Italy in December

Christmas markets in Bolzano and Merano, cribs (presepi) in Naples; ski season opens around 8 December.

• Alps and Dolomites · Bolzano, Cortina, Aosta, the Lakes' mountainscool

  Skiing mid-December to early April; hut hikes and lifts late June to mid-September. Afternoon thunderstorms in July–August.

• Po Valley and the north · Milan, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Turincool

  Foggy, damp winters; sticky summers with mosquitoes near the lagoon. Venice acqua alta floods most often October–December (the MOSE barriers now stop the worst).

• Central Italy · Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Romecool

  Rome and Florence reach 35–40 °C in July–August; November is the wettest month. Spring and autumn are the long sweet spots.

• South and islands · Naples, Amalfi, Puglia, Sicily, Sardiniafine

  Mild winters and hot, dry summers; sea swimming June to early October. Many coastal hotels and ferries shut November–March.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Immaculate Conception

  8 Dec

  Start of the Christmas season and the ski season; long weekend when it falls near one.

• Christmas and St Stephen's Day big impact

  25–26 Dec

  Most shops, museums and many restaurants shut on the 25th; papal Christmas Mass in Rome.

• Patron saints (Rome 29 Jun, Florence and Turin 24 Jun, Naples 19 Sep, Milan 7 Dec)

  Local saints' days

  City holidays with processions; offices shut in that city only.

Crowds · Italy

Medium

Prices · Italy

Medium

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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