My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy. Unfortunately, August is the only time we can go. We were hoping to fly into Rome, tour Tuscany and southern Italy and then fly back home. However, I'm a little concerned that nothing will be open after August 15th as it's a national holiday and I've hear a lot of restaurants, stores, hotels eytc. shut down after that date. Can anyone offer me any advice?
If August is the only time you can go, then you just have to make the best of it - which in Italy, isn't difficult! Yes, it is true that Italy virtually "closes" on the week of August 15....but you will also find a lot of businesses that close for pretty much the entire month as well!
The month of August is traditionally when most Italians go on vacation, but it is also the month that many tourists visit Italy, so you will find most tourist areas in full swing and full of people from around the world. I wish you a buon viaggio! Italy, any time of year, is wonderful.
The vast majority of Italian tourists go to the coast, those who do not like swimming go to the Alps and those who cannot afford it stay home. All basic services will be available. Art cities will be quiet during the day and wonderful in the night. There are a lot of festivals and art performances. Just make sure your accommodation is cool (airco or high up on the hills) and that you have no physical problems in doing sightseeing in the heat.
Don't know about Rome but we arrived in Florence last year on August 15th. That was the only day that things were closed. Pisa was pretty much the only place shut up in August, the Tower was open but no shopping or restaurants. Where are you going in Tuscany? Everything was open in Lucca and Siena when we were there too. (And it was positively hopping in Cinque Terra on the coast.) I wrote a trip report if that will help you.
Also, while people in non touristy areas take their holidays mainly in August, those who work and live on tourism go on holiday in different periods. it would be suicindal for a vbusiness that caters to tourists (Italian or foreign) to close down when the country is floded by tourists (Italian or foreign)!
Have no fear Giselle about August; the situation is much better than in France, requiring only a bit of adjusting for the actual Ferragosto (August 15).
Heat: my only stay in Italy in the summer (Jun‑Sep 00) was a particularly hot one according to the local media — but I was on the side of a tallish hill in Umbria, kept my shutters closed, as my neighbours did (there are reasons for what foreigners merely view as quaint), and came back to a cool house, and slept nicely with the windows open. Tuscany will be about the same, and need not require air-conditioning. "Southern Italy", depending on exactly where, on the other hand will be just plain hot.
Heat is indeed the major concern. I have been in Italy in August over the holiday 4 or 5 times. Last time was in Rome. Restaurants and tourist sites were all open. Most clothing shops were closed.
I normally do go in August because my friends all work in schools and have that month off. And I have never regretted it. I actually like being there at that time of year. But I am a major beach bum, so I tend to go to the coastal locations. Have also been throughout Tuscany at that time of year and was not at all affected.
It's no wonder that italians living in the city simply run out of there and go to the sea or to the mountain for a day, a weekend, even a week or two if they can allow it, and that italians living on the sea or in small towns like me, look at tourists coming in ferragosto to visit cities like florence, rome, milan, with awe and bewilderment. How do they DO that? we ask ourselves. Visiting a city far from the sea like pisa, florence, prato, and the such, in ferragosto, the hotter time of the year, is a true torture! I tried it once, and it was so hot that I was about to faint. Not a single draft of wind, since buildings in ancient cities are so tall, and pedonal streets are not very large. If someone wants to really enjoy the great italian art cities, I suggest they visit them in may - june. It's the perfect time to have a wonderful climate, and walking becomes a true pleasure, trust me. If you only have august at your disposal... you can always visit a place on the beach. About that I suggest: Sardegna coasts, Isola d'Elba, Isola del Giglio, or Torre del Lago too (heh, that's my town so I'm a bit patriotic ). Torre del lago in august also has the Festival Pucciniano, you can see the operas under an open night sky. Stars over your head, the music filling the air... really romantic; plus Torre del Lago is only 20 km from Lucca, 20 km from Pisa, and if you go there you can visit Lucca or Pisa with only half an hour of autobus (ticket cost: 2 and a half euro a person). Sardegna, Isola d'elba, and Isola del giglio, all have a crystal clear water, like you see in tropical islands advertising, so if you like to swim, or scuba dive, this is a great choice!
Posts: 12 | Location: Italy | Registered: 18 March 2005
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Yes, it is true that Italy virtually "closes" on the week of August 15....but you will also find a lot of businesses that close for pretty much the entire month as well! 
). Torre del lago in august also has the Festival Pucciniano, you can see the operas under an open night sky. Stars over your head, the music filling the air... really romantic; plus Torre del Lago is only 20 km from Lucca, 20 km from Pisa, and if you go there you can visit Lucca or Pisa with only half an hour of autobus (ticket cost: 2 and a half euro a person).
