My aunt found some good airline/hotel deals and wants to take a large family group to Italy from December 21st-January 1st this year. 10 people altogether: my aunt, her boyfriend, my father and I, plus some younger cousins/nephews/nieces from 14-28 who've never traveled to Europe before. We'll arrive in Milan, then go to Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Naples, & Pompeii. I'm from California and thought the Italian winter would probably be pretty mild, but after doing some online reading, it sounds like it could be quite cold & wet. Some people even said going to Italy in winter was a waste & you shouldn't try to go to more than one city if you do. I'm concerned about the extra bulk we'll have to pack, staying warm in our rooms, walking around historical sites in the rain, transportation being slower because of the holidays, crowds at attractions due to locals being off work, shorter days for sight-seeing, catching colds or the flu, and shepherding around a group of possibly grumpy teens on their first big trip. Will the grey skies & damp, chilly weather make Italy less beautiful or leave a bad impression so the kids won't want to travel again? Italy's the place I have most wanted to visit my whole life. I've always dreamed of seeing the Renaissance art, the Tuscan countryside, the glorious fountains. I know everyone is excited about the idea of the trip, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the reality & wondering if I should back out now or try to convince my aunt it's just not a good idea with this many inexperienced people this time of year. I must sound like a big whiner here, but I'm usually able to be a pretty good trooper and have gone with my aunt to England and Spain (but with a much smaller group and in springtime). I am nervous about whether we can have a safe, enjoyable, worthwhile Italian trip under these circumstances. Thanks for your time!
Elle, you sound like you want this to be a wonderful trip for your group, and your concerns are for their comfort - that's not whining. I've been to Italy in every month except December (planning to go this year). Weather varies. Venice may be a little sloshier than usual. Last year there was snow in cities, like Rome, that don't usually get snow at all, so weather everywhere is becoming more difficult to predict. Staying warm in your rooms should not be a problem - the hotels, b&bs or apartments will be heated, but when you make reservations you can check on that. The travel pace does slow down a bit (less frequent transportation to tourist centers). Be sure not to overdo your planning for visiting too many sites. I would suggest paring down the list to three cities in the time you have allotted. If you want to visit Pisa, you can do that from Florence; Pompeii can be easily reached from Naples. Rome gets crowded during Christmas week. You will need to check opening hours (shorter in the winter months) and days (Mondays all but the largest museums tend to be closed). With the financial crisis in Europe, staffing may be cut back at some sites as well. If you pack for layering clothing, you'll only need one of the bulkier items (like big sweaters, jackets, coats). Most big cafes in cities that have cold weather will have a covered, enclosed seating areas outside, but you still may opt to sit inside. Does everyone have the same dates for a Spring Break trip? That might be one thing to consider.
In addition to the weather (which you can at least prepare for), my other concerns are the holiday closures and the number of places you are trying to see. For Christmas, some things will close for several days, making sightseeing (and possibly even eating at restaurants) difficult. You're right that the days will be short, and you may have rain and/or grey skies. Coming from Los Angeles, your group may not deal as well with this as someone from, say, Boston. With only 10 days, and with a large group, you should pare down your trip. The axiom is "the larger the group, the longer it takes to move." Seven destinations in 10 days is a recipe for unhappiness, even in summer and traveling alone; with a large group in the winter, forget it. Of the things you mentioned wanting to see: I don't know if the fountains run in the winter. And the Renaissance art is there year-round. But the Tuscan countryside is grey to brown in the winter. If scenic beauty is a main reason for your trip, go another time. Focus this trip on indoor attractions, and pare down the number of places, and it could be great. If this isn't what you (or others in your group) want, I'd go another time. I'll add that having been to these places before, I'd certainly go again in December, but I'm not sure I'd choose it for a first time trip to Italy. And I'd be concerned about the impact of Christmas, even as a repeat visitor. In addition to searching this forum for posts about this, here's Ron in Rome's post: http://www.roninrome.com/shopping-dining/roman-holidays
Our first trip to Italy was a December/January one, and we loved it. It profoundly affected the lives of my daughters, then aged 15 and 19. You've already received some good advice. Here is some more. With a group as large as yours, I'd look into renting an apartment or two in Rome; and with the amount of time you have, I'd limit the trip to, at most, Venice, Florence, and Rome, with Rome getting the largest share of the time. Italian churches often have wonderful holiday decorations. Try to get info on which churches have the most impressive midnight masses on Xmas Eve, and attend one, even if you aren't Christian. Pay heed to holiday closings. Plan carefully about getting meals on Dec. 24 - 26 and about sightseeing. Cut out Tuscany, except for Florence. Finally, make sure all members of your party pack gloves, a scarf, and a hat. If you hit cold weather, those items add immeasurably to your comfort and take up little space. Also, make sure the teens bring appropriate footwear. LA area youngsters are likely to be unfamiliar with the discomfort cold pavement can cause when one wears thin-soled shoes. If you go ahead with the trip, keep coming back to this site as questions arise.
