We usually take do our Europe travels in early Fall and we have always had spectacular weather. Due to scheduling we cannot go until the first week in November. Is this is horrible time to be in Florence and Siena (we are thinking 4 nights in each place)? I have read the Rick Steves Florence and Tuscany book from cover to cover but besides saying some attractions close earlier in November I can't get a good feel for what the weather might be and I have heard that November is the rainiest month, thus my concern. Our backup plan is to stay stateside and go to Asheville, NC but that doesn't really warrant a week and can't compare in sightseeing.
Posted by
Sunnyside, New York, United States
439 posts
We were there in Nov. it was a little chilly in Florence but overall nice weather. Very few tourists. After we left Florence, about mid month, Italy was flooded. We altered some of our plans but every booking we could not make let us rebook at a time they had room. We stayed an hour or so outside of Rome, I would have done this differently, I would have stayed in Rome.
Mary
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Italy is good any time, so don;t hesitate over weather possibilities.
Siena for 4 nights may be excessive. Why not only 2, and also with 2 nights in Lucca??
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2455 posts
Hmmmm, let's see: a week in Florence and Siena, Italy, or a week in Ashville, NC? Again, let's see, a week in Florence and Siena, Italy, or a week in Ashville, NC? No offense, but what are you, lost in space?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15260 posts
Between Tuscany and North Carolina the choice is clear.
Early November is the wettest time of the year (all great floods in Florence occurred in the first week of November in fact). However it's not cold, so all you need is a rain jacket and an umbrella. Plus the climate is getting warmer. Siena is on a hill, so no chance of being flooded. In Florence stay clear of the Arno river. It looks like a calm creek in summer but it's scary in the Fall.
There are plenty of indoor activities even if it rains, so you will stay busy. Siena for 4 nights is excessive. With 8 nights on the ground you could also include something outside of Tuscany (Rome? Venice?)
Posted by
OP
Upstate NY
99 posts
Thank you for your feedback. We have already done Rome and Venice so this was purely going to be a Florence and Tucany trip. Based on the info received we are going to wait to do this trip next year when we can travel earlier in the Fall since we really would prefer a better possibility of sunnier weather. Until that can happen we will happily explore some of the beautiful places in the US.