in November and you absolutely HAVE TO GO TO ITALY (because you adore Italy), what area would you choose in order to have :
1) best weather 2) possible special events 3) great food
I do realize that November is not the best season for traveling and weather can be iffy in many regions. That's why I am asking. There are SOOOO many people on this board who live all over Italy that I thought their yearly insight might help me choose.
Puglia or other southern areas will still be warm. You'll be facing the odd bad day if your luck doesn't hold.
Last November the Abruzzo/Molise coastal areas were mostly nice but the odd day wasn't that exciting. Middle of the month the odd person was still at the beach and I don't mean in a parka
November, while it may rain, normally is not that cold. Also, there is the Estate di San "someone" around 11/12/13 november which is normally quite warm. November here in Tuscany is amazing due to the feste and sagre. The food is WONDERFUL. Mushrooms, truffles wild boar, etc.
Here is a link to my report on a November trip to Italy -- mostly the Amalfi Coast and Rome. The weather wasn't perfect, but it really wasn't bad, and that was a very good time to visit Pompeii, Paestum, and Rome, from the standpoint of way fewer crowds at those popular destinations.
Where have you already been in Italy? Knowing that might help people suggest other destinations. Or if you really love Rome or Florence, you'd avoid a lot of the tourist crush by going there in November, and you can always find things to do indoors in a city.
I think that some of the more popular resort areas (maybe including Puglia?) would be more closed down in November and you'd have fewer choices for places to stay and eat.
Weather in Liguria in November can be wonderful, and especially nice if you enjoy walking (because it's crisp and cool).
Chestnut pastas, a new wave of artichokes and lots of other goodies to be had. You can dip into Piemonte and France on one side of Liguria, or Tuscany (and Emilia-Romagna) from the other.
Good point Roz. I have been to Puglia about a year ago and loved it. I have been to Florence and Rome endless times. I have also seen and loved Tuscany and Umbria. Been to the North, i,e. Lake Garda, Verona, etc.
Places I have wanted to get to but have yet been able include :
Piemonte Bologna/Parma region Naples/Amalfi region
I imagine that Piemonte will not be great during November, i.e. cold and rainy (?) but that probably the Southern areas should be easier in terms of weather. It is true, up to a point, that if you are in Italy who cares about the weather. But I would like to choose a place where my chances are better to have decent weather.
I have read enough trip reports to realize that places like Rome and Florence are much easier on the foreign wanderer since there are many less other wanderers to bump into, but in typical summer resort areas, i.e. Amalfi, Pompei, etc. is the area completely "dead" or is it possible to enjoy even at that time?
I'd rather go to Pompeii in November than in warmer months. I think that area would be a great destination. I'd make Ischia my island to day trip to, so I could sit in a hot spring. I'd hang out in Napoli, eat like royalty, and then brag to everybody how brave I am.
But I would expect the weather to be mild. I just wouldn't put myself in some remote beauty spot utterly dependent on views and sunny weather in case it rains. If you like ceramics, head down the coast to Vietri sul Mar.
I don't think traveling about by car would be a good idea so I would nix any though of a multi daytrip type experience. But how about one or two cities in the north? Rr
I'm not a Christian, but when I was in Napoli I did come across the artisans who make the extraordinary angels and nativity figurines that have a true artistic pedigree. That would be something else I would look forward to peking in on in November. A rainy day excursion to the wealth of archeological finds that exist below street level in Napoli would be on my list.
I would probably stay in Sorrento, because the frenetic pace of traffic in Napoli would probably get on my nerves. But there are many things in Napoli, in addition to the archeology museum's collection of treasures moved their from Pompeii, that are very much worth going into town to see or staying in town to see. And in November, any remaining garbage will be less odiferous.
Bear in mind that Pompeii is a vast site and you might want to make more than one visit while you're in the area. And if some people do daytrips to Napoli from Roma, surely the reverse is possible for people who've already visited Roma, but might enjoy an afternoon in to see just one thing they missed the last time around.
We live between Rome and Naples and the weather in November is often beautiful: sunny and comfortable temperatures. If you've wanted to see Amalfi and Pompeii, November is ideal. My nephew often comes in November to help us pick olives, then heads to the Amalfi area to relax. He loves it. You'd just need to have a few ideas for rainy days, as you may get some, and the later in November it is, the more likely.
I have been in Lazio and Campania in early November and the weather was great that time. I have been in Sicily in January and the weather was cool but nice.
I really rather agree with Cheryl Alexander....you'll be in Italy! And any information you get is going to be history and there are NO forecasts accurate for more than about 3 days in the future anyway.
We were in Tuscany in November (Thanksgiving week) 2 years ago and are planning another trip this November at the same time. Our weather in Virginia was about the same as it was there. I don't think we had temps any lower than 50F. And only one day of rain. I thought the trade off with fewer tourists was worth it. There were still daily markets and the food was wonderful - we had boar several times.
Posts: 21 | Location: Arlington, Virginia | Registered: 12 August 2006
Some few places may be less than congenial out of season. For instance, we stayed in Lido Specchiola in Puglia in September. The town, while pretty, was essentially an Italian tourist beach town. It was closed down: only one little alimentary was open, for limited hours. As we were doing lots of day trips, and therefore passing through lots of other places, garnering groceries and finding places to eat wasn't a problem for us. But if we had been planning to truly stay in Specchiola, and just enjoy that town, it would have been a disaster week.
Loie is desperate to go to Italy this fall: November is probably the only time she can get away. We're shooting for Rome.
Thanks! Bucky "Trying To Slow Down" Edgett
Posts: 708 | Location: Maryland | Registered: 24 April 2006
My vote would be Sicily. Mild weather (usually) and so much to do and see. Suggested places would be Palermo, Trapani, Erice, Segesta, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Modia, Ragusa, Syracusa, Catania and Taormina.
Thanks everyone for your time and suggestions. I appreciate them. I am thinking of going back to Tuscany and will start a new thread in that regard as I don't want this one to sink away to the bottom of the board!!
I don't know about other areas in Italy, but November is one of my favourite times of the year in Civitella. Pisa is less interesting in November, but in southern Tuscany November is a great time. Olive picking, mushroom hunting, the new wine and olive oil, all happens in November.
There are great festivals dedicated to olive oil. There are great mists in the morning, and beautiful vibrant colours.
I love November. It is generally not too cold yet, although it might be rainy. But in the end who cares...? All one needs is a fireplace, bread and some new olive oil!!! Bruschette are served and the smell of firewood... mmm! I love November!
As Cristina says it is l"Estate di San Martino, when the new wines come out too! November 10th is San Martino, and in many villages there are festivals.
it is also the season for white truffles! so in San Giovanni d'asso and in San Miniato there are festivals on the weekends.
If you are lucky, perhaps the olive oil harvest will be started and you can also buy new oil!
I've gone to northern Tuscany many times over the last few years. I'll be there for the first half of November this year as well. It's a great time to be in Tuscany, especially if you like Truffles. Lots of festivals this time of year, and my best pictures of Italy are always taken in November; there's something about that early evening light.
I've found that the second half of November can bring some changes--cold and snow have been frequent the last few years--but its still worth it for me.
