Tuscany in March
Aug 12th, 2004, 07:34 PM
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Tuscany in March
O.k. I'm working on our Italy itinerary that includes 3-4 days Rome, 3-4 days Venice, and a week in Tuscany. Then I get a response to an inquiry that a week in Tuscany in March is a horrible idea. Should I reconsider, or am I being too easily influenced?
Aug 13th, 2004, 04:15 AM
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This year we spent part of our time in Tuscany during heavy rains and chilly days. We still had a great time!
However, if this would have been our first trip there, we might have been depressed. You just don't see the beauty of this area from under an umbrella.
Be cautious about staying in hill towns in this kind of weather, I still remember one very rainy and VERY windy night trying to make our way to dinner in Montalcino.
However, if this would have been our first trip there, we might have been depressed. You just don't see the beauty of this area from under an umbrella.
Be cautious about staying in hill towns in this kind of weather, I still remember one very rainy and VERY windy night trying to make our way to dinner in Montalcino.
Aug 13th, 2004, 04:47 AM
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Hi Natalie,
A week in Tuscany is not a horrible idea, however - I don't recommend driving in Italy on your first visit.
If you base in Florence, you can conveniently visit many towns by train.
Orvieto is a lovely hill town that makes a nice daytrip from Rome by train.
A week in Tuscany is not a horrible idea, however - I don't recommend driving in Italy on your first visit.
If you base in Florence, you can conveniently visit many towns by train.
Orvieto is a lovely hill town that makes a nice daytrip from Rome by train.
Aug 13th, 2004, 08:10 AM
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We were in Italy twice in March. The first trip was mid-March and the sun followed us everywhere, except for one cloudy day in Rome.
This March, we had a mix of bright, glorious sunny days with overcast, gray skies and one day in Tuscany of heavy rains.
The rain was not fun, but it came and went, and we still had a great time.
The big plus of traveling in March is that you don't have the throngs of tourists at major sites or long lines or intense heat and, in some instances, you can save a little on hotels.
We also went to Paris one year in March and had pretty good weather. Someone else I know went in the middle of April and it rained the entire week. Unfortunately, you just can't predict the weather any time of the year.
This March, we had a mix of bright, glorious sunny days with overcast, gray skies and one day in Tuscany of heavy rains.
The rain was not fun, but it came and went, and we still had a great time.
The big plus of traveling in March is that you don't have the throngs of tourists at major sites or long lines or intense heat and, in some instances, you can save a little on hotels.
We also went to Paris one year in March and had pretty good weather. Someone else I know went in the middle of April and it rained the entire week. Unfortunately, you just can't predict the weather any time of the year.
Aug 13th, 2004, 08:18 AM
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We spent a week in Tuscany in March 1999 and had such a wonderful trip that we went back for 10 days (Tuscany and Umbria) in 2001 -- also in March. Both times we went in the latter part of the month.
We were mostly very lucky in the weather. One day on the first trip we had light snow, which melted in a day, but it was actually beautiful to see the vineyards all outlined in frosty white. On our second trip we had a little rain now and then. But both times we found the weather very pleasant and springlike, with plenty of sun.
Of course, a lot depends on where you're coming from. If you live in California, you might not like March in Tuscany. Coming from New England, we found the weather a welcome escape from our endless winters. Flowers were starting to bloom, and we had many days of temps in the high 60s and into the 70s.
As for driving in Tuscany, again, I think that depends a lot on your own prior experience. My husband says Boston driving is generally a lot worse than anything we found in Tuscany. You will definitely need a car to experience the hill towns, but just be sure to park outside the towns (they all have lots there) and walk in.
One word of warning, if you go in late March -- Europe makes the "spring ahead" time change a week earlier than the States. We were staying in a place where little English was spoken and no one warned us about the time change. We went through two whole days and messed up a dinner reservation because of being out of synch with the world around us.
We were mostly very lucky in the weather. One day on the first trip we had light snow, which melted in a day, but it was actually beautiful to see the vineyards all outlined in frosty white. On our second trip we had a little rain now and then. But both times we found the weather very pleasant and springlike, with plenty of sun.
Of course, a lot depends on where you're coming from. If you live in California, you might not like March in Tuscany. Coming from New England, we found the weather a welcome escape from our endless winters. Flowers were starting to bloom, and we had many days of temps in the high 60s and into the 70s.
As for driving in Tuscany, again, I think that depends a lot on your own prior experience. My husband says Boston driving is generally a lot worse than anything we found in Tuscany. You will definitely need a car to experience the hill towns, but just be sure to park outside the towns (they all have lots there) and walk in.
One word of warning, if you go in late March -- Europe makes the "spring ahead" time change a week earlier than the States. We were staying in a place where little English was spoken and no one warned us about the time change. We went through two whole days and messed up a dinner reservation because of being out of synch with the world around us.
Aug 13th, 2004, 08:18 AM
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I see no reason you should not drive on your first trip to Italy. Have a good map, a willing navagator and go. Driving in Tuscany (not into, out of, or in Florence or Siena)is quite easy.
I don't see how it could be easier on your second trip.
I don't see how it could be easier on your second trip.
