For people who don't mind the cold, winter can be a great time of year to plan your trip to Italy. Winter in Italy is a classic “low season”, which means not only a pleasant drop in housing and transport prices, but also much fewer visitors to museums and historical sites. The Italian winter is also a period when the theater and opera seasons are at their zenith. And if you are also a skier, then the Italian Mountains will offer a lot of opportunities for organizing a complete winter holiday.
Weather in Italy in winter
Winter weather in Italy varies from relatively mild along the coast of Sardinia, Sicily and the southern tip of mainland Italy to cold and snowy in the north of the country. Even popular tourist destinations such as Venice, Florence and the mountain towns of Tuscany and Umbria may find themselves covered in snow during this period.
Most rainfall in Italy falls between November and December, and this must also be taken into account. However, although the rain snow in Italy in winter This is a completely normal phenomenon; it should be understood that the Italian winter is still far from the Russian or Ukrainian one, and clear days are not so rare here.
Winter festivals and holidays in Italy
Even taking into account the fact that winter in Italy in general, this is a period when the country is visited by much fewer tourists compared to summer; it also has its peaks during the holidays. The biggest one is Christmas, which is celebrated on a special scale in the Vatican. Other significant holidays in winter Italy - New Year and Baptism. If your path lies through Venice, then the famous Carnival often falls during this period, you can find out more about the dates of which.
Public holidays in winter Italy are Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Epiphany. The last holiday in Italy is celebrated on January 6th, and this is the day when the Italian female version of Santa Claus - La Befana- brings gifts to the children. These days, most shops, museums and tourist infrastructure are closed.
In the Italian Alps you can truly experience winter
Cities of Italy in winter
Early winter sunsets mean more time to explore the nightlife of Italian cities. In many localities, municipalities organize decorative lighting of streets and main attractions, which makes night walks unusual and especially romantic.
Winter in Italy This is also a great time to attend cultural events and performances in elegant, historic theatres. Rome and Naples boast the mildest winters among Italy's most important cities and attract large numbers of visitors during the winter holidays. Visiting the day before is extremely popular among Italians and tourists. Catholic Christmas Vatican.
Tourist sites in winter
IN major cities many museums and tourist sites in Italy in winter They close much earlier than in the summer. Outside the cities, operating hours change even more dramatically: attractions may only be open on weekends, or even close completely during the low season. Many hotels and restaurants in popular summer destinations may also be closed. On the other hand, those hotels that continue to accept guests often offer significant discounts, trying to attract rare tourists (with the exception of ski resorts). Also, campgrounds and outdoor pools are closed in winter.
Life is completely different at Italian ski resorts, including Olympic venues Piedmont, built for the 2006 Winter Games, in the Alps and Mount Etna in Sicily. Here, life is just awakening towards winter, attracting fans of extreme sports. Therefore, there is no need to wait for discounts and promotions on housing and food.
Winter in Italy - summary:
- Cheap flights and accommodation prices (except during holiday periods)
- High season for ski tourism
- Many cultural events and performances in theaters throughout the country
- No crowds or queues at tourist sites and museums
For more detailed information on the month of your intended trip, we also recommend our posts.
“Winter Italy” - this phrase may seem strange to some, because we usually imagine Italy as an exclusively sunny and warm country. Not many people take a trip to Italy in winter, but once they do, they are pleasantly surprised! After all, winter in Italy is the time for carnivals, Christmas markets and much more. And when, if not in winter, can you ride along the snow-covered hills in the Dolomites? In addition, when traveling in winter, you can save a lot, because in winter prices drop significantly. We have prepared a list of the best things to do in Italy during the winter season.
1. Climb the mountains
Winter Italy is the ideal place for skiing and snowboarding in the Dolomites. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or a professional – in Italy you will find ski resorts for every taste! Needless to say, the nature of northern Italy with strings of snow-capped mountains, snow-white snowdrifts, dense forests and clean air is ideal for a winter holiday?
Where to go: Cortina d'Ampezzo. Madonna di Campiglio. Sestriere. Courmayeur.
2. Spend more time in museums
Italy is home to the most visited museums in the world, and it’s no secret that it’s common to see huge queues at the entrance during the summer season. In winter, the opposite is true - you can avoid both long queues and crowds in the halls. Nothing will stop you from enjoying art.
