is the part of Venice that is between the Rialto Bridge and the train station.

You will need to pack very warm clothes for Venice and Florence, and make sure for all of Italy that everybody has waterproof shoes.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 04:04 AM
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I'm going Mid January also for a week check holiday weather.com right before you go.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 04:13 AM
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I wouldn't worry about acqua alta in January. It's rare in January, and, anyway, it only lasts a few hours. Actually, it's pretty rare at any time of year. It's caused by a high tide, not rain.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 04:35 AM
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bvlenci,

I suspect if I tell the OP to follow my advice despite your post -- because checking into or out of hotel affected by acqua alta is Venice is a real headache -- you will post 37 tedious paragraphs trying to "prove" you are right. Maybe I shouldn't "worry" about that because they are so long an blindingly boring the post is likely to go unread, but here goes anyway for the sake of other travelers headed to Venice between now and the end of next April:

Because of climate change and other factors related to modern develpment, Venice now experiences more days of acqua alta than ever before, and the trend is only increasing, not decreasing. Not everyone admits this.

The worst acqua alta to deal with is that which coinicides with rain and windy rainstorms, and these conditionsare more likely to happen in Venice between now and March.

Finally, it is RARE that you, a traveler, will be going to Venice at all. That should turn on a light in your head that a thing that is RARE can still become what you experience. If you book a hotel in an area of Venice that typically floods in an acqua alta -- however RARE somebody on the internet tells you that is -- you can find yourself trying to get into or out of that hotel trying to keep your luggage, your children, your grand parents -- from getting soaked and chillled. You may find that public transportation to and from your hotel is suspeneded or delayed.

I repeat what you should pay attention to when booking a hotel during the time of year when Venice is most prone to acqua alta flooding many streets: Don't book a hotel in those areas. Venice is compact and there is no practical reason to book in those parts of town. You can easily reach all the tourist sites from other parts of town that don't flood.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 08:27 AM
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http://archive.comune.venezia.it/fle...2795%20#2e7dd7

Historically, exceptional high water events have not occurred in January. "Normal" acqua alta occurs most often (in order) in the months of November, December and October. In a "normal" acqua alta event, most of the city remains dry.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 01:12 PM
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Every time I even mildly disagree with massimop, she composes one of these furious screeds. I don't understand it. She is unfailingly supportive of anyone asking a question and unfailingly inimical to anyone (especially to me!) who answers a question, unless they adhere to her exact opinions.

In fact, to be brief, and erring on the generous side, there have been exactly 27 acqua alta events in January in the 144 years between 1872 and 2016, about one every five years. This counts all events over 110 cm, the lowest level of alert. You wouldn't be much put out by an acqua alta of this level. 120 cm is considered the "dry feet limit", where you can walk everywhere, either on the ground or on elevated sidewalks, or on the boardwalks they put out, without getting your feet wet. Above that, you need boots.

The exceptional events mentioned by Jean are when the water level is more than 140 cm higher than the "zero level", which is a point marked on the Punta della Salute. There have been only 4 such events in the entire six years since 2010, and none in January. At 140 cm, about 5 inches above the "dry feet" level, you would probably be advised to stay put if you're staying in the low-lying districts. The water goes away in a few hours.

I hope this has been more useful than boring. Facts are often boring, I'm afraid.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 01:31 PM
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I'd wager that just about everyone on these boards would rather read 37 paragraphs from bvlenci than 37 words from massimop, who BTW can't make a succinct point herself.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 03:26 PM
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We spent almost that exact same time frame in Italy a couple years ago (arrived the very end of Dec.) and divided our time 5 nights in Venice and 8 nights in Rome. I agree you have way too many places on your agenda. At the very least drop Sicily.

Weather: Venice cold and clear most days but with snow flurries one day. As far as aqua alta, we had we had that none in the winter, but we had a trip in May where we experienced it. In early January we saw snow from the train as we moved south to Rome. Rome was very tolerable weather for the most part. The very best part about being there right after the holiday season guests left was that there were absolutely no tourists. For example, we walked right into the Vatican Museum with no line at all.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 04:09 PM
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bvlenci: Most of us ignore massimop/zeppole/sandralist. You will be (much) happier if you do as well

nehaatri: You are planning too much (even for summer when the days are long and dry). You will have short days and likely at least some bad weather.

Your title says 2 weeks - does that mean 16 days (14 days on the ground) or 14 days (11.5 days on the ground) or something else? If your whole trip is 2 weeks you will have 11 or 12 days free and the first day or two will probably be jet lagged.

Your list is already too long so no way you can add Sicily too.

>>We checked weather forecast on Accuweather and to our dismay found that it will be raining during first 10 days of Jan
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 08:32 PM
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>We checked weather forecast on Accuweather and to our dismay found that it will be raining during first 10 days of Jan>>\


I hate to tell you how naive you are, but it's preposterous to think you can plan a trip around an Accuweather forecast. It very well MAY be raining the first 10 days of January - you're traveling in mid-winter in Europe after all, what did you expect? It will also probably be cold. It's already bloody cold here in the sout of France. If you plan a trip in winter you need to be prepared for the types of weather that will likely prevail.

You realistically can't add Sicily. You already have too much for the time allotted
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