The area above the main door of Florence's duomo, the cathedral.
My brother Joe and his wife Susan asked me lots of questions about going to Italy. I recommended that they engage in “slow travel.” That’s settling into one region for a week or two, renting a cottage or an apartment, and exploring the countryside as well as the cities. It’s an entirely different way to travel than dashing from one famous city to the next, and one that we really enjoy.
I am going to write a letter to Joe and Sue with suggestions for their possible Italian vacation. I thought it might interest readers of this blog too. So over the next few days I’ll post here my idea of a perfect holiday in Italia.
I’ll begin with when to go. I’m recommend traveling there in early April for several reasons. One good reason to travel then is to enjoy pre-season prices. Italy is no longer an inexpensive destination. By going in the “shoulder season” the cost of airfare and accommodations will both be lower. For example, today Orbitz returns a round trip fare from Columbus Ohio to Rome in early April of just under $1000. When I check the same trip two months later the fares are all between $1400-$1500. The prices on the accommodations I’ll recommend are similarly discounted.
Another reason to travel in early Spring is to avoid the crowds of tourists that will be everywhere in Italy in May and June. Cruise ships are bringing as many as 3000 people per ship into Rome, Florence and Venice – and often there are several ships there at one time. In late Spring school kids of all ages descend on Europe from everywhere in the world. Italian kids are taking day trips. American and Japanese kids are celebrating graduations by traveling together. Kids of all kinds are everywhere making for crowded conditions in the Vatican and St. Mark’s Square and many other places.
Early Spring weather is usually not a consideration in Italy, which is very hot later in the season. George and I were in Italy from early March to late April in 2002 and never experienced weather bad enough to slow us down at all.
Finally, this year Easter is April 4th. Not every town and village in Italy celebrates Easter in the old traditional ways but many do. Called “Pasqua” in Italian, Easter is celebrated from Holy Thursday until the Monday after Easter. The traditions of Thursday and Friday are very solemn, but the fun starts by Sunday. Here’s a description of the fireworks exploded each year at Florence’s special “duomo” (the cathedral): “In Florence, Easter is celebrated with the Scoppio del Carro, explosion of the cart. A huge, decorated wagon is dragged through Florence by white oxen until it reaches Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence’s historic center. Following mass, the Archbishop sends a dove-shaped rocket into the cart, igniting the fireworks held in the cart. This spectacular display is followed by a parade in medieval costumes.” (This description is taken from About.com’s description of Easter in Italy.)
So my first suggestion is to travel to Italy in early April. Come back tomorrow for more recommendations.