3. Visit theaters and opera
What could be better during the New Year holidays than visiting the Italian opera? After the summer break, the Italian autumn-winter opera season is in full swing! Masterpieces of classical music, the best artists, amazing scenery and luxurious interiors of Italian theaters create an atmosphere of celebration and magic.
4. Wine tastings and cooking courses
The autumn grape harvest has been harvested, and the cellars of famous winemakers are full of young wine. If you appreciate Italian wines, then winter is... best time taste the results of the autumn harvest. Until spring, winemakers will be free from work and will be able to devote a lot of time to their visitors.
And what could be more pleasant than cooking classes in a warm, bright kitchen when snow is falling outside the window? If you want to surprise your family with your culinary skills and learn the secrets of Italian dishes from the best chefs, then cooking classes are a great activity during a winter trip to Italy!
5. Don't miss winter sales
They begin in early January and last until the end of February throughout almost all of Italy. If you're a bargain hunter, brand savvy, and just love shopping and discounts, then winter sales are one of the best things to do in Italy during the winter.
Where to go: Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni (Milan); Via Condotti, Via Borgogna, Piazza di Spagna (Rome), Via Tornabuoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, Via del Parione (Florence); area from Piazza San Marco to Ponte dell’Accademia (Venice).
6. Stay in great hotels and villas for a low price
If in the summer good hotels, villas and even apartments sell out in a matter of days, then in the winter the opposite is true - you don’t need to rush and keep watch in front of the monitor to book the hotel of your dreams, risking spending every penny of your vacation savings. Winter housing prices in Italy are significantly lower than summer ones, and the same applies to the demand for housing. Therefore, winter is the ideal time for a vacation in a cozy villa or a beautiful hotel, without stress and serious expenses.
7. Christmas markets and Venice Carnival
And finally, we come to the most colorful and magical events for which winter Italy is famous - Christmas markets and the Venice Carnival.
Christmas markets are a truly wintry and cozy event, a must for anyone who loves the winter holidays. Rows of cozy shops with outlandish crafts, regional delicacies, Christmas tree toys and rare decorations, a decorated tree, a Christmas nativity scene, music, folk festivities, all this is a Christmas market that preserves a genuine atmosphere of magic.
Dates: end of November – beginning of January
The Venice Carnival is the most colorful and amazing winter event, dating back to the eleventh century. Every year, thousands of tourists and locals take part in the costume party that precedes Lent. One of the main events of the carnival is the competition for the best mask!
Dates: annually in February, the exact date depends on the church calendar.
Dates for 2017: February 11 – 28.
Venice is one of the most expensive tourist cities in Europe, so many travelers, despite having a great desire to visit the famous city on the water, have to abandon such an idea due to the lack of sufficient financial resources. However, you can spend some wonderful days in Venice in winter, even if your wallet is not very tight. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that winter Venice still loses some of its charm. Winter It's certainly not that cold here - the air temperature in January usually fluctuates between one degree below zero and six degrees above zero - but a boat ride on a gondola can easily make your teeth tap-dance. In addition, some hotels close for the winter. But those hotels that continue to operate during the off-season please with unusually low prices. In any case, it is better to go to Venice in winter than not go never - and after a walk along the foggy Venetian embankments, warm up with a glass of grappa.
Turin in winter
Most travelers familiar with Turin agree that the city is best visited in the summer. In principle, the same can be said about any city in Italy, although Italian cities in winter it's amazing how good they are! And speaking directly about Turin, this city is known as the Italian capital of winter entertainment. It is not for nothing that the Winter Olympics were held in Turin in 2006. In the vicinity of Turin you can go skiing (resorts Breuil-Cervinia, Bardonecchia, Sauze d'Uls, Sestriere), and just, in the end, stroll along the mountain trails of the Alps. Winter in Turin is conducive to visiting museums, of which there are about four dozen. The Egyptian Museum in Turin, for example, is the second most important Egyptian museum in the world - just after the Cairo Museum.
Winter Milan
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In different parts of Italy? Why should you consider public holidays when planning your trip? What do you need to know about how museums operate in winter? Why do many hotels offer discounts? The article answers these and many other questions.
