It’s at this time of year that thoughts turn to holiday plans for the year ahead…. but most people tend to be thinking about where to go in the Spring or Summer. With the exception of the skiers, fewer amongst you consider heading away in the Winter months. And certainly, few think of Italy as a Winter holiday destination. But in so many ways, it’s a superb time to visit.
So why not seize the moment and book a holiday to Italy this January, February or March? Or what about a break later this year in November or December? Just take a look at a few of the reasons why there is no better time to visit Italy than in the cooler Winter months….
For one, if you’re heading to one of the major cities in Italy, you’ll find that the main tourist attractions will be far quieter. Imagine being able to visit the Vatican Museums without the need to stand in a long line for hours at a time. Or how about being able to wander around Siena’s Piazza del Campo undisturbed? Or maybe consider visiting the Uffizzi in Florence without any need for queuing. All these are the norm in the quieter Winter months.
If you do fancy visiting Florence to explore it’s rich cultural heritage, then this is a great 2 bedroom apartment in Florence available from Bookings For You, offering the perfect base to visit the city off season.
Secondly, there are some superb festivals to enjoy off season. Italy is renowned for its fantastic carnivals, held across the country in February. Some of the most notable include the Viareggio carnival, held every weekend in February as well as the Venice Carnival held in the last week of January and first week of February. There are just as many superb events at the end of the year too. Take the annual chocolate festival in Perugia held in October or the wonderful truffle festivals held in numerous locations throughout Italy across October and November…. the most famous of these is probably that in Alba, Piedmonte but there are many others all over Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche.
Many of the festivals are much smaller than these examples. All over the country, there are numerous small cultural and historic festivals dedicated to local history, music, art, food, and traditions. Since these events are mostly attended by those living in the immediate area, attending them is a real opportunity to meet and interact with the locals and learn more about their culture and way of life. In other words, visiting off season is a chance to enjoy a much more authentic holiday experience.
That’s not to say that everything will be open. It’s worth doing your research on the area you plan to visit. Certainly, you’ll find some of the seaside resorts closed down throughout the Winter. But many places will be bursting with activity.
And, it goes without saying, that you’ll certainly get more for your money off season. Accommodation can be less than half the price in the Winter months as it costs in July and August. Take this stunning villa in Tuscany – prices are more than 50% cheaper in the Winter than they are in the height of the Summer. It’s not just accommodation that tends to be cheaper either… visitors will usually find that flights are considerably cheaper too. All enabling you to spend more in the shops and restaurants when you are over there!
Visiting off season doesn’t mean you’re going to get the worst of the weather either. Yes, Winter in Italy is the time of year that the region sees most rainfall, however daytimes tend to be mild with temperatures only dropping at night. In the southernmost regions of the country, where temperatures can almost be stifling in peak Summer, visiting in the cooler Winter months is certainly worth consideration. And, exploring the cities in cooler temperatures can be far more pleasant than in the sweltering heat of July and August. Just pack some waterproofs in case you do get caught in a downpour!
So, if you have been convinced of the merits of visiting Italy ‘off season’, get in touch with us today to discuss accommodation options in our range of villas and apartments in Italy.