March and April (some dates excluded due to Easter) normally offer low-season pricing, May for most cities and towns becomes high-season pricing. Museums and monuments start to have longer opening hours in May.
In the month of March many cities hold events for International Women's Day (March 8th) - this year, across all of Italy, almost all museums, monuments, archaeological sites will be free for women; the Rome marathon is also held in March.
In the month of April there is a national public holiday (April 25th) to celebrate Liberation Day; in mid-April all state-run museums open their doors for free during the annual "settimana della cultura" (Week Of Culture) - but expect huge queues.
In the month of May there are many popular floral festivals and the Giro d'Italia bike race. There is also a national public holiday on May 1st - International Workers Day.
Here are our tips to get the most out of your spring holiday:
* If you are visiting during Holy Week/Easter, book your accommodation well in advance. Contact us for your accommodation requirements.
* Research your destinations and be aware of any events/festivals that may be held during your visit. These events and festivals can be fun and exciting, however if the town you are planning to visit is on the Giro d'Italia route (or another popular festival is being held in the region) you may find huge crowds and traffic jams.
- click here for information on il Giro: http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2012/en/index.shtml?lang=en
* Research your destinations and be aware of the possibly still-limited seasonal opening hours of the museums, monuments and other attractions you wish to experience
* Be aware of restricted opening hours for supermarkets, restaurants, tourist attractions on public holidays
* Research your destinations for food and wine festivals – on a similar note, know which foods are in season and order dishes with these fresh ingredients when dining out
- click here for our list of Festivals in Italy
* Ensure your accommodation in Italy has air-conditioning and heating – you don’t want to be uncomfortable if you end up with unseasonal weather conditions
* If travelling with children, have a plan B – perhaps you need to bring along some digital entertainment equipment (ipad, portable dvd player, e-readers, etc) or have some more traditional games up your sleeve for those days indoors due to unfavourable weather – but always be aware of any costs you will incur for internet connections
* Consider joining an organised small-group tour – experienced tour operators know what works at this time of year
- click here to see our hand-picked small-group tour packages
Spring is a wonderful time to visit Italy. Let Passion For Italy help you plan your Spring 2012 holiday now. Contact us with your requirements and we will ensure your trip is a success.
