What is the best time of year to visit Norcia?
| Title: | What is the best time of year to visit Norcia? | |||||||
| Category: | Expectations & Planning for Our Norcia Vacations | |||||||
| Author: | Daniele Pintaudi | Updated: | Jan 30, 2019 | Views: | 5,279 | |||
| Tags: | best time to go in norcia best time to visit norcia visit umbria spring time visit norcia summer time visit umbria in summer | |||||||
This is such a difficult question to answer. Every time of year is amazing in its own way.
Spring
Late April through June is beautiful. You may get a little rain here and there, mixed with bright sun. The days are generally pleasant, but not hot. The evenings have a slight chill. Everything is green, and poppies are everywhere. Towns hold flower festivals as people shed the layers of clothing they were shouldering all winter. There is a calm and fresh beauty as Italy wakes up from winter.
Summer
The beauty of summer should never be ignored. For one thing, if you want to be Under the Tuscan Sun, this is the time! Sunny days, every day. Evenings are beautiful, allowing us to dine under the stars. It is sunflower season in July, and there are summer festivals all over in Central Italy. On just about any given night, there will be fireworks somewhere and music is in the air all over.
In Norcia, it is a time when Italians visit, so you will find many Italian tourists and their families here for the amazing food culture.
Summer Heat
People often avoid for fear of the heat. Rome and Florence can be very hot and crowded, but one of the nice things about Norcia is that it is a summer mountain getaway for Italians. For centuries, Romans have come here in the summer months to escape the heat of the city.
Italy in August
Others show concern that Italy closes in August. This used to be the case, but not anymore. August is a traditional month for Italians to vacation, but you won't notice it. In fact, August is the highest season in Norcia.
Also, consider that the summer reputation included the fact that it was not an air-conditioned country. This also has changed in the last decade or so. Air conditioning has become very standardized in Italy. All of the accommodations, vehicles, stores, etc. will have A/C nowadays.
Autumn
September and October will bring cooler weather and a little rain here and there mixed with sunny days, much like Spring. Best of all, it is harvest season! Grapes, Chestnuts, etc. Truffle hunting is at its peak. Wine is being made as the grapes are crushed in late September or Early October.
Winter
Yes, it will be cold, and you will most likely see rain. Temps will drop down to around freezing in January, but there is a magic to all of this. For one thing, November is Olive Harvest season, and there is nothing quite like it. We pick the olives and head to the mill to make the "Olio Nuovo" (New Oil). Afternoons of Gelato give way to Italian sipping chocolate.. YUM!
As we get into December, Christmas season is wonderful. It is not commercialized like back home. It is pure. Towns all over do elaborate living manger performances that will blow your mind, and there is nothing quite like Christmas shopping in Rome! January brings us the Befana day on the 6th (Bigger than Santa Clause in Italy), followed by St. Antonio, where towns light gigantic bonfires to warm up in the piazzas. February and Mach bring Carnival (Mardis Gras) festivals, and Valentine's Day (St. Valentine lived 20 minutes from us).