My wife and I are considering a trip to Rome and Southern Tuscany (Montichiello or Pienza) around March 10-20, 2010 in celebration of our 15th wedding anniversary. I've done a bit of research into the climate in the area for that time of year, and it looks as if it can be on the cool and somewhat wet side. We don't mind the cool/cold so much, but the wet is worrisome. We really to prefer to go at this time, as it is our actual anniversary, and we'd like to avoid the tourist crush.

Can anyone offer any first hand testimonials as to the general climate? Also, are most restaurants/wineries/etc open in March? Thanks for any info!

It would not be my chose--can you wait a month?
Here is Siena climate---looks chilly to me.


http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w...=161641&refer=

Our weather on our trip to Rome and Florence in March was the same as your research indicated - cool (but not cold) and some rain/fog. The rain was light and didn't ruin any plans and we did have some sunny days. We didn't notice any restaurants closed and did visit 3 wineries outside Florence, though I honestly couldn't say whether there were others that we closed.

Hope this helps.

Duh !
choice

Our family was in Rome the third week of March 2008. It rained every day, some days (like Easter) it poured heavily with thunderstorms. The daytime temp. was between 48 and 53 degrees F, with nighttime temps in the high 30s. I wouldn't go again in March.

We went to Rome and Umbria in March a few years ago. I had a great time, but it rained almost every day (off and on) and it was chilly and foggy at times so we didn't get to see some of the amazing Umbrian views that we were hoping for. Still, it was nice and quiet and I would do it all over again. I don't recall any restaurants being closed either.

Tracy

March can be dicey. It rained every day we were in Florence and it was COLD -- even bought gloves from a street vendor. Rome was warmer, maybe 55-60 and rained 1 day out of 5, I think. I'd wait if you can. We were there March 17-24. It was Spring Break for schools, so it was a little crowded. Take your wife to a nice Italian dinner on your anniversary in anticipation of your trip a little later in the year!

Given the choice I would do early May for better weather, longer days and a lot more flowers/pretty countryside. And still early enough that there aren;t hordes of tourists everywhere.

Hello darby, I sure understand your desire to be in Italy on your anniversary but in that you are worried about rain I agree with others that it would be better to take your anniversary trip later. May can get some rain (at least it always has when I have been in Italy) but it is not real cold and not constant rain. The one time we were in Italy in March (that part of the trip had us in Rome, Umbria and Florence it was cold, and it seemed to continually rain.

I like the idea of you two going out to a special restaurant on your anniversary..what fun you would have discussing your upcoming Italy trip!

I've been in Rome and Tuscany a number of times in the last part of March, and it seems we always have rain. One or two times we even had snow (at a friend's home near Orvieto at a higher elevation). If you can go in May, it would be much better.

We were in Rome March 2009, last half, and the weather was cool enough that I wore a long sleeve shirt, light sweater, and light waterproof coat with a light lining. At times I didn't dead the sweater, but I wore the coat everyday. We only had rain one day, and that included a bit of hail, the rest of the time the weather was very nice for visiting the sites, not windy, cool enough so that all the walking was still comfortable, usually just some whispy clouds, but one pretty overcast day. It was upper 50'sl/low 60's for the highs, but we started early and it was pretty chilly then.
I don't think you can ever guarantee what you'll get, so we're always prepared for everything. I'm with you, cold is OK but rain causes problems.

I'm from Oregon and we Oregonians 'do' rain - if we didn't, we'd be stuck inside for 8 months of the year - so I don't mind a few wet days here and there when I'm on holiday. When I was in the south of Italy a few years ago, end of March, first week of April, it wasn't the rain that bothered me so much (and there was quite a bit of it) because I went prepared for that. Rather, it was the short days and very cool evenings which limited us more than I'd prefer.

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice. Looks like we may want to consider later in the year. The rain is really worrisome.

Seems like May is recommended most often. It appears as though April may only be slightly better. Of course, other than March being our anniversary, it is also our daughter's spring break, so staying with the grandparents and not missing school is another consideration. That being said, I don't want to be there and it rain most days!

Well, DH and I have been in March (always around the 17th anniversary) for 10 trips and never had rain! We have brought long johns and only wanted them when we forgot to bring them along! 50s-60s temps were great for the long walks we take.

Ciao, I'm italian,

and I used to check weather on that website: http://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/Pienza


A week before I was dressing a t-shirt in southertn Tuscany but now is cold...

Good luck, and for any other info, cyou can contact me!

ciao

Only Fools can predict the weather on a certain month anymore!! Mother Nature is not what it used to be..

Another first timer registering to top old threads.

Love to get any more info on this, as I'm planning a late-March trip to Italy with my kids for their Spring Break.

robbydee,

What kind of info are you still needing?