Hi, I'm going to Florence for 3 weeks in late November to mid December. Trying to figure out how cold the weather will be and what to pack in terms of warm clothing while still packing light. Any tips? Also, curious anything anyone has to say about Florence in the winter. What are the best things to do there if it is really cold? Are there any food specialities in Italy in the wintertime as opposed to the summer?
Thank you!
Posted by
Minneapolis
1243 posts
Hi Mary. Average high will be about 50 degrees F. For weather averages anywhere in world, try weatherbase.com. For many people, museums are big attractions Florence. Suggest you read rick steves book for more info. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11457 posts
As Bob mentioned, highs around 50, but lows will be in the 30s and 40s. Coming from Fiji that may seem a bit cool indeed! My approach to cool season travel involves merino wool and fleece. Both are lightweight but warm. Silk sweaters are good, too. I like to have two layers, like a longsleeve silk or modal tee, with a fllece over it, or a merino sweater with a vest. I bring a rain proof jacket (not too heavy) to put over it all, and a warm scarf, gloves, hat. Smartwool socks are also great for keeping feet warm and dry. I swear by jeans, too.
Posted by
Florence, Italy
9 posts
Mary, you definitely want to pack warm clothes, and layers in silk and wool as suggested above are good advice. But I would also have a warm coat. It is not so much the cold, but the humidity that gets to you. Where will you be staying? not all private houses in Florence or Italy are well heated. They seem to put up with the cold more that I do.... But this has changed over the last 20 years... things are better now. I LOVE Florence in winter. You are really part of it, as opposed to being part of the tourist flow in summer. Some of my first memories of Florence in Winter is walking over the Piazza Signoria in the mornings, off to my antique furniture restoration course in Piazza Santa Croce.
Enjoy it, I envy you!
Posted by
Ballwin
833 posts
It has warmed up to a daily ~60 degree temperature lately where I'm living in Tuscany, but a few weeks ago it was quite chilly. I would definitely bring enough warm clothing. There's no need to bring more than one winter jacket and you can carry that on the plane, so that will help with packing lightly, but I would suggest bringing layers and packing warm. In Italy around this time there are a lot of street vendors selling roasted castagne (chestnuts) and different sweets (even gelato) that are castagne flavored. In Tuscany you will have food with more nuts and more squash. In Florence a few weeks ago I ate at a little osteria with DELICIOUS spinach/ricotta ravioli with a creamy nut sauce (and I don't even always like nuts!).