Hi - Any advice would be most appreciated! I can only travel in February and would like to do a cycling trip - specifically through Florence and Umbria... I am wondering what the weather is like in these regions at this time of year? And whether it would perhaps be too unpleasant to cycle and also camp during this time ie. If it is very cold, snowy?, rainy? etc. Or is it just cool and wouldn't be too bad?
Thanks for any help!
Natalya

Addendum - I meant to say the regions of Tuscany (not Florence) and Umbria!!

It tens to be quite rainy and snow is possible. The weather can range from not too coolish to quite cold.

I would think you can cycle as long as you don;t mind riding in the rain - but can't imagine tent camping is a realistic option - would you carry around some source of heat for use all night - or just sleep in 4/5 layers of clothes?

During my trip to Rome last December, the weather was cloudy and cool. I was able to get by with just a heavy sweater during the days, no jacket. And I don't think you have to worry about snow. I think it would be a fine time for a for cycling, but it may be alittle too cold for camping outdoors.

This is a good site for an overview of Italian weather and you can get history for some specific cities:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/c...ml?tt=TT004000

We were in Tuscany last year at the end of February and beginning of March. We started in Florence and it was absolutely freezing. Really very cold, and one day with big, fat, wet snow flakes for hours.

A few days later, in Arezzo, it was pleasant and sunny, and my coat was open during the day, with no gloves. But when the sun went down, the scarf and gloves came on.

A few days later, in Rome (where you aren't going) it was much warmer and rained a good bit.

I think you could get in some cycling, but I would not think that camping out is a possibility, unless you are an all-weather camper.

However, it will very likely rain, and possibly snow at some point of your trip.

I have been to Italy twice in February. First trip was pretty nice in the weather department. Rome, upper 50s jacket weather, Florence and Venice cooler 40s-50 F. but sunny and not a bit of rain. I found out we were lucky because next trip was mostly rainy with highs 40s-50s again, but the wind and rain made us pretty miserable. It did sleet one evening too. I would recommend a trip, but to go primarily to bike you will need to be prepared for anything with the weather.

Oh brave you! Ah you from Scotland or Holland? Maybe you are used to cycling in winter weather, but as the other posters have said it will mostlikely be cold, wet, sleety, and probably snowing some days. Why not wait until March or better yet April, or if February is the only time you can come to Italy, go South, Calabria, Puglia or Sicily. Italy is much more than Tuscany or Umbria. Ciao.

Thanks everybody! Very helpful ... I don't really mind camping in the cold (if cold is around 0-5, but not sub-zero!), but I am now wondering if camprgrounds would even be open at this time?? As for the cycling, again, it's not so much the cold but I don't fancy cycling for too many days if it's raining and/or snowing... I'm living in Germany at the moment and don't mind cycling now (no snow yet) - Unfortunately I can't go at any other time!

What can I say? I've lived in Rome all my life and I can confirm that weather in february can be quite cold. Actually, as for what ciaobella 2183 said, weather in February is indeed colder than in December! In fact, last year snow kept on falling and falling.

Well - from hearing all this it seems that it might be best to go cycling further south in Italy then, as Sampaguita suggested ... Can anyone recommend routes or areas further south in Italy, that are good for cycling?