Opportunity to go to Italy in March - would you go?

I have always found March pleasant: spent 5 of them in Rome and traveled to many other points as well. I remember a particularly nice late March in Venice. It is a mild climate to me, northern-born and having lived MN, NE, and OR. That said, weather is the least predictable thing about travel. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, and adapt to what happens. The only bad time to go to Italy, IMO, is June-August.

Thanks Laurel- I was worried the northern part of Italy might be an issue in March. We are from Atlanta. Funny thing I was in Italy one time end of July and one time in beginning of June and yes it was miserably hot- like 100 degree hot.

Weather in March in that part of Italy will probably be similar to Atlanta but without the tornadoes! So it should be fine to be outside, just bring a jacket and some shoes that can get wet when it rains.

We were in Milano in March 2020. We had good time until the Covid restrictions hit.
Want to return.
This AirBnB was great https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16749593
We then went to Varenna where a 3-day stay became a 6-day before we got the last plane out of LIN.
We loved Varenna.
Stayed here https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/30754461

I was in Abruzzo in March of this year and the weather was beautiful. Warm, not hot, no rain, wonderful sunny skies!

I would never pass up an opportunity to go to Italy!

Consider limiting itinerary to just 3 locations. Days are still short in March and every location change eats up at least a half day. Hotel changes take time.
Milan, Bologna and Venice, or Milan, Bologna and Florence.
I’d keep Bologna because it is new to you and if rainy you’ve got all those lovely porticoes to walk under.
Florence has most indoor attractions- museums, churches, market.
Venice wouldn’t be the best if rainy. And I love Venice.

Since you will need to be in Milan night before departure, I would suggest traveling onward on arrival to Milan- fast train to Bologna is only 1hr 15m, fast train to Florence is 1hr 54m.
If you go to Florence make sure it’s not over a Monday or Free Sunday if possible.
Both Bologna and Florence have plenty of easy day trip options as well.

Land Milan- assuming MXP?
train to:
Bologna- 3 or 4
train to:
Florence- 3 or 4
train to:
Milan- 2 or 3
Depart Milan

We’ve had some rain on all of our trips- in April, May, June, August, Sept, Oct…
I wouldn’t care if it rained in March if I was in Italy.

Mid- March 2023, 10 days in Bologna and Venice, after visiting Puglia. Nice weather every day, temperature in the mid-60’s as I recall. I would happily return at that time.

Italy for 10 nights but must fly in and out of Milan. Thinking of staying in Milan, Florence, Bologna and Venice.

I think that is one too many places

And to answer your title question-- YES

Since you mentioned that you love museums and churches, it sounds like you will enjoy your trip even if you have some rainy days. I vote for going! There is no shortage of museums and churches to visit. Not sure if someone already mentioned you would probably enjoy visiting the Teatro Anatomico in Bologna (& Padova):
https://archiginnasio.it/objects/palazzo-dell-archiginnasio

I've had snow in Bologna in March - it was great under the arcades. Went to Rome, no snow.

Thank you all for your responses. It definitely looks like Italy is doable in March.

Of course it is doable in March. You have an opportunity. That says to me that it sort of fell in your lap. Unexpected. So, go. The reasons to go easily exceed the reasons to not go. You should know that people live there, and in the month of March. How is the weather you ask. Easily googled. Is your husband easily distressed by weather that is not optimal? That should be more of a factor than the weather itself.

We've been to Italy twice in late February/early March and found it delightful...considering that I don't like crowds, heat & lines, in that order. Understand (and accept) the fact that the weather that time of year is a complete crapshoot. We journeyed between Florence and the Amalfi Coast, found Rome by chance had the best weather---40s to 60s and only a sprinkle of rain in a week. The A.C. was a cold washout for 3 out of 5 days---still fun--and Florence was very chilly. So what? Dress for it & enjoy!

I wouldn't go any farther south than Rome, which is only a little over 3 hours by Freccia train. You certainly can find a bunch to do in Milan, but if it were I...assuming you arrive Milan in the morning...I'm---if you can handle the jet lagged train ride--getting to Roma ASAP, the same day as arrival. I'd spend a good 5 days there, because even though you've been twice, husband hasn't & you've got the lay of the land. I could stay a month, no prob. Florence is fine but unless you're a serious Renaissance buff, Roma has way more staying power in my opinion. Maybe even take a daytrip up to the Umbrian hilltown of Orvieto if you haven't been--fantastic!

From there I'd train to Bologna for 3 days, finishing up the last two days in Milan, maximizing your time before flying home.

Enjoy your planning!

My husband and I could go to Italy almost any time we want to and often choose March --- the weather is nice and cool, there are interesting spring edibles in the markets and restaurants, the crowds are less except around Easter, and even in heavily touristed places nobody you encounter seems weary of tourists after having somewhat of a break from them all winter.

Yes, it might rain a bit some days, but museums, churches, restaurants, and coffee shops are all (or mostly) indoors. This might be obvious advice, but do not dress for cold --- restaurants, buses, trains, etc. can be very warm, so you will want to dress in layers that you can remove once you get inside. I find that my cashmere cardigan is the single most useful warm layer I own.

I highly recommend either flying into Venice or flying into Milan and immediately taking the fast train to Venice. Then Bologna, then Florence, and, seriously, if you can stand to do it, skip both Rome and Milan in 2025 --- they will still be there when you return. Three cities in 10 nights is plenty. Less to worry about, less time spent changing locations. Flying out of Florence is so easy (we'll be doing that on Tuesday), although it's likely to be an early morning flight. But staying overnight near the Milan airport is very doable, too.

Have a wonderful time!

We visited Rome and Florence for one week in mid March 2023. The weather and temperature was perfect! So we plan to go to Venice, Verona, and Milan (a day trip to Varenna if the weather is nice) in mid March 2025. I hope it would be nice too.