Rain in Rome
 

We're off to Rome on Thursday and the forecasts are for rain. I've been hoping for sunny, beautiful weather with lots of time for walking and picnicking. I may have to go to plan B; indoor activities. While we do have umbrellas and certainly will be outdoors as much as possible, what do experienced visitors to Rome suggest for rainy weather activities?

It rained one day when we were in Rome one November. We just kept going! Umbrella, rain jacket, and off we went.

I plan to not let the rain get me down. I'm looking at the forecast and it's rain every day we are there. I'm hopeful that it doesn't mean steady downpours.

When we went last year, rain was forecast every day except one. Guess which was the only rainy day (and light, at that)? :) Hope you encounter a similar fate-if not, as rbn said, keep going and enjoy!

I went in January and it forecasted rain almost daily and never rained once. Just go and enjoy. If it rains, get out your umbrella and keep going. Don't stay indoors.

If you are forced indoors by the rain, just remember where you are--lots of museums to tour, lots of churches to visit, and a restaurant, cafe, pizzaria or trattoria every few steps. And the wine is cheap and plentiful.

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging words. I just have to get in the mindset of not worrying about having sunny weather. I know we will enjoy just being there.

It doesn't matter if it rains -- you'll get to see ruins in the rain and experience the weather as the ancient Romans did.

That's interesting, sandi-our nearly rainless visit last year was also in January.

Sounds like you're ready, opal. Just let a smile-and an umbrella-be your umbrella. :)

Will do, djman.

Won't even a rainy day be better in Rome than it would be wherever you live?

I don't know yet. This is our first visit.

Every time I go to Rome there are predictions of rain but rarely does it actually happen. I think that once it rained for a few hours. Just bring an unbrella and a good pair of shoes and you should be fine.

Rome is wonderful, rain or shine!

Tracy

Our last full day in Rome was a rainy one. We were miserable, but that is because we were cold, rather than wet. (It was early June and we had packed for temps in the 80s and instead, it was in the low 60s. Brrrr.) Just make sure that you each have two well broken in pairs of shoes, so if one gets totally soaked, you've got the other.

All good ideas. The shoes are important. I'm putting away the sandals and hope that if I do, the rain will stay away. I'm not superstitious, or anything.

A few weeks back, there was a shoe thread where several people said that if your shoes are comfortable, you only need one pair. I always remember what happened to us at Disneyworld. We were waiting for Fantasmic to start, and the skies opened and it POURED...so much rain, and no where to go for cover. I was wearing my favorite sandals. They were about the most comfortable shoes I've ever had, but they were old and the quantity of water in which I walked literally made parts of them come loose. I had to pitch them. If those had been my only pair of shoes, I'd have been off to the mall, then doing Disneyworld in new shoes.

When we were in Rome last month we had rain, rain, hail, rain, hail, rain and even some snow. We still have a great time.

My favorite spot when it rains is the Pantheon--the sight of rain or snow falling through the oculus is amazing, and it's free so you can enjoy it as often as you pass by.

cupid, you must have been there the same time as we were (March 19-23). You forgot to mention the cold!

Check out the rain falling through the open oculus of the Pantheon. The water drains through holes in the marble floor below. It's a little strange that this beautiful building is open to the sky like this.

Ah, but if it weren't open, it wouldn't be the Pantheon. Rain, sun, or snow, that oculus is the window to God.

Oh, tomasso--you are sooooo romantic! That's one reason we all love you so.

Myriam,
yes, when we first arrived it was sunny and quite warm...then the deluge and it did get pretty cool, but we were prepared for it (thank God for cashmere) and it was only a few days.

Hey, J, thanks for the love!

I'm not crazy about winter, but snow can be magic, if you don't have to drive in it. I've read that Florence under a dusting of snow can be like a trip in time, and heard of snowy Venice becoming eerily quiet, like the morning after Carnivale - without the headache. I once woke up in Paris to three inches of snow fallen overnight, deepening to six by lunch, and it was as if we were in a different city. I grew up with a lot of snow in Nebraska, but nothing like the day I got to go for a run in an April snow up at Lake Tahoe. It can be transformative.

One day, though, I hope I'll see snow falling in the Pantheon. If I'm in Rome on winter night, and I hear there will be snow by morning, I'll be there at first light.

I had clear weather in Rome, but rain in Florence- I think the same thing applies, umbrella raincoat, and explore ducking in and out of cafes and museums. If not a a picnic at a table, I am sure you can make a meal at a little cafe table festive! Plus, the pizza ( try margarita) in Rome is out of this world. Enjoy your trip!