Best Times to Visit

Weather

Italy is hot from June to September, especially in the South. The months of April, May, September and October are generally mild. Mountain regions are cooler with heavy snow in winter. The north is the wettest area, particularly from October to December. (For more details, see Climate in Italy).

Visitors are advised to bring lightweight clothes during the summer, except in the mountains where it is cooler. During the winter, light- to medium-weight clothing should be brought for trips to the south, but warmer clothes elsewhere. Alpine wear is recommended for winter mountain resorts.

Festivals

Italy's has many festivals, some of religious and historic significance, others of music and the arts. Events in the Roman Catholic calendar are of central importance, notably Easter and Christmas. Holy Week is celebrated in the week before Easter across the country, but with particular enthusiasm in Sicily.

The Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia), which takes place in the period leading up to Ash Wednesday, is a colourful event, featuring the famous masked balls. In Siena, II Palio is an extraordinary bareback horse race, staged in Piazza del Campo in July and August, attracting crowds from all over the world.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Italy: