Introduction

Italy has something to offer all year round. The winter months are ideal for city breaks as even the major destinations are less crowded. The Alps offer the traveller a wide variety of winter sports and spectacular scenery. In the north east of the range, the Dolomites in particular have popular skiing and snowboarding resorts.
Springtime showcases Italy's classical cities in their best light. There are long hours of sunshine, temperatures are still not oppressively hot and the crowds are yet to reach their peak. Easter is a particularly interesting time to visit when the vast number of festivals and processions offer an insight into the Italians' lingering attachment to many of the rites of the Catholic Church.
Summer is still the most popular time to visit, all manner of festivals take place throughout the country and sunshine is all but guaranteed. During August, Italians and tourists alike take advantage of Italy's extensive coastline to escape the cities and relax at the beach.
Autumn sees the start of Italy's bountiful harvests. They begin with grapes and the Festa del l'uva in September, chestnuts in October and the world-renowned olives in November. The lovingly prepared fruits of these harvests are available at the growing number of Christmas markets throughout December.