5 Ways to Enjoy Visiting Italy in the Summer.

I love the summer. I love the beach, dining outside, and summer dresses. Which is good because all those things Italians do well. Visiting Italy in the summer is all about experiencing the heat as Italians do; an afternoon ice cream, dining al fresco, and a week at the beach.

Make sure to pack a reusable water bottle, helpful any time of year. It’ll come in handy in Rome, Pompeii and on the train. There are just so many spots to enjoy fresh, clean, cold water for free.                                      

5 Ideas For Visiting Italy In The Summer

1. A Visit To An Italian Beach

Umbria might be landlocked but either coast has great spots worth packing your swimsuit for. The coast of Le Marche has beautiful sandy beaches which in August get very crowded. This is for great for taking photos, cheaper accommodation, and amazing seafood.

The Maremma area on the west coast includes northern Lazio and southern Tuscany. There are sandy beaches for sunbathing and rocky coastline great for snorkeling.  The locals are more cowboys with vineyards than fishermen. Their focus is on horses and cattle, rather than fishing. This is reflected in the food, with more local meats- like my favorite finocchiona, a salami flavored with fennel – and cheeses.

If you’re planning on visiting a beach in Italy check out my tips here.

2. Take Part In A Sagra

Thinking of renting a car? Here’s a good reason to do that. In late spring, summer, and early autumn small towns all over Italy will have community fundraising events called a Sagra.

A Sagra is an outdoor event held at the community center. Run by the community, the kitchen is in tents and run by volunteers and the meal should highlight a local specialty. It could be a type of pasta sauce with local fish or wild boar or my favorite in Cannara is all about onions.

The profits go to the local kids’ football team, dance group, etc… To earn the money the kids (with supervision) serve you dinner. After there could be fair rides, raffles and there is always a local band playing music and everyone dances.

Interested? There are posters along roads advertising Sagras, listing the dates it’s held and the village it’s in. Or a website (in Italian) like this one can help for finding more information, dates, and locations.

3. Jazz Festivals And Horse Races

Here in Umbria, Perugia hosts a ten-day jazz festival every year in July. Big names headline, but there are plenty of free concerts all over the city.

Everything is in walking distance all over the historic centre. The main stage, below the bus station, is great for being able to enjoy a concert without buying tickets.  Or head to the main piazza for all the free music and a spot to still down, the stairs at the Palazzo Priori are always full.

Think you’d like to visit Perugia for Umbria Jazz? For more information, I have this post covering Umbria Jazz.

Summer in Siena has horses entering churches to be blessed. The Tuscan city of Siena hosts a famous horse race called the Palio.

This twice-annual horse race happens on July 2nd and August 16th. The different neighborhoods of Siena compete against one another around the Siena’s unique main piazza.

You’ll definitely want to book a place to stay well in advance, but if you enjoy crowds, chaos and horses this is a really fun event.

4. Escape The Crowds And Head To The Mountains

Do you need to escape the heat?

Head to the mountains. Umbria and Le Marche share a national park called Monte Sibillini. Part of the Apennine mountain range, it’s a wild park full of forests, beautiful towns and the spectacular Mount Vettore which reaches 2,476m.  

The town of Norcia, in Umbria, is in the foothills of the Apennines. Well known for their pork products, Prosciutto di Norcia is famous all over Italy.

Norcia is so highly thought of for quality meats that Norcineria is used throughout Italy to describe high-end butchers.

But don’t forget the vegetarian options. Castelluccio is also known for their lentils, beans, and sheep cheese.

5. You can’t visit Italy without a Gelato everyday

Instead of a coffee break how about a gelato break in the afternoon? Try an affogato, gelato drowned in coffee. Or discover a new favorite flavor. I love pine nut (pinoli) or walnut and fig (noci e fichi) and if you need something refreshing a lemon sorbetto is never the wrong choice.

The Joys Of A Summer Spent In Italy

Summers in Italy are hot, dry and crowded, with the odd thunderstorm thrown in.

And Italians are full of hints on how to enjoy this season by taking a slower pace of life. So embrace the heat like the natives and don’t be too ambitious with your itinerary.

How to Spend a Summer Day in Italy

Begin each day of your Italian summer holidays by getting out and enjoying the cooler morning weather for sightseeing.

Mid-morning, find a bar for a refreshing shakerato, my favourite way to enjoy coffee in the summer. Normally served in a martini glass, it’s a very elegant way of enjoying an iced espresso.

I try and keep afternoons for a siesta, reading or to explore a museum or gallery. Take it easy, don’t plan on seeing too many things in one day.

For popular sites like the Colosseum, Vatican or Uffizi book your tickets in advance to reduce your time standing in lines in the hot sun.

While visiting Italy in the summer is peak season and full of tourists, both Italian and foreign, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a great holiday full of discovery and cultural treats.

Visiting Italy in the Middle of August?

If you’ll be in Italy around August 15th be prepared and read all about this holiday here. It’s called Ferragosto and is a National holiday. Most Italians go are on holiday at this time, so be prepared for most places being closed.