January 14, 2013, Posted by admin in Italia, News, Notes, Travel & Tourism
Rain in Italy
Input for a tourist survival guide in case of rain in Italy.
Okay, let’s face it: There is nothing as disheartening for a tourist as a rainy day. I know about Gore-Tex, Wellies and a good umbrella, but sightseeing is not the same, when it is raining buckets and you see the world through steamy grey glasses. Rain in Italy sucks. And we can’t all smile and swim in St Mark’s Square as the most hardy visitors did in Venice last November.
So here are a few recommendable pastimes and survival strategies in case of heavy rain in Italy.
- If you are in one of the big cities, there is almost always a museum at hand. And it is amazing how interesting arrowheads, loom weights and pottery sherds become when there are no outside temptations to distract you. Did you eg. know that the warp-weighted loom has been used in Europe from the Neolithic period?
- If you are caught in a sudden shower, you can always seek shelter in the nearest church. Churches are by definition places of sanctuary, and there are invariably some treasures, paintings or effigies worth studying inside. Especially if the only alternative is to get soaked through.
- Reschedule your travel plans and use a desultory weather forecast to move on. Driving in the rain isn’t too bad, and with a bit of luck the rain has stopped when you reach your destination (or the other way round)
I know about Gore-Tex, Wellies and a good umbrella, but sightseeing is not the same, when it is raining buckets
- Head for the nearest outlet, mall or – as they say here – centro commercial where you can shop, eat and be entertained by people watching.
- Many north Italian cities like Torino, Bologna, Savona, Ferrara, Bolzano, Milano etc. are built in such a way that people can walk from one end of the centre to the other without getting wet. The pavements are simply covered by arcades, so you can stroll comfortable along the shop fronts.
- Stay indoors and use the weather as an excuse to read a novel, consult guidebooks or update your travel dairy. As mums say, clever children are never bored.
- Ignore the rain and keep doing whatever you planned to do. In most cases all memories of a holiday downpour evaporate long before you reach home. Or haven’t you noticed that all people always claim to have had the most wonderful weather during their holidays?
What do you do when a short stop in a new, interesting place is dampened by bad weather?
More talk about the weather and rain in Italy
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9 Comments
January 14, 2013 12:56 pm
Sophie @SophieR
As long as it’s summer rain, it’s nice. Freezing winter rain, however… not so nice. Never experienced that in Italy, more in Scotland. Museums, shopping, churches, all good choices – and I often pop into a cinema as well.
January 14 2013 19:36 pm
admin
I agree that rain up north is worse. Especially when you have the wind too, like I experienced it once in Bergen. Still, summer rain in Italy can be a very wet experience. Especially, when there is no shelter and you're carrying a nice camera.
January 22, 2013 6:37 am
Mary {The World Is A Book} @worldbooktravel
Great ideas, Mette! We got rained on in Venice during November a few years ago and experienced acqua alta. You’re so right about the churches. It gave us a chance to explore many of the small churches and to my husband’s dismay, more shopping time for me
I hope this comment goes through.
January 22 2013 10:02 am
admin
It did go through, fortunately:) And I still think acqua alta in Venice is a bit of a holiday killer. Especially, if you have traveled all the way from California. So it's quite a feat to make the experience a good one, anyway.
February 11, 2013 3:01 pm
Turkey’s For Life
People are always asking us what they can do when it’s raining in Turkey. Think a post similar to this may be on the cards but we’ll have to have a good think because we’re very much the type of people who carry on regardless.
Julia
February 13 2013 09:21 am
admin
Me too, but the inability to take photographs makes me grumble.
March 23, 2013 1:01 pm
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April 23, 2013 9:07 am
Travelwriticus @Travelwriticus
What are you experiences with churches in medium cities? I guess in larger cities they are generally open whereas in smaller places they are generally closed and one have to find the person with the key.
April 24 2013 08:19 am
admin
Come to think of it I do come across locked churches occasionally, but most of the time it is because I try to visit during the four hour lunch break. There are also some churches that are permanently 'out of service, but apart from that most churches I've visited in even very small towns have been open to the public.
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