Italy can sometimes be a country that is overlooked for summer holidays, with travellers favouring some of the more notoriously hot weather areas in Europe such as the Canary Islands and mainland Spain. Although temperatures by the sea tend to be cooler than inland areas such as Florence, there is plenty of heat to enjoy in the months of June to July where high temperatures reach 29 degrees Celsius and rainfall is at its minimum. With warmth pleasant enough for sun bathing, but not so sweltering that moving around is problematic, Italy offers the perfect climate for a varied summer vacation.
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kevin Poh
Italy Summer Festivals
One thing Italians enjoy is being Al Fresco. Throughout the summer Italian towns and cities make the most of the warmer days and evenings by holding a range of outdoor concerts and music and art festivals. The venues for the festivals are exciting and innovative and range from ruins to public spaces. The type of music on offer varies from classical composers and opera shows to new live music. Italy’s festival scene is deeply rooted in tradition, with many events dating back centuries. Religious processions, food festivals, and historical reenactments sit alongside contemporary music festivals, creating a rich tapestry of cultural experiences. The long daylight hours of the Mediterranean summer allow festivals to continue well into the night, often culminating in spectacular firework displays.
Festival dei Due Mondi
Translated as “The Festival of Two Worlds”, this performing arts festival takes place in Spoleto and showcases a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines, from ballet, opera, films and art. The festival has been running for over 60 years, and celebrates the amalgamation of European and American art. Festival dei Due Mondi usually takes place in June and July each year. Founded by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, the festival attracts world-renowned performers and artists to the Umbrian hill town, transforming its theatres, piazzas, and churches into performance spaces.
Soundlabs Festival
Usually in August, Soundlabs is a more contemporary festival that celebrates the international independent music scene in the rural area of central Italy. Soundlabs usually hosts popular acts from the UK, US and Italy and is popular with European tourists. The festival takes place in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by hills, creating an intimate atmosphere that larger festivals cannot match.
Verona Opera
The Verona Opera series is a true taste of authentic opera in Italy’s most elegant open air arena, the Roman amphitheatre of Verona. Shakespeare fans will be pleased to visit this popular town to be steeped in history and rich Italian poetry in motion. The opera season runs from June to August, with spectacular productions featuring elaborate sets and costumes. The arena can seat over 15,000 spectators, making it one of the largest open-air opera venues in the world.
Summer Accommodation in Italy
Unless roughing it and making most of the camp sites at some of the more alternative music festivals appeals, there is a good choice of accommodation in Italy to suit all budgets. The most popular cities to stay in are Rome, Florence and Venice, and all of these areas have large and expensive hotel chains such as Hilton and Grand that can provide luxury and convenient accommodations. For those wanting to break away from the confines and expense of a hotel room, clever travellers opt for schemes like home exchange Italy services allowing owners of holiday apartments and second homes to swap locations for their holidays in whichever cities across Europe they choose to visit. Agriturismo stays offer another uniquely Italian option, where visitors stay on working farms and enjoy home-cooked meals made with local produce. These rural accommodations are often more affordable than city hotels and provide an authentic taste of Italian country life.
Summer Sight Seeing
A trip to Italy can be finished off with a trip to the leaning tower of Pisa to see it for real. The Tower is open until 11 pm in the summer, and in the same trip tourists can also visit the Cathedral, Cathedral museum and Baptistery. Beyond the famous landmarks, summer offers the chance to explore Italy’s archaeological sites in their full glory. Pompeii and Herculaneum are particularly impressive in the summer months, though an early morning visit is recommended to avoid the midday heat. The coastal towns of the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, and Sardinia offer summer experiences that combine cultural sightseeing with beach relaxation, providing the perfect balance for a well-rounded Italian holiday.
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