How to pack..winter or spring cloths 1st week of March 2023

Ten-day forecasts are fairly reliable. I'd plan on needing clothing for the cool part of spring and refine as the trip gets close. You can look on weather websites like wunderground, etc., for typical temps (look at a few, because one erratic year can give you the wrong impression).

I'd plan to take a waterproof outer layer with a hood which is what I take on every trip to Europe. I'd also plan to layer under it either with a puffy vest or puffy jacket depending on what the weather forecast looks like when you are ready to leave.

I'd also pack a lightweight base layer. Many on the forum use a silk underwear layer. This winter I got the 32 Degree brand of long underwear bottoms from Costco and they have worked out great around here. On really cold days (below zero) here at home I've worn them in the house and not been too hot. I've worn them outside to walk on "warmer" winter days - in the 30's. I think they'd be a good back up to wear on vacation. I am a jeans wearer and would wear that level of pants in Italy the end of Feb/early March.

I'd have a few SS tee shirts and several LS tees with a long sleeve quarter zip dri-fit over the top. This is what I wear at home in transitional seasons. If you are more comfortable in something like a cardigan, then I'd take that. A LS tee shirt plus a LS dri-fit under a puffy vest and waterproof rain layer would work for me down to freezing but I don't know what your cold tolerance is.

And...laughing about your comment that you didn't develop the itinerary. You knew you might get comments, hahaha! You'll be with friends and family and while it might not be your ideal itinerary, you'll have a wonderful time with them!

I'm chuckling over your itinerary comment too, Deanna! 🤣

I do have to ask, however: how is the "day in Capri" planned as none of your other locations are anywhere close to that region? Train to Napoli from Rome, and ferry from there? And are you staying over night? It will be off season in the island so a lot of stuff will be closed but if you're just going to trek around, that's probably OK. I wouldn't make the trip if it's raining or otherwise inclement, though.

https://www.capri.com/en/m/capri-island-in-march

https://www.capri.net/en/t/napoli/capri

Thank you Kathy. Our trip to Capri is the train down from Rome to Napoli (I believe) and then a boat out to Capri then reverse back to Rome..all in one day. Our train leaves pretty early. Our itinerary is pretty aggressive and I offered 'oh, I don't need to see Venice " but my sister replied "you can't get that close and not go!" (She has been several times)...so we are going. I'm very excited about our few days in the Tacany/Florence region and would.much rather spend an extra day there than Venice but I'm trusting my sister that it will be worth the day.

I'd pretty much do what Pam suggests--layers.
A winter coat would be overkill, and a pain to drag around.

I doubt it will be in the 70s any where north of Capri. 60s are a possibility. Certainly layers. Last year when I took my daughter to Verona the second week of March she borrowed my heavy coat and a few sweaters so I think the layering is the best advice.

On March 1, 2018 it snowed both in Venice and in Florence, the high temperature was 30F and 33F respectively.
On March 1, 2021 it was in the 60s F in both cities.

March is still winter, and although temperatures in Italy rarely reach the extremes of Illinois, I'd check the forecast a day or two before departing and decide then.

On average, in Florence (Tuscany), where you seem to spend the majority of your time, I would expect on having temperatures in the 50s F (maybe low 60s if warmer than normal) during the day, and high 30s/low 40s at night.

Rome is a bit warmer (maybe 5-6 degrees warmer), Venice a bit colder (also 5-6 degrees colder) than Florence.