I was told by travel group that women and men should wear pants and skirts during day. Would womens capris be acceptable and men in shorts to the knees?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
That will be fine with the exception that the knees must be covered and you may not be permitted into some churches if the shorts are not long enough. Also, some churches are very strict (St. Peter's in Rome for one) and require men to wear long pants. If they don't they run the risk of being turned away. My best advice, on days you know you will be visiting churches have the men wear pants or those pants with the zip off legs. Donna
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Capris are ok, but men in shorts to the knee will not be allowed to enter St. Mark's. There are enforcers at the door.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2628 posts
I heeded advice from RS Helpline on my trip earlier this month and we all dressed accordingly. However, I noticed at the "big" churches/cathedrals, where there was a dress code enforcer, there was always also a person selling big pieces of cloth for 1 Euro, which you could buy, drape around yourself, and head into the cathedral. This was all over Venice. I cannot speak to the other cities in Italy. It's obviously easier to bring the right clothing or carry a large scarf, but for oversights, it seems that the 1 Euro cloth is preferable to getting turned away.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32922 posts
kathi the responses you have received here are all fine for most visitors but it sounds like you are part of a travel group which may have tighter standards. It may be wise to ask your travel group for their specific answer to your question.
Posted by
Goffstown, NH, USA
7 posts
We just returned from Venice on Monday. We saw many, many tourists in St. Mark's wearing shorts. They seem to be more concerned with "short-shorts" there than with knee-length or walking shorts. In Rome at St. Peter's they did not allow shorts at all, even for children. I wore knee-lengths skirts and thin, lightweight dresses the whole time in Venice and had no problems. Capris would be fine too. One piece of advice: LINEN. It was excessively hot every day we were in Venice, you are in the sun most of the time, and the heat is stifling. I noticed LOTS of people in linen clothes...seemed to be a way to beat the heat :) Have fun!
Posted by
Brighton, CO
24 posts
Excessively hot - like nothing I had ever experienced or imagined! Coming from Colorado I'm used to heat but no humidity and I found it difficult to deal with in the last 2 weeks of July. An old-fashioned "hand" fan was a lifesaver. Skirts can be very cool and breezy, and I looked for the lightest possible t-shirts. I'll know better what to bring for next year's trip.