Please help me decide when to go to Italy
 

So I've decided to finally go to Italy (Paris fanatic here). Planning on Rome, Florence, and maybe Venice for about 10 days.

As a teacher, I can only go during June, July, August, or Xmas/New Year. I hate the heat, and wouldn't do well at all touring in temps much above 85F. Are extended heat waves common in the above mentioned cities? If I go in the summer, I would absolutely stay in a hotel with A/C. But of course I won't be spending a lot of time in the hotel.

If I go in Dec/Jan, do the cafes have the outdoor heating lamps like in Paris?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

I love going to Italy in winter and have done it often. I think there are heat lamps in the cafes that have awnings, such as those on the piazzas but am not sure cause I rarely sit outside to eat in any season. Christmas is a beautiful time to be in Europe!

First, you MUST go to Venice. There's no place else like it. I'd give up Rome or Florence before Venice.

The timing issue is tough. I don't think you'll find outdoor dining (heaters or no) at Xmas and yes, temps have been known to be very hot in summer in Italy. I'd say either go in June as early as you can or give up the outdoor cafe bit and go at Xmas.

I agree with the advice to go in early June or in December.
December will of course have colder temps, more rain, shorter days, less crowding. Most major sites will be closed on Xmas Day and New Year's Day and many on the day after.
June will have nicer weather on average, longer days, crowds, higher prices (although some hotels and airlines treat Xmas time as high season as well)and of course a better chance for heat.If you really hate heat, go in December and take an umbrella.
For historical weather trends you can see www.weatherbase.com and www.accuweather.com

PS, see this current thread

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34820355

I would stick with December. We usually do Italy in May - and that's as warm as I care to be. Even in early June temps above 85 and humid are perfectly possible - and with such a limited amount of time you won;t want to be restricted to your AC room.

I am a teacher too, and although I have only been to Italy once, do travel to other parts of Europe at least twice a year (hubby's FF and hotel points). My open dates are like yours, but I actually use spring break too (end of March-beg. of April).

I went to Italy last July, and it was beyond hot, crowded...etc.--still had a marvelous time! For you, spring break or June would be best to avoid the heat.

Firenze and Roma have outdoor heating lamps. Venezia does not but the caffes around the Piazza San Marco are fairly empty and quite lovely inside.

There are many good reasons to take such a tour in December -- especially since I would expect temps to be over 85 by the second week in June in Roma and Firenze. If you've chosen these places to see art and architecture, the absence of crushing crowds is a real plus.

On the downside, many days will be overcast or wet and you will be unable to enjoy a lot of relaxed evening strolls and sitting in piazzas that make so many love being in Italy.

Bear in mind that the days betweeen Xmas and the New Year are big time holidays for Italians themselves, and they travel a lot within Italy during that time. Be sure to get train. museum and hotel reservations. In Venice, the day AFTER Xmas is a big holiday as well as Christmas. But all the churches are open on Xmas day and put on quite a show.

In December, weather tends to be like what you would expect to encounter in Washington DC. Firenze can be the nippiest. Hot chocolate is GREAT in all the places you are going. I am unable to eat gelato in winter in Italy. I think it tastes awful when the temperature goes down.

luveurop, See if you can find Tiff's trip report here on Fodor's search box regarding their time spent in Florence and Venice this last January. It is a beautiful and information report. I might give you some information regarding travelling in winter.

And of course I meant "it might give you some information"...wish I could learn to type properly, lol. Best wishes to you with your decision.

Thank you everyone!

I want to go to Italy for the art, architecture, and the food. After reading your thoughts (and the link posted above)I am leaning towards the Dec/Jan holidays now. But I am concerned about closures. However, I am thinking wandering around on xmas day with everything closed would be better than trying to see the sights in 90 F. I would literally be stuck in my A/C hotel, I couldn't take it.

As for Spring break, much too short to take a trip to Italy. I would feel ripped off with only 6 days! (However, that amount of time is perfect for a quick trip to Paris which is my Spring break destination every year.)

Please, anyone, continue to add your comments, thanks.

luveurop,

Since you are going for art, architecture, and the food, go in December/January. You will miss out on some restaurants on Xmas day, but that is a small price to pay (and a great many good hotel restaurants will be open). Midnight mass in the great cathedrals of Europe shows off the art and architecture in the context for which it was created. It is really something to see the Grand Canal empty, or to see the shops of Firenze glowing with Christmas cakes and decorations.

