Posts Tagged clothing
Clothing for an Italy Vacation
Every travel starts with a big question: what kind of clothing shall I need?
Packing the wrong gear can make you feel out of place, uncomfortable and spoil your well deserved and meticulously planned vacations. The right clothes, on the other end will let you feel in tune with your surrounding, will help you blend in, feel at ease and enhance your experience.
This crucial decision depends mainly on the time of the year and the destination of your trip. Italy is blessed with a mild climate but don’t expect to wear fip flops if you go skiing on the Dolomites!
During the summer (July/August/September) you’ll need light clothing, but don’t forget to pack a pullover or a light jacket for the evenings when, especially at the seaside or on the mountains, the temperature might suddenly drop. Shorts are not often worn in the cities and they might be a problem if you plan to visit churches and religious shrines especially if worn with tank tops.
Spring (March/April/May) and Autumn (September/October/November) are characterized by unstable weather and often require a layering system of clothing. Generally a first layer of cotton with a jumper and a jacket over a pair jeans will do in most occasions allowing you to remove what is not needed.
For winter (December/January/February) the same system will work if you make the layers a little warmer.
Always bring comfortable shoes, get ready for a lot of walking: after all renaissance town were not build for cars and most city centers are closed to traffic. Keep in mind high heels can be torture on the paved streets of Rome. To truly enjoy Italy you’ll need your feet in good shape: no foot, no tourist!
If you plan to go skiing you’ll need all the specialized gear including those snow booths, woolen hats and gloves that might look unnecessary during your everyday town life.
Swimming costumes in Italy are often lighter and smaller then their American counterpart, if you are so inclined, a beach vacation in Italy can be a good occasion to show off that tiny bikini.
The general dressing style in Italy is smart casual and allows for a lot of improvisation.
When deciding the amount of clothing to bring with you, keep in mind that in Italy public self service laundry facility are a rarity; check before hand if your accommodation offers a laundry service at reasonable prices.
All said, you can choose to have a completely different approach to the big question what-to-wear-in-Italy. A very alluring perspective would be to start your trip with an empty suitcase: after all Italy is a well oiled fashion producing machine and you might just decide to buy what you need on the spot!
Enjoy your shopping!
Tags: accommodation, beach vacation, climate, clothing, italy, italy vacation, tourist, travel, vacation, vacation in italy, vacations, visit, walking, weatherRelated posts
Ten Travel Tips For a Holiday in Italy
Italy offers fabulous art and architecture in awe-inspiring cities and fascinating little towns, a glorious variety of countryside and coastline, and some of the finest food and wine served anywhere. You can meet friendly, civilised people and you can easily spend your entire annual clothing budget on designer clothes at bargain prices. All that and Puccini opera under the stars. Holiday bliss!”
Here are 10 excellent reasons to consider a holiday in Italy:
Beaches: You’ll find well-maintained sandy beaches at traditional resorts on the Adriatic coast and in Tuscany. Sardinia is also a bather’s paradise with some classy hotels. For quieter beaches, consider Sicily or Puglia.
Nightlife: Clubbing hotspots include Rome and lively university centres such as Milan. Rimini is among resorts with a party atmosphere. Something more restrained? There’s opera everywhere, including Verdi festivals in Verona and Puccini in Torre del Lago, Tuscany.
Food: Try the delicious regional cuisine. Hearty game and other rustic specialties are enjoyed in the north, while the south is best-known for its seafood and vegetable dishes. Bologna is regarded as the country’s gastronomic capital.
Wine: Italy cultivates more grape varieties than anyone else and almost every region produces memorable wines. Reds include Tuscany’s popular Chianti and Piedmont’s robust Barolo, while Verdicchio and Gavi are among distinctive whites.
Art: The land of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci reputedly has 60% of the world’s most important works of art – and half of these are in Florence. Galleries in every main city display stunning Renaissance works and many, such as the Guggenheim in Venice, have eminent modern collections.
Cities: Places like Rome and Florence offer a wealth of art and history and the big-city attractions of excellent restaurants, entertainment and shopping. Venice is a must for romantics – and check out smaller cities such as Lucca in Tuscany, or Orvieto in Umbria.
Nature: Enjoy the fabulous scenery and wildlife of the national parks, such as those in Abruzzo and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Sicily has two parks and Mount Etna to explore. If you’re mountain-minded, try inland Sardinia or head north into the Alps.
History: There’s no escaping Italy’s rich heritage. Rome launched an empire, Venice was one of the world’s great commercial and maritime centres, and virtually everyone – from the Greeks and Byzantines to the Normans – left their mark on Sicily.
Shopping: Fashionistas head for Milan, but most cities have stores selling the latest from Prada, Armani and Versace. Bargains can be found in designer outlets, particularly in Tuscany, and at street markets around the country.
Touring: Popular routes take in the medieval hill-towns of Tuscany or Umbria, and the lesser-known rural delights of Puglia, the ‘heel’ of Italy.
Tags: attractions, clothing, holiday, holiday in italy, hotel, hotels, italy, north, resorts, sicily, touring, travel, travel tip, travel tips, tuscany, veniceRelated posts