Travellers always speculated on the “fatal spell” of Italy, which makes people the world over want to visit it. Is it just because “All roads lead to Rome”, i.e. because of the attraction of the most classical western civilisation having its foundations in ancient Rome, and bloomed in the Middle Age, Renaissance and Baroque? Think again, there are many more reasons making Italy so universally desirable.
The Crowds Have not (quite) yet Arrived
Visiting Italy in Spring is the perfect opportunity to get in and soak up Italy’s best cities right before he hoards of tourists arrive. Sure, the streets won’t be empty in the likes of Rome and Venice, but you will certainly be able to move with greater ease if you choose to visit during shoulder season instead of the popular months of May, June, July and August.
The locals are buzzing with the euphoria of Spring
Having previously visited both before (Spring) and after (Autumn) summer, I can say with complete certainty that the former will bring you greater joy. Once the tourists arrive in the masses for the year, it’s all down hill from there for the Italians. They pack up shop and go holiday for themselves, but in the Spring time you will find business as usual and the added bonus of good spirits before the high season hits.
© Iakov Kalinin
Grand Canal in Venice.
© Daniel Korzhonov
The hills around the town of Pienza.
© Peter Stewart
View of the small town of Manarola.
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Alpine farm in Trentino-Alto Adige.
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Field of sunflowers.
© Daniel Korzhonov
Sorano streets of the city in Tuscany.
Italy is in full bloom
Flowers….. and lots of them. Italy comes to life with pops of colour – evident everywhere from the side streets, stalls, markets, and shop windows.
© George Bladon
Poppy field in the village of Castiglione d’Orcia.
© Paul W.Koester
Coast of the island of Capri.
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Karst caves in the Natural Park Gola della Rossa and Frasassi.
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Milan Cathedral.
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The major tourist cities have not yet been bombarded with tourism
The attitude is also in greater spirits before the massive onslaught of tourism hits for the year. Visiting prior to the Summer rush will ensure you encounter the locals while the days are getting hotter and brighter, rather than after an exhausting summer.
Grotto Smeraldo.
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Carnival in Venice.
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The town of Sant’Agata de Goti in the Campania region, the province of Benevento.
© Edmondo Senatore
Tuscan hills.
© Paul W.Koester
The ruins of the Roman Forum.
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Vineyards.
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Brannenburg castle in northern Italy.
Fantasticflorence.com
Keeper of the pond in the park of Villa Demidovs north of Florence.
© Antonio Saba
The hotel “47” in Rome.
© Antonio Saba
On the shore.
© Sebastian Wahlhuetter
Festival thrill in Monte Piana.
© Francesco Tonelli
Real Italian pizza.
The weather is JUST right
Sure, Italy is beautiful in the Summer…. but it can also get very, very hot. Particularly if you’re not used to the heat. In the city of Venice, hot weather also means a bad stench – it is instead much more enjoyable to make a visit to Venice in Spring.
You can still visit Italy on a Budget
Visiting Italy in shoulder season means not only cheaper airfares, but also much cheaper hotel rates. It’s the old trick of supply and demand…. and sadly in the summer you will find much more demand than there is supply. In Spring, you can be sure to not only score a good deal, but also have your pick of places to stay.
