Visit to Italy in March?

I have only been there once in March and the weather (up north esp) was pretty mixed. By late April or May, it can be fairly warm in Rome but I now try and aim my trips for mid May. If you are looking Rome or south, I don't think the weather will cause you as much worry. I will say, there is something really nice about a nasty rainy morning in Florence in March.. its wonderful to get up early and tromp around and have the streets largely to yourself.

We traveled in March and this was our experience, although others' may vary: Evenings near the Venetian coast are chilly, so a fleece is minimum. Expect some rain, too. Cities around Florence are cool at night, with pop-up showers possible. Days are sunny and pleasant. Rome was warmer, we only needed a light jacket in the evening.

"Would a visit to Italy in March have good weather?" We get so many weather questions here that one of the site's FAQ addresses this subject. The above posts are probably as good an answer as you'll get, both are trying to give you accurate advice although maybe not what you wanted to hear. On weather questions the FAQ suggests you go here: http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp, input your dates of travel and location you're interested in researching, it'll give you the last 10 or 15 years of actual weather. People who have been to Italy in March and had good weather will post and tell you the weather was fine when they were there. People who have been there in March and had not so good weather will tend not to post because they don't want to rain on your parade. Many travelers go to Italy in March but probably most have realistic expectations about the weather, if they're going in March they have other priorities and aren't going for the weather. The wording of your question suggests weather is a concern for you. Your odds for better weather improve if you wait until April or May - but who knows?

We were in Siena, San Gimignano, Florence, and Rome for three weeks in March 2009. Siena was chilly but sunny. Florence was a little warmer with a rain shower (downpour) for a couple of hours one day. Rome was warmer still and we had mild showers on part of our last day there. From one year to the next you never know what the weather will be in a particular month. That makes planning a little difficult since we have to plan so far ahead. We go in March to avoid hordes of tourists; we prefer to dress in layers and be able to enjoy the sites and scenery without crowds. You just have to decide which month is right for you.

I visited in late March a few years ago. It got quite cold in Venice, snowed on us on the train ride to Florence, and there is snow on the mountains on all of my Florence pictures. When we got to Rome it had warmed up nicely, but there were a couple of bitterly cold days (I was thankful that there were some nice stores in Venice that sold caps, gloves and sweaters). From what most people told me, a cold snap like what we experienced was rare for that time of the year. There is no bad time to visit Italy.