March Weather and Holidays in Italy
| Title: | March Weather and Holidays in Italy | |||||||
| Category: | Weather and Holidays | |||||||
| Author: | Daniele Pintaudi | Updated: | Jan 30, 2019 | Views: | 5,202 | |||
| Tags: | march in italy travel on march in in italy march weather in italy | |||||||
Weather in the North (Venice, Milan, Turin, Cinque Terre, etc.)
In March, spring begins to show, but one should still be prepared for cold and wet days. The temperature range is roughly between the mid 30's to mid 50's (1 to 12 C), and on any given day you have a one in three chance of rain. You will begin to see those nice, warmer days during which the people begin to shed their layers.
Weather in Central (Soriano nel Cimino, Tuscany, Umbria, Florence, Rome, etc.)
The Central part of Italy is a bit warmer than the north, of course. Rome is often quite pleasant, with temperatures ranging between the low 40's to high 50's (6 to 15 C). Tuscany and Umbria will be a little colder. There is about a one in four chance of rain on any given day. When you get a stretch of sunlight in March, it is absolutely beautiful as you heat up in the direct sunlight with a chill in the air.
At our home-base of Soriano nel Cimino, expect the temperatures to be about 5 degrees cooler than Rome, and we do get more rain this time of year than can be expected in Rome. We are not as cold as Tuscan cities like Florence.
Weather in the South (Naples, Sorrento, The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, etc.)
You should expect temperatures ranging between the low 50's to low 60's (11 to 15 C). You will experience more sunshine as you travel south, but don't expect weather nice enough for the beach just yet.
How to Dress
Always dress in layers this time of year. You may find days during which a light sweater will be enough, and you may find evenings that require gloves, scarves, etc. be sure to have an umbrella with you in March.
Best Places to visit
Smaller towns in Italy have less life this time of year. Most people find that the big cities are the place to be in the winter, with lots going on and a very romantic winter vibe. If you could only go to one city in March, we would suggest Rome.
What's Special About This Time of Year
Holidays/Festivals: There are no major holidays in March unless Easter falls in March when you are there. If this is the case, Easter in Italy is wonderful. Many towns hold beautiful Good Friday processions, and some do full-scale plays that enact the stations of the cross. If you are in Rome for Easter, there is special Easter mass at the Vatican, and a 'Via Crucis' celebration near the Colosseum on Good Friday, in which the there is a giant cross surrounded by burning torches as the stations of the cross are performed, followed by a blessing by the Pope.
If you are in Florence for Easter, you will discover Scoppio del Carro (The Explosion of the Cart). During this tradition, a large decorated wagon is rolled through the city by oxen until they reach the Santa Maria del Fiore Basilica in central Florence. An Easter mass follows, then the Archbishop fires a dove-shaped rocket into the cart, which sets off all of the fireworks in the cart. After the fireworks are set off, a themed medieval parade follows.
Following Easter Sunday, Italians celebrate the 'Pasquetta' holiday. This literally translates to 'Little Easter', but better translates to 'Easter Monday'. While some towns hold small festivals on this day, it is really a day of family and friends. Everything closes today and families get together for feasts, or have picnics if the weather is good.
Crowds: Tourism is down this time of year, and the crowds are very light. You will be able to visit the more popular museums without waiting in long lines.
Food: Winter is the time that all the Italian comfort foods come out. You will find pastas with richer sauces, lots of amazing soups, more fatty recipes, and probably the single best reason to visit Italy in the winter: Italian Hot Chocolate: The rich and thick hot chocolate that is truly incredible. It is something between our hot chocolate and pudding, and leaves every visitor wanting for more and more and more.