For people who don't mind the cold, winter can be a great time to plan your trip to Italy. Winter in Italy is a classic “off-season”, which means not only a pleasant drop in housing and transport prices, but also much fewer visitors to museums and historical sites. The Italian winter is also a period when the theater and opera seasons are at their zenith. And if you are also a skier, then the Italian Mountains will offer a lot of opportunities for organizing a complete winter holiday.
The Italian mountains are famous for their snow-covered slopes and excellent sports infrastructure, attracting many skiers and snowboarders. Additionally, many mountain resort towns in Italy are also famous for their hot springs and spas, making for a truly unforgettable experience amid the surrounding snowy winter.
In major cities, many museums and tourist sites in Italy close much earlier in winter than in summer. Outside the cities, operating hours change even more dramatically: attractions may only be open on weekends, or even close completely during the low season. Many hotels and restaurants in popular summer destinations may also be closed. On the other hand, those hotels that continue to accept guests often offer significant discounts, trying to attract rare tourists (with the exception of ski resorts).
In winter, you will certainly plunge into the amazing atmosphere of waiting for a Christmas miracle: from the first days of December, Italian cities and towns are lit up with New Year's lights, in all stores - from small shops to supermarkets there is a sense of revival, and the residents of the Apennines themselves are happy to stock up on gifts for their family and friends .
Christmas, fairs and nativity scenes
The Christmas and New Year holidays for Italians last from December 24 to January 6; several religious and secular holidays fall during this period, which are reflected in the family traditions of the inhabitants of the Apennines. This is the night before Christmas on December 24, Christmas itself on December 25, when traditionally the whole family gathers at the dinner table, the feast of St. Stephen on December 26, New Year on December 31 - January 1, the feast of Epiphany () on January 6.
In Italy, there is a long and very interesting tradition of creating sculptural compositions representing the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ. Starting on December 8th, when Catholics celebrate the day Immaculate Conception Virgin Mary, New Year trees are decorated everywhere and nativity scenes are set up - they, like decorated Christmas trees, can be seen everywhere - both in the central city square and in the home of every Italian family.
Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square in . Photo flickr.com
Residents of some towns personally portray all the characters and, to the best of their ability and ability, recreate the environment of 2000 years ago, thus creating “living nativity scenes”, which also deserve the attention of tourists vacationing in Italy on New Year’s Eve.
In Italy, it is customary to give gifts on, or rather, to place them under the Christmas tree, so that on December 25 the whole family can unwrap them and wish each other a Merry Christmas. The most exciting thing is to buy gifts, the very visit of which turns into a real holiday. Therefore, if you find yourself in Italy these days, be sure to try to visit one of them or even several.
Christmas market in Bolzano. Photo: milanoweekend.it
At each of the Christmas fairs and bazaars, you can stock up on souvenirs and gifts, presented here in a wide variety, or simply admire the products of local craftsmen, try local delicacies from confectioners and other traditional dishes, purchase local delicacies for your New Year's table and, of course, will be charged with a festive mood.
A stall with souvenirs and Christmas tree decorations at a Christmas market. Photo nanopress.it
Ski resorts
Many outdoor enthusiasts specifically plan their holidays in Italy during the winter months, knowing about the magnificent beauty of this country. Some ski resorts open as early as mid-November, most begin their work in early - mid-December and end in late March - early April.
Ski holidays in Italy are excellent slopes designed for tourists of any level of training - from beginners to professionals, these are the most different types recreation in the snow: downhill and long-distance running, sledding and snowshoeing, snowboarding and ski mountaineering, freestyle and heli-skiing, ice climbing and skating, ski schools for adults and children, convenient ski lifts different types, and in addition, excellent infrastructure, comfortable hotels and hospitable local cafes and restaurants and, of course, magnificent scenery of snow-capped mountains and forests.
One of the hotels in the Dolomites. Photo: cozzio.it
The most popular ski resorts are located in the Italian Alps, in the regions. The most famous of them are (), Sestriere, Peio, Rifugio Bella Vista, spa centers in Andalo and Ortisei, thermal baths in and in the Val di Sole valley.
Winter thermal holiday in the resort of Bormio. Photo flickr.com
Hot thermal springs that come from deep underground and have complex chemical composition, have a beneficial effect on health. A special pleasure is to enjoy relaxing wellness treatments in water with a temperature of 36-40° under open air, while admiring the snow-covered mountain slopes.