I was in Venice for Xmas day. Florian's was open until 2pm in the afternoon. (I enjoyed a great breakfast after sitting through a high mass in San Marco, where the gold altar was ablaze with candlelight. I saw a midnnight mass in Venice where a tiny child sang Silent Night -- and a great many other illuminating things.

Most of all I treasured wandering through Museo San Marco in Firenze and being alone with the Fra Angelico's beautifully decorated monk's cells. But it's not dead! There was a wedding party in Piazzele Michaelangelo and many parents showing their school-aged children the Campo in Siena.

Take long underwear. Drink hot chocolate. And don't forget to make reservations because the secret is out.

Thanks Ness for your reply.

I'm now convinced (given my travel constraints) to go to Italy during the Dec holidays. I've been sweating bullets here in the Chicago suburbs for the last few days, today it was over 100F with humidity and I nearly passed out taking out my garbage. I really can't take any chances with a heat wave.

Anyway, so I'll be going Dec '07, unfortunately not this year, but that means I have lots of time to research.

And now, after having done a bit more research, I'm definitely including Venice.

I've been to Rome in early Feb & seen very few patio heaters - just one or two in the Campo di Fiore, I think.

Caroline, I've seen some in the Piazza della Rotunda in front of the Pantheon (and some in the largest piazzas of Firenze) but fair warning to luveurop: A winter trip to Italy most likely will mean foregoing sitting outdoors in the piazzas.

luveurop,

Enjoy Venice! When I went in December I stayed in the Ca'Pisani because although it is in a 16th c. palazzo, it has an absoutely modern, high tech interior and I wanted the guarantee of a central heating. It also has really great bathtubs, which are wonderful for a warm soak at the end of the day, before the dinner hour. The Ca'Pisani is mildly pricey and you might want something cheaper, but be sure to ask about heating and see if you can get a bathtub wherever you go because it helps take off the chill when you've been walking a lot in damp weather.

Pack very warm socks and shoes in addition the long underwear (Winter Silks, good resource). Those marble floors get cold.

i think you'll be happier with your December decision. i've been to Venice only twice, once in a July and once August and it was HOT hot hot.

i love the heat generally but Venice almost did me in.

luveurop- We are going to Italy this December 16th-Jan 3rd. We are going to the same places you are interested in. We were hesitant about the weather too... but after reading posts & planning we are now just very excited! I will let you know how it goes. PS- I live near you (southern WI), so I think that whatever the weather is it can't be as cold as it gets here at times!

Yes, luveurop, December would be my choice - not because of the heat but because of the number of tourists. I spent a week in Florence and one in Venice in late November 2005. Weather was cold (very cold winter in Europe last year) and somewhat rainy but who cares! Most venues, especially in Venice, were empty. Imagine having the Treasury of San Marco Basilica and the Pala d'Oro all to yourself - no jostling or waiting on line for a glimpse. Many (most)of the churches I visited were deserted except for DH and I. Florence was more crowded but nowhere near as crowded as during the "season". I also agree with nessundorma, to visit Museo San Marco when it's empty was a real treat. Oh yes, there was a small group of school kids with their teacher-I'd guess maybe 10 or 11 year olds. Even seeing them was a hilight as they were so very excited and involved with the visit (sure wish I could have understood the teacher). For accomodations in Venice, I stayed at the Foscari Palace - a real luxury hotel on the Grand Canal with an astounding breakfast spread. The room rack rate was E540 but I booked at hotels.com and paid USD120 for weeknights and $159 for weekend - a real steal! The hotel prices in Venice plummet in the 3rd week of October. Oh, by the way, I'm a Paris fanatic, too. If it were not for Paris, Venice would be my favorite place :)

luveurop, I've been following your thread because DH and I have plans to go to Italy this December, 10th-21st. Like googie, I was excited anyway but am even more so after reading so many encouraging replies. DH and I go when we can go which usually means off season--yes, it was cold and rainy in Edinburgh but we had a blast! Our itinerar is different from yours--after six nights in Rome we're headed south to Naples. Enjoy planning your trip!

AnnMarie,

The days before Christmas in Naples should be spectacular. Make sure you visit the streets where they make the Christamas figurines and creches, and no doubt the churches will have interesting displays.