choices spring or fall ??

Jim, when to travel is a very subjective thing. My personal preference for Italy would be fall, late September. It's harvest time with lots of wine festivals etc. and weather is usually a little more settled in Sept than in May. I know every year is different but we spent 18 days there in Sept and never had a drop of rain with temps in the 70-80 F range. It was glorious.

Are you asking if it's better to go in Fall or Spring? Personally I prefer late spring (May/early June) because days are longer and you get to do more during daylight. October is generally less crowded and probably less expensive (incl. airfare) but weather is unpredictable. It can be very rainy at times (especially the 2nd half) and again, it gets dark earlier (mornings and evenings are crisp too). If you like fall colors you might enjoy October though. Regarding Nancy's comment, September is still Summer for the most part, therefore it doesn't qualify as Fall in my comment. Temperatures in September are still summery. However it generally rains on average more than in May. Daylight in May is still longer. Sunset is way past 8pm in May.

Late spring. More sunlight and the flowers are in bloom. Our last trip was in late May 2011 and it was perfect.

The historical averages show that the # of wet days (Sept vs May) are either the same or slightly higher in May depending on where in Italy you go. Temps are pretty much the same for both months. Agree that daylight hours are shorter in October and temps a little cooler so it depends on what you mean by fall. Personally I consider September to be fall and it's my favorite month to travel. I did go to Italy for a week in October once and it was very nice, loved the changing of the colors and we also had good weather then too though a little cooler.

Thank you all for your input! We haven't quite made up our minds yet. But you have all given us something to think about. I like the idea that there are fall festivals ( Love that Vino ) Thanks again Jim P.S. Any other thoughts are more than welcome!!!

Can anybody tell me what we might expect mid-April to be like--specifically in Emilia-Romagna and the Lirgurian coast?

Weather in April is kind of changeable and unpredictable, so carry rain gear, because it may be sunny every day or rainy every day or anything in between those extremes. Temperatures on average are in the low 60's (F) during the day and about 10-15 F degrees less at night, but they are unpredictable too in April. I still remember a major snowfall in Florence around Mid April one year. I would check the weather forecast just before leaving and go from there.

I like to not plan 9 or 10 months ahead of time, as planning drives me a little nuts. April and May are great times to go, and the second half of May can be a little pricey. Flying into Naples can sometimes be a little difficult, as Rome is the dominant airport in southern Italy. Milan is the dominant airport and only about 45 minutes by train if you're wanting to visit Lake Como. Rome's the city that holds the whole country of Italy together, and has for 2000+ years. Stay outside Rome, and take trains in for day trips. The suburbs have incredible sights to see too.