Ten Reasons to Travel in Italy this Spring
Top 10 Things to Do and Places To Go in the Italian Springtime
Feb 10, 2009
Spring comes early to southern Italy and moves north into the Dolomites, where meadows of wildflowers are backed by mountaintops still white with snow. Travelers can choose between balmy beach days in the south or spring skiing at the Alpine resorts.
Azaleas on Lake Como
Many of Italy’s most famous gardens are at their best in the spring, when flowers are in full bloom. Villa Carlottta, on Lake Como, is best known for its 150 different varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas, at their height late April through June.
Tulips and Irises
Parco Giardino Sigurtà in Valeggio sul Mincio, near Verona, is brilliant with tulips in April, replaced by show gardens of irises later in the spring. For details on these and other Italian gardens, click here.
Wildflowers in the Dolomites
By mid to late June, the mountain pastures are painted yellow with arnicas and poppies, blue with campanulas and gentians and in shades of pink and reds by daphne, primulas and rhododendron. the Gruppo di Sella is reached by The Dolomite Road, across the Pordoi Pass to Cortina.
Wine Festivals
While one usually associates wine festivals with the harvest, two just north of Verona are in May – the Bardolino Chiaretto Wine Festival in Bardolino and the Valpolicella Wine Festival in Illasi.
Cherries in Marostica
In may the orchards around Marostica, north of Vicenza, are laden with ripe juicy cherries, which the castellated town of Marostica celebrates with a popular – and tasty -- festival.
Follow the Strawberries
Tiny wild strawberries called fragolini are a springtime treat, sweeter than cultivated cousins and bursting with flavor. Markets and street vendors in Tuscany sell these in early April, but they ripen earlier in the south and last later in the northern mountains. In restaurants find them swimming in wine.
Food Fests
Join locals in low-key celebrations of local products and specialties: asparagus in Pastrengo, the Festival of Monte Veronese DOP cheese in Erbezzo or Castel d'Ario’s Rice Festival, all in May.
Shrinking Euros
Buy a lot more Euros for the dollar or pound this spring, making the price of everything a bit lower than it has been for the past two years.
Hotel Deals
Spring – especially this spring -- is the season for hotel rate and value-added deals, which are especially easy to find on the websites of affinity groups such as Small Luxury Hotels. For example, April 9 through May 15 stay three nights for the price of two at Grand Hotel Cocumella, in Sorrento; the offer includes breakfast, a 15-minute massage and late check-out.
Sicilian Easter
All over Italy Holy Week and Easter are observed with traditional events and processions, but the Dance of the Devils in Prizzi, Sicily is one of the most unusual. Il Ballo dei Diavoli takes place on Easter Sunday, when figures dressed in red with frightening masks dance through the streets until driven off by angels.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
