Do I really need a fleece jacket in Italy in June/July?

You will not need a fleece jacket in Rome in July.

For those areas at this time I would definitely not bring a fleece jacket. I would not worry about having a waterproof jacket, especially if you don't already have one. I would just use an umbrella. If you are mostly in cities, you can get indoors during any really heavy downpours.

You don't need the fleece jacket or the rain jacket. I bring a mini umbrella and it has worked out fine the last two July trips... and I 'll do the same in two weeks.

Temperatures in the 60's next week? On top of the Alps maybe.
Temperatures during the day at those locations will likely be in the 90's if not 100's. If at midnight they drop to the high 70's I'll consider myself lucky. I'm in Florence and Rome in early July also (as I have been every year since I was born), my wardrobe will include the following jackets and sweater: NOTHING.

Unless you are climbing the alps - no jacket. No Parka. No fleece. No hoodie. No raincoat.

Stick in a small umbrella. If you forgot, don't worry. If it rains and you are in Venice, Florence, or Rome, hordes of sellers of dodgy handbags and rubbish souvenirs and other landfill fodder will all ditch those products and show up with long or short or plain weird umbrellas. Most prices: about €5, with quality to match, but they are great souvenirs and keep you dry for a while or longer. Many sell ponchos, too.

He doesn't say a fleece jacket. Here's what his list includes:
" Sweater or lightweight fleece. Warm and dark is best — for layering and dressing up."

If you're like me, you might want a lightweight jacket or sweater for the airplane or if you're going someplace else that might be heavily air-conditioned. But get something ultra light and ultra thin.

@ James, " that's why God invented credit cards " - you made me laugh! One time I arrived in Rome, in June, and it was COLD. I did just this and have a nice leather jacket as a souvenir.

I never take a coat/jacket/sweater to Rome if I am traveling in July or August. Actually, I don't even take one if I am there in June. I made my son take a jacket when he was there in March, though. Hey, we are from the Arctic and I thought it was a good idea. He told me it was dead weight for him.

What I take is a pashmina scarf that is wide enough to act as a light weight blanket while on the plane. It usually sits in the closet of the apartment the whole time, until it is time to get onto the plane again.

If you need an umbrella, don't worry. As soon as the first raindrop thinks about falling there will be about a zillion street hawkers offering cheap umbrellas. Don't pay more than euro 5 for them, and try to have exact change if you decide to purchase one.

I know a couple of you are very smart about this but the advise is valid based on our experience. It is highly probable that you will not need a sweater but if you do you will be glad you have it. Remember the question also include June.

During the first week of June four years ago it so cold that a couple of nights the sidewalk cafes didn't open out. And, of course, we had listen to the conventional wisdom that it is always hot in Rome. All we had were short sleeves and no jackets either. One night wore all three of my short sleeve shirts. Returned the following year at exactly the same time with a sweater and jacket, and, of course, it was hot and not needed. Point is - weather is unpredictable so I would still carry a light sweater and a windbreaker. And we normally do except for the one trip when everyone said it would be hot.

Thanks so much, guys! That is all really helpful. I grew up in Texas, so neither heat nor rain really bother me, and I'm packing for that. But I currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where in the summer we can get up to the high 90's during the day and then the temperature plummets to 60 at night with a stiff cold breeze off the Bay. You get used to dressing in layers. (And air conditioning is considered an unnecessary luxury.) If it doesn't cool off that much at night in Italy, I will definitely not worry about bringing the fleece!

Thanks for the feedback -- I could totally live out of a carry-on no matter where I go or how long I stay, so I never had a problem with this aspect of the Rick Steves travel philosophy. And I don't own a pashmina, but that is a really great suggestion for future trips!

Charity

For the cities you mention, a light wrap for evenings should be enough. I'm in Velletri now, and it's cool at night, but I am in the hills outside of Rome.

Huge clothing sales throughout Italy in July, good time to buy something if you need it. Street vendor umbrella should be enough.

I always have a sweater or lightweight fleece cardigan when I travel -- the few times I haven't I have regretted it. There are the over air conditioned places, the unexpectedly cold evening here or there or the boat trip in the evening. In Italy in July probably aren't going to need a fleece jacket -- but some sort of sweater like object is always prudent. Of course you need to know yourself. If you run hot then maybe not. I would'nt travel without.

I would have a cotton sweater or the tencel jacket, but not a fleece or heavy raincoat. Light layers that go together (t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, light jacket, scarf) are versatile and can add up to plenty of warmth. How many days of rain are predicted? If it rains a little, your umbrella will take care of most of you, and it will probably still be warm enough for you to dry quickly. In October, I do carry my Gore-Tex raincoat, but it is distinctly sweatier than I'd like when the sun comes out.

As Michael notes, the referenced Rick's list includes a LIGHTWEIGHT fleece, as in sweater. More to the point, his list likely addresses a range of climatic zones from the Med to the Baltic and further north and from sea level to the slopes of the Dolomites. I suspect that it would also work for May and September urban tourist too. As with any checklist for travel, judgement is required.

I suspect that some of the strong reactions against a fleece sweater come from visualizing heavy winter fleece wear. Polartec and generic fleece mills supply a wide range of fleece weights and weaves. For example, the Polartec 100 material is relatively thin compared to the Polortec 300. http://www.polartec.com/warmth/polartec-classic/default.aspx

That said, not bringing a sweater can be a good excuse for buying a local sweatshirt saying, I was there to impress your stay at home friends.

Charity, June & July are very hot in Italy. What you will want is sunscreen covering your arms. Try to time your indoor activities for the middle of the day when it's the hottest.

James, you made me laugh. Were you the person I passed as I was sprinting over the bridges in Venice with my lightweight carry-on? : )

No fleece. Light thin long sleeved shirt for walking about the Coloseum, Forum, etc. outside.
ln