Where to go in Italy in spring: the best destinations

Spring in Italy is usually warm and sunny, but without the exhausting heat. The air temperature ranges from 15-25 °C, so walking around the cities and sightseeing will be especially comfortable and enjoyable. Spring is characterized by lower airfares and accommodation prices. You can save money and get more out of your trip.

In the spring in Italy, you can even combine sightseeing with a vacation on the beach or skiing. In many regions of the country, you can still find snow in the mountains, and the beach season is already starting on the coast. Lonely Planet has revealed the best Italian vacation destinations.

Rome

March is a great month to see Rome. The average temperature is 17°C. Cheaper airfares and lower accommodation costs will delight those looking to save money. You won't have to stand in lines for hours to see the sights, such as the Vatican Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo, the Colosseum, where gladiators once fought bloody battles, and the impressive temples and basilicas of the Roman Forum. Particularly beautiful in spring is Lago Central Park, south of the center, with its many cherry trees, donated by Tokyo in 1959 as a symbol of friendship.

Dolomites

The Dolomites are a mountain range in Italy that is famous for its incredible beauty and unique natural features. The Dolomites are worth a visit for fans of mountain tourism. The average temperature in March ranges from -3°C to -10°C, so it's still cold enough to have snow cover on the slopes for skiing, snowboarding, freeriding, and cross-country skiing. During this period, there are usually no queues and crowds, and the warmth of the spring sun makes outdoor skiing more attractive.

Every experienced skier wants to get on the Sella Ronda, a one-day marathon of 40 km around the Groupo di Sella mountain range, which covers four beautiful valleys: Val Gardena, Val Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa, and ends at Piz Boe at an altitude of 3151 m.

Sicily

Sicily in March is a great choice for those who want to enjoy the beauty of the island without the crowds of tourists and the exhausting heat. The average temperature is 20°C. Many interesting festivals and celebrations take place at this time. You can visit traditional fairs, concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events.

For example, in March, the city of Achireale hosts a famous carnival. In Agrigento, in the second week of March, tourists will find a floral treat, as the medieval city honors the almond blossoms with a festival of traditional costumes, music, and dance. It is also worth visiting the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admiring the Byzantine mosaics in the Palermo Chapel of the Palatine, and looking at the Arab-Norman architecture in Cefalù Castle.

Florence

The gardens of Florence never look as beautiful as they do in April. It's worth heading to the 17th-century Villa e Giardino Bardini, where azaleas and peonies bloom. Another botanical wonder is located near Piazza Michelangelo - Giardino dell'Iris.

Florence is located in the heart of Italy, which makes it a convenient place to start traveling around the country. Other famous cities such as Rome, Venice, and Milan are easily accessible from here. The city impresses with its architecture: there are such famous buildings as the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Vecchio, and many others. Each building has its own unique history and architectural style. Florence is not only museums, but also open-air art. In the city squares, you can see copies of famous sculptures such as Michelangelo's David and Cellini's Perseus.

Lago Maggiore

Lago Maggiore is one of the most beautiful and largest lakes in Italy, located on the border with Switzerland. Thanks to the Alps, which protect the lake from the northern winds, the climate is mild and warm all year round. The average temperature in summer is 25-30 °C, and in winter it does not drop below +5 °C. April is the best month to visit, with an average temperature of 17°C.

On Lago Maggiore, you can practice water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking and yachting. There are also many hiking and cycling trails, golf clubs and tennis courts. The Palazzo Borromeo, where ten tiers of terraced gardens unfold around the Baroque palace, is also not to be overlooked. In April, the gardens are full of azaleas, tulips, camellias, rhododendrons and violets. For even more floral magic, head to Verbania on the western shore of the lake to see tens of thousands of colorful tulips in mid-April during the Settimana del Tulipano (Tulip Week) at the late 19th-century Villa Taranto.

Umbria

May is the perfect time to visit this picturesque region of Italy. In spring, Umbria hosts many interesting festivals, traditional fairs and exhibitions. For example, in May, Gubbio hosts the famous Corsa dei Ceri festival, during which residents of the city compete in running with heavy wooden structures.

In May, the peak of flowering occurs on the Piano Grande (Great Plain) of Castelluccio in the shadow of the Sibillini Mountains. A variety of poppies, cornflowers, tulips, daisies, crocuses and daffodils paint the slopes in different colors, creating a scene similar to Monet's paintings. Monti Sibillini National Park is best for hiking in the mountains. In May, it is also worth making a pilgrimage to Assisi and its UNESCO-listed Basilica of San Francesco, following in the footsteps of St. Francis. Festa di Calendimaggio enhances the cultural attractiveness of the city with colorful costume parades, jousting tournaments and other medieval entertainment.

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