wearing shorts in Italy

The younger local men tend to wear jeans, khakis or cargo pants. Have also seen them wearing 3/4 length cargo-style shorts in hot weather. Older Italians tend to dress more formally, with men in slacks, but then they also stay home for a nap during the hottest part of the day and come out for "Passagiata" in the late afternoon when it's cooler. In Tuscany, at least, no-one seemed offended by shorts. As someone else said, it just marks you as a tourist, but then they've already figured that out anyway by the way you act, your camera and other dress cues. The issue with shorts seems to be a bigger deal for women. Keeping legs covered in church.

The only drawback I've seen with shorts is that you can't get into some of the churches wearing them. Other than that, nobody gives a rat's rear bumper what you wear.

What Ed said... I don't know when you are traveling, but I do take jeans. I usually wear a pair on the plane and then depending on when and where I am going I may pack a second pair.

I agree with the others. If you're going in the summer and it will be hot, bring shorts. It's better to be comfortable than to be in jeans when it's 95 degrees out.

I think what Rick meant in his book is that Italians tend not to wear shorts unless they're at the beach. You'll see a lot of tourists with shorts, but not a lot of locals. You definitely won't offend anyone, and shorts may prevent you from getting in a few churches, but otherwise you'll be fine.

Yes, as mentioned, the one true issue may be the difficulty of getting into churches if you are wearing shorts: notably churches like St. Peter's and St. Mark's. Generally speaking, around the beaches shorts are OK, you can seemingly get away with them in the big cities, and you will get some stares in the small towns. So, if you are going to the smaller areas and want to stay comfortable and don't mind a few stares, then shorts can be done.

It's been a while since this topic has come up. Wearing shorts won't "offend" anyone but it makes it easier to spot you as a tourist. It's just another indicator, like wearing a fanny pack, or reading a map. How much you care about that will determine whether you wear them. The amount I care about that drops as the temperature goes up. There is a point at which it's so hot that even Italians will put on their shorts. Consider taking some lighter weight pants like khakis to have an alternative.

I used to take a pair of jeans, but as I reduce the number of items and weight I take each trip, the jeans are not part of the plan anymore. They simply weigh too much, take too long to dry, and are often too warm or too cold if it rains while you're out and about and they get wet. My favorite pants so far are the REI Adventure Pants http://www.rei.com/product/784059 They are not convertible, but I don't like the feel or look of the convertible pants/shorts. Even if I wear shorts during the day, these pants are lightweight so that I can roll them up and keep them with me in a day pack in case I need to pull pants on for an unexpected cathedral visit or weather change; I can just pull them on over my shorts since I don't buy them for a snug fit. They also qualify as "dressy" compared to jeans when going out to eat, in case that matters. Unfortunately, REI does not make an equivalent for women, at least we didn't see any the last time we looked. If we find something this year, I'll post another reply. As with shoes, it is important to regularly wear the types of clothes you'll be taking with you to get used to the feel before you go.

Agree to take light weight pants. Jeans would be way too hot and agree heavy to pack. Also be aware that you can't go into some churches unless your shoulders are covered.

I bought a lightweight pair of convertible pants at REI before our trip two years ago. We were mostly in Rome, and I was very concerned about theft. The cargo pocket had a flap with sturdy velcro and a zipper underneath, and that is where my oversized wallet with passports and cash went. We never had a problem. I usually wore them in "shorts mode" and carried the zip-on "legs" of the pants in another cargo pocket. I don't recall needing the legs, but perhaps I forget. If I did need them, I could zip them on and voila, long pants. We were in Rome in late May. It was comfortable at the beginning of our trip, but got warmer as time went on.

I usually wear walking shorts (knee length) and capri pants during warm weather; jeans otherwise.

If you are going in the summer, you could wear lenin khakis. They are a lot cooler (temperture wise) than jeans. You can also wear them in the churches without guilt.

As a woman, I would recommend you take a long (ie below the knee) lightweight skirt. This, in my opinion, is cooler than wearing shorts and more protection from the sun. You can pack a skirt that takes very little room in your suitcase and use it when you know you will be visiting churches.

Do traveling Italians have to wear shorts, tennis shoes and a baseball hat when they visit the US? No, wear what is comfortable for YOU.

I wear Capri length pants in Italy when I'm visiting. Shorts just don't feel comfortable for me in the cities. I've also discovered the joy of a lightweight skirt....It can be really hot in Italy, and a skirt is easy to wear and it's handy for dinners out, as well as city touring. I took jeans ONCE with me, last fall to England on a trip, then again to France the following week. But that was September, and then first week of October and it was cool. I might pack jeans again if we go in the fall, but never for spring or summer trips. Too hot, too bulky and they don't wash well in a sink!

Nobody really cares if you wear shorts. This is pretty much a myth. It may have been true years ago but not anymore. I've seen Italians of all ages in shorts. We've never had a problem entering a church in shorts (not saying it can't happen though). The only prob we ever had was in Palermo with my wife having to cover her shoulders and they were handing out the paper shawls.

Mike - You could wear capris. Many European men of all ages wear capris in the hot weather.

Find lightweight pants, long skirts or long dresses to wear (mind your shoulders and knees for churches like some have mentioned. You can buy a scarf or a wrap to cover them when you want to enter). I don' tknow how old you are, or what type of shorts you are thinking of, but Italy is much different than America and when shorts are worn (very rarely) they're not short shorts like here. You only wear those if you want your rear pinched. If you don't care about standing out, wear shorts. But bring covering for your legs for churches.

There are plenty of tourists who wear shorts. 'Tourists'. As someone who was born in a pair of shorts I would recommend the brand 'Royal Robbins'. Extremely lightweight, wrinkle resistant, casual and dressy at the same time. Like walkin' around without wearin' pants!

I think I already know the answer to this, but is a dress that hits about an inch above the knee OK? Thanks. Ann

Yep, you know the answer to this, Ann. No. Not at St. Peter or the most restrictive of other churches. Below the knees.

Men in Europe do wear what we call capri pants. My teenage daughter had a blast taking pictures of the men she saw wearing them when she was in Barcelona. Wear what you're comfortable wearing, just make sure your shorts aren't "short" shorts!

I wear them in Italy all of the time. Yes, you'll stand out, but you're an American tourist, so you'll stand out anyway. I wear pants the days that I want to get into the churches. You'll be fine.

I agree wholeheartedly with Ken's suggestion to actually wear what you want to take before you go. One year I traveled in March when I knew it would be cold, but wanted to take a skirt. I wore that travel skirt with tights to school, with my daypack......half way from my car to the building (15-20 minute walk) I checked that odd feeling: my skirt, aided by the tights and the action of the pack, had climbed way past my "safe" level. I test EVERYTHING now!
Buon viaggio!

We wear what is comfortable for us for the time we are there. If we do wear shorts, we wear the zip off leg pants so that when we do come by a church we want to explore, we can zip on the legs and feel comfortable going in. Long pants in certain materials can be cooler than shorts, especially if you'll be in an open area with lots of sun exposure. We usually have one pair of jeans for the plane flights and for cooler evenings or days, but lighter weight pants as well. No matter what you do you will look like a tourist so be comfortable and enjoy yourself.