Great advice given about slowing down your pace. You will "lose" a day-and-a-half to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which are best spent in Rome, IMO. You'll find some helpful info here http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=89511 about Christmas in Rome. As to attire, layers are the thing. for our December trip to Italy, we took raincoats with hoods, light gloves, merino wool, polar fleece, jeans, cords, SmartWool socks. My "dressy" outfit was black pants, a merino twin set, and pearls or a scarf. Encountered little rain, but we were ready. Umbria had the worst weather for us overall, and I expect Tuscany is about the same. I'd cut back to two places: Rome from Dec 21-27, then Venice the 28th-1st. There's more to do in cities than in country-side/small towns if the weather doesn't cooperate. If you have to land in Milan, immediately transfer to Rome via highspeed train.
I would go no matter what month of the year it was... you just have to readjust your dream a bit. It will not be the Italy in Under the Tuscan Sun, but it's still Italy! I would definitely cut down the locations and I would probably keep it to the north and forget Rome. Florence, Venice, and some Tuscan villages. The lack of sweltering heat and bus loads of tourists are really a plus. Venice is so special that I don't find the weather affects how I feel about it, and I have been there in sweltering heat as well as Feb. The subtle colors of the winter are just as beautiful to me as the vibrant colors of summer... possible moreso. Rent an apartment and cook you own Holiday meals after shopping at the market. Try to embrace the Italian culture and live it a bit rather than just be a tourist...you can pretend you're a local! Just take some layers and a few scarves, gloves and a shawl and if you need something else, buy it. (I am all for seeing a lot, but you have way too many locations for a group that size)
Thank you for all the valuable replies! I really appreciate it! My aunt and all the kids going on the trip actually live in Utah. So they are more used to colder weather, and the Italian winter may be a nice break for them from the snow. (My dad and I are the southern Californians who will have to invest in better coats and waterproof shoes.) My aunt originally planned to take a trip with her boyfriend to Rome, Naples, Pompeii and Malta. They have both been to Italy before, and he grew tired of the museums and religious Renaissance art (but those are the things I really want to see). Once she'd invited me, she added on Florence and the other cities as a courtesy because I am such an art history lover and this is my first time to Italy. I've had a special interest in Leonardo since I was a child, so I was hoping to see the Last Supper in Milan, but it looks like tickets are difficult to come by. Anyway, I don't want to overload the trip or make it unpleasant, especially now that so many other people are going too. Holiday hours might make it hard to reserve for all the museums I have in mind. I guess we'll have to plan the best we can and take things as they come. Not being sure where we'll be each day yet, I can't really reserve any museum tickets. A couple other quick questions, is it difficult to visit the outdoor attractions in Rome in winter or to stroll in the evenings? Some places I am interested in visiting are the ruins, Borghese gardens and galleries, maybe Tivoli gardens, off the track places like the Protestant cemetery--I'm intrigued by the poets' graves, the pyramid, and the cats that live there, and maybe the catacombs for the kids. Sorry, this is probably too long! I'll do some more searching around this website and read my guidebooks when they come in the mail. Thanks again for everything!
I agree with the above poster to pare the cities down to two, with the main focus being in Rome on Christmas; however, instead of Venice, I'd do Florence. You're interested in art, and the museums (indoors) there are beautiful, and I can only imagine Venice being extremely cold and damp. I've been to Venice twice, once with lovely sunshine, and other time in cold and windy November, and It was very unpleasant in bad weather. Christmas/New Years in Rome sounds marvellous, and hopefully, someday I'll be able to talk my family out of their family traditions/gift giving to do a Christmas trip instead. Have a wonderful time!
Looks like you have a great opportunity to buy some gloves in Italy! As for outdoor sites, even in December/January you should be able to see the Roman Forum (the biggest outdoor site I can think of in Rome). Or, go to Trajan's markets and Fori Imperiali (across the street), which has more cover and indoor exhibition space if the weather is really sketchy. Rome at Christmas is supposed to be wonderful, with lights and decorations. I would not miss it. Great idea to rent an apartment, but I would not plan on becoming the chef and housekeeper in addition to everything else you are doing! It depends on how the group members handle responsibilities like keeping the place in order, you may want to opt for hotels or b&bs where someone else will make the beds!
Elle... just in case you are driving around Tuscany by car...given your fascination with Leonardo (I am also obsessed) I found the town where he came from 'Vinci' quite serendipitiously and spent about an hour there. It was a really interesting experience and nothing I had planned or even knew about. A little FYI about Leonardo... there are two books I really enjoy concerning him. Both are not really about his life, but more about the thought process of creativity (I am a photographer/artist) One is called How to Think like Leonardo da Vince, and the other is Leonardo's Ink Bottle.