May weather extremes in Italy
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We spent the last week of May 2008 in Tuscany and Umbria in Italy. I’d expect the average temperature at that time of year to be in the mid to low 20 degrees celsius with the odd shower or period of rain. Instead for the first few days the temperature was into the mid 30s. Then there was a day with thunderstorms, torrential rain and hailstones (which were more like chips off a block of ice) where the temperature dropped to 14 degrees, followed by a cool day of almost constant rain.
Downpour in Gubbio
We were caught in a torrential downpour during a thunder storm in Gubbio where there streets were temporarily turned into rivers. All the street lights came on due, tricked into thinking it was dusk by the low light.
We were touring around Tuscany and Umbria by car and only had a few hours at each location. I’m hopeless in hot weather and with all the slopes in the hill top villages and towns walking around was tiring and sticky. I was forever seeking shade and not concentrating on taking photos and notes. On the wet days you couldn’t get a decent photo or walk around to explore. It was difficult to sleep at night because of the heat. I wasn’t keen to have air conditioning on all night. One day in Perugia we decided to stay around the hotel room and pool during the day as it was just too hot and visit Perugia in the evening when it was a bit cooler.
View to Perugia from the hotel pool
I’m sure that I would have enjoyed the trip more and had a better selection of photos and more expansive notes in pleasantly warm, dry weather. I would avoid visiting southern Europe during Summer when I’d expect the weather to be too hot for me, Have any of your recent trips been affected by unexpected weather?
June 6th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I’ve spent several summers in Italy, including the south, Sicily and the Amalfi, and it is hot, but not uncomfortably so, but then I’ve lived in Dubai for so long. I spent a summer in Croatia about 5 years ago I guess when there was a heatwave through out Europe and that was hell. I’ve learnt to go with the flow though no matter the weather conditions. If it’s too hot to head out do as the locals do and take a long siesta inside then head out for a late dinner and drinks - Europe’s streets are always lively until the wee hours of the morning. Wake early and enjoy the few hours of bustle then catch up on your sleep in the hottest part of the day. If there’s unexpected rain, retreat to museums and galleries, go shopping, hit the cinema, or enjoy a long lunch.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Laura you must be used to the heat living in Dubai. I’ve tried sleeping in the afternoon and I feel really groggy when I wake up rather than refreshed but perhaps you get in the routine. If I stay up late to enjoy the cool in the evening I find it hard to get up early the next day.
The problem with a touring holiday is that you are on the move so if it rains when you are at a specific destination you only have a few hours there. I don’t have a very strict itinerary when I tour, I’ve booked the accommodation in advance so could arrive there very late.
Also if you are staying at a different hotel every night you don’t have the room for an afternoon siesta as you are travelling between locations during the day. We did stay in Perugia for 2 nights so did spend a relaxing day around the pool and hotel.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
[...] think that the weather also had quite a negative impact on our trip to Italy at the end of May 2008, where the temperature varied from 36 - 14 degrees [...]