Italy

Italy is style all the way. It’s shaped like a boot and no ordinary boot this! Italy''s fashions are enduring, its cars snazzy, its cathedrals calm, its landscape awesome, its piazzas packed and its pizzas…lip smacking-phenomenal! For the visitor, Italy is a feast for the senses. You can’t go through Italia without a heightened consciousness of beauty. Whether in the glorious hues of the Tuscan landscape, in the seamless amalgamation of the riches of the past, the reality of the present and the hopes of the future, or in the majesty of the Alps, Italy is all one elegant casket of flavourful stuff. You may choose to do the popular circuit of Rome, Florence and Venice where there are more than enough museums, churches, piazzas and gondolas on canals to keep you happy. Or you may choose instead to strike out into the countryside where the pleasures derived from the scenery and the passionate people are enormous. At any rate, on any trip, Italy promises lots and delivers more

Where to Stay in Italy

Whether it’s a hostel or camping out or the most exclusive luxury hotels, there is a range of accommodation in Italy to suit every traveller’s requirement. Hotels are rated on a scale of ‘stars’; 5 star hotels are the plushest of the lot and usually boast facilities like swimming pools, health centres, conference rooms, multi cuisine restaurants and in house nightclubs. The tourist centres of Rome, Florence and Venice are full of these. If you are in Tuscany and have the money, there’s the option of renting out a country villa for the duration of your stay. Mid rung options include rooms in private residences known as Affittacamere, where you can rent a room and really savour life the Italian way. It’s also possible to camp out at specially set-up sites, which more often than not are way outside city limits. Most have all the modern conveniences and are quite comfortable. Hostels are popular with students, backpackers and no-frills thrill-seeking traveller. There are about 50 hostels liberally scattered through the expanse of Italy, giving value for money accommodation deals. Many impose restrictions like an evening curfew, no-drinking and no-smoking. The one-star pensione are for those on a tight budget. Some of them are really quite charming. Prices are to be put outside your room by law. If they aren’t there, make sure you get them in writing. Check to see if your breakfast is included. (It’s usually an extra charge clubbed together with the room rent which can be separated from the room tariff and is not compulsory.) Also, check to see if a shower is included. Rooms with a con bagno or private bath, cost more. Whatever you choose, if you haven’t reserved ahead, make sure you begin looking for accommodation before noon.

Best Time to Visit Italy

Considering fewer crowds of tourists, reduced prices of hotels and flights as well as the weather and climatic conditions at the time of the year, the best time to pay Italy a visit is surely March through October, save July and August. The prime reason for excluding the ‘peak tourist season’ of July and August is that the heat levels reaches astonishing heights, becoming almost cruel to your skin. To make matters worse, most locals take vacations in August, resulting in closing down of a number of shops and restaurants as well as crowded beaches. It’s a wise idea to avoid Italy during the high season of July and August, also including Christmas and Easter time. The reasons for such a condition are the obvious culprits of escalated prices, uncomfortable weather, dearth of available accommodation and a slew of incoming tourists. The summer season (June to August) is scorching and dry while the winter season is known to be mild and foggy. If you are visiting Northern Italy such as cities of Bologna, Verona, Venice and Milan- spring season (April and May) is the perfect time for arriving at these destinations. You also get to be a part of Settimana della Cultura, which takes place annually in April. Southern Italy, on the other hand, experiences Mediterranean climate, which makes the region intolerable during summers. If you are looking for respite, it’s best to visit the mountains, forests and coastal areas of Italy. Winters in Alps and Apennies are lengthy and cold, with the Ski Season opening in December and lasting till April. The summers in these regions are cool and short, but it’s better to visit these places in winters than in summers. Naples, too must be visited in winters when the locals come back in town, giving you a glimpse into their daily lives. But if you are looking to visit the beaches of Amalfi Coast, make sure to avoid November through March as the beaches remain closed during this time. Therefore, before planning a trip, make it a point to know what you want to achieve from your travels to Italy or else it’ll result in a perfect mismatch.

Climate With 7600 kilometres of coastline, the Italian climate is predominantly Mediterranean. July and August are hot and humid, and marked by thunderstorms that strike in the afternoons. Inland areas in the north are the most susceptible to this phenomenon. Both summers and winters are warmer and drier in the south than in the northern and central parts of Italy. The mountainous areas near the Alps experience heavy snowfall in the harsh winters.