![]() The traditionally long lines outside the Uffizi in Florence or the Vatican Museum vanish in the dead of winter. The weather keeps the huge summer-like crowds at bay, which in turn keeps prices low on everything from airfare to hotel rooms to guided tours. ![]() Unless you’re going for the winter sports – and a good number of people do – January doesn’t have many selling points for tourists in the weather department. #DOES ITRAIN IN VENICE WINDOWS#Whenever you’re there, look for signs declaring “SALDI” in shop windows (it means “SALES”) and head inside for some treasure hunting. The prices tend to get better as the sale goes on (they usually last for six weeks or so), but the selection dwindles along the way. January is also the start of one of Italy’s official sales periods (the other is in July), so if shopping is on your Italy itinerary then you’re in luck. Learn more about La Befana and Christmas in Italy Epiphany is actually the day when many Italians exchange gifts – not December 25th – it’s the last of the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” and when the witch called La Befana leaves gifts in childrens’ stockings. January’s main event is Epiphany, which is on January 6th, and marks the real end of the Christmas season. Italy’s holiday calendar is packed from end to end, it seems, but not all holidays carry the same weight. Some average temperature ranges for different parts of Italy in January are:Īnd, as always, check the current extended forecast for where you’re actually going just before you leave – when you’re packing is the perfect time – so you can find out in advance if it’s unseasonably cold or warm. Many of the ski resort towns also have thermal spas nearby, thanks to all that volcanic activity, so even if you’re not a skier you can still enjoy a spa retreat in the mountains in January (when the brisk temperatures make hot springs even more appealing). For skiers and snowboarders, January is high season – the Italian Alps and Dolomites are busiest at this time of year, as are ski resorts through the Apennines (and don’t forget, you can even ski Mt. In the mountains, there’s snow – a lot of snow. ![]() You can be assured it’ll be pretty cold, though.) (Of course, it may also be cold and clear in January – so don’t immediately rule out a trip because you assume it will rain. There are lots of attractions in Italy that are indoors (museums, art galleries, churches) – but visiting outdoor ruins when it’s raining and cold isn’t much fun. This is the kind of inclement weather that likely keeps you indoors at home, but you don’t want to stay in your hotel room when you’re on vacation. Overall, the weather does tend to get warmer as you go south, but even Sicily‘s beaches are deserted in January. Some parts of Italy will get snow, while others just get socked in with fog and rain. In fact, the last days of January are said to be the coldest of the year. Weather in Italy in JanuaryĪs mentioned, January in Italy isn’t warm. If you’re traveling to Italy in January, here’s what you need to know about weather and holidays. January isn’t for everyone, I’ll grant you that. ![]() The weather can be cold and downright dreary, dashing any visions you may have had of rolling green hills or sun-dappled piazzas. Christmas is over and the next major Italian holiday – Easter – isn’t for a few months yet. January in Italy is definitely the “low season” in terms of tourism. ![]() January in Italy is neither warm nor beach weather, and there are still some excellent reasons to visit Italy at the start of the year – not least the lower prices. Most people, if they have their druthers, plan Italy vacations in the summer when the sun is shining and the beaches are packed. January in Venice || creative commons photo by Michele Ursino ![]()
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