There aren’t many excuses you need to come up with to book a getaway to Italy. There are the festivals, the varying climates, carnivals, and other celebrations. But it’s the climates and the changing seasons that offer the opportunity to really get to know Italy. There is an Italy for all seasons.
To experience the best of your chosen destination, the time of year you go has a lot to do with how well your vacation will turn out. For instance, arriving the day after a festival might not be an appealing first-time visit, as a visit to Puglia’s beaches toward the end of summer will have you feeling the heat, battling the crowds, and spending more than you would if you waited just a month or so. So, where should you head depending on the season?
Spring
Veneto in the springtime means Venice and Verona, Padua, and Vicenza. In Vicenza, you’ll find several buildings designed by Andrea Palladio — quite possibly one of Italy’s most beautiful towns. Palladio also built the villas you’ll see along Brenta Canal. Just a bit to the north are the Prosecco Vineyards and breathtaking mountains.
Summer
Summertime in Umbria means poppies and sunflowers are in full bloom, making the valleys alive with color. Umbria is easily the greatest rival of Tuscany, and equally as beautiful. If you traverse the foothills of the Apennines range to the east or the rolling hills of the south, you’ll come across charming historic towns, like Perugia, Assisi, which are known for their pilgrimages, but Spello and Spoleto are just as fabulous and much less well-known. Summertime villa prices plummet, making this Italian getaway doable for both the luxe and the luxe at heart.
Fall
Finally, in the fall, there’s no better place to be than the Amalfi Coast. If Italy were a grand villa, this coast would be its southern-facing balcony. Take in the warm waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, indulge in epic road trips from one end of the coast to the other. Choose from among posh, chic accommodations from the sands of the beach to the cliffs above.
There is an Italy for all seasons, so where and when will you travel in Italy this year?