Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, the state of Italy is located in southern Europe and has a land area of around 301,000 square kilometers and around 61 million inhabitants. The population density is around 200 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Italy borders France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, the enclave of San Marino and the Vatican State. There is only a maritime border with Croatia.
The maximum extent is on the north-south axis and is about 1200 kilometers. The capital and largest city of Italy is Rome on the banks of the Tiber River. From Frankfurt, Rome can be reached in around 2 hours by plane.
The two largest Italian islands are Sicily in the south and Sardinia in the west. Italy is also known for its volcanoes. Italy is the European country with the most active volcanoes. In addition to the 1281 meter high Vesuvius, the 3323 meter high Mount Etna is world famous.
Italy has 24 national parks with a total area of around 15,000 square kilometers.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Italy.
Climate in Italy
Italy is considered one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. On the one hand, this is due to wonderful old towns, great beach regions and scenic highlights such as Tuscany. On the other hand, it is due to the Mediterranean climate that runs through large parts of the Italian boot.
The Italian Alps offer a high alpine climate in the winter months, which is ideal for skiing and winter holidays. In the foothills of the Alps in South Tyrol and on the northern Italian lakes such as Lake Garda, the climate is rather mild, which is reflected in the very warm winters, among other things.
In central Italy, in the areas of Liguria and Veneto, you will find a much more Mediterranean climate. In the south of Italy you will find a very hot climate, especially in summer, which keeps its temperature until late autumn. In the interior of the country there can be snowfalls at higher altitudes in winter.
On the other hand, the islands of Sicily and Sardines have their own climate. In Sicily in particular, the proximity to the North African continent cannot be denied. Sardinia also has a significantly higher climate level all year round than areas on the mainland.
When to go to Italy
Due to its size and diversity, the best travel time for Italy cannot be generalized. There are different travel recommendations for different seasons. The winter season in the Italian Alps starts in November and runs until April. Here you will find ideal conditions for winter sports.
Travelers who prefer the sun can travel to Sicily as early as March. With around 20 degrees and blooming landscapes you can escape the German winter weather super. In Messina, for example, temperatures of up to 30 ° C and little precipitation of a maximum of 64 millimeters can be found in the summer months from June to September.
The summer months June to August are characterized by high temperatures and little rainfall throughout Italy, both in the coastal regions and inland. In the autumn months you can still travel to Sardinia and South Tyrol very well. You are spoiled for choice in beautiful Italy!
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Italy).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Rome | May, June, July, August and September |
| Milan | May, June, July, August and September |
| South-Tirol | June, July, August and September |
| Messina | May, June, July, August and September |
| Cagliari | June, July, August and September |
| Reggio Calabria | June, July, August, September and October |
| Livorno | June, July, August and September |
| Lake Garda | June, July, August and September |
| Rimini | July, August and September |
| Venice | May, June, July, August and September |
| Trieste | June, July, August and September |
| Brescia / Lake Iseo | May, June, July, August and September |
| Florence | May, June, July, August, September and October |
| Bari | May, June, July, August and September |
| Zermatt | every mon |
| Meran | every mon |
| Lido de Jesolo | June, July, August and September |
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Rome (Italy)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 11 ° C | 13 ° C | 15 ° C | 19 ° C | 23 ° C | 28 ° C | 30 ° C | 30 ° C | 26 ° C | 22 ° C | 16 ° C | 13 ° C |
| Night temperature | 5 ° C | 5 ° C | 7 ° C | 10 ° C | 13 ° C | 17 ° C | 20 ° C | 19 ° C | 17 ° C | 13 ° C | 9 ° C | 6 ° C |
| Water temperature | 14 ° C | 13 ° C | 13 ° C | 14 ° C | 17 ° C | 21 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 23 ° C | 20 ° C | 18 ° C | 15 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 76 | 88 | 77 | 72 | 63 | 48 | 14 | 22 | 70 | 128 | 128 | 106 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Hours of sunshine | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Sunrise | 7:35 | 7:05 | 6:25 | 6:30 | 5:50 | 5:35 | 5:45 | 6:15 | 6:50 | 7:20 | 7:00 | 7:30 |
| Sunset | 17:05 | 17:40 | 18:15 | 19:50 | 20:20 | 8:45 pm | 8:45 pm | 20:10 | 19:20 | 18:30 | 16:50 | 16:40 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Rome is 16.1 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (25 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 7.8 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Rome is 24 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. The months of May, June, July, August, September, October and November have a water temperature of at least 17 ° C. Bathing is then possible to a limited extent. The months of June, July, August and September have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 892 mm on 69 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. In January snowfall is possible.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 10.8 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines 6.9 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Cities nearby
The following major towns are nearby and have similar climates: Acilia, Latina and Terni.
Highlights and attractions
Culturally, Rome is an absolute highlight and should be included in every Italy travel plan. Whether Colosseum, Pantheon or the Vatican State, there is a lot to marvel at architecturally around the capital. Another highlight in Italy is Venice.
The Grand Canal or St. Mark’s Square are absolute attractions in the city of 1000 bridges. If you want to travel to the north of the country, you shouldn’t miss Milan. Whether extensive shopping tours or a visit to the Milan Cathedral, the fashion capital of Italy has something to offer for every taste.
