Florence and Tuscany are beautiful in all seasons of the year.  Every season has a special magic quality that is particularly evident in not just the changing landscapes, but also in the smells of the countryside and the types of foods that are sold in the hundreds of outdoor markets and then presented magnificently in the Tuscan trattorias.

SPRING is a beautiful time to visit Tuscany and its many important cities of art as well as its countryside.   Though still quite chilly outside and often very rainy, around the end of FEBRUARY the crocus and the colorful "primula" make an appearance along with the bloom of the vibrant yellow mimosa.  By the time MARCH rolls around, we are definitely positive that spring is finally here.  By APRIL one usually finds fresh asparagus on most restaurant menus.  Wild asparagus, a thinner but quite tasty variety is also a first sign of spring and is still found in many fares of the "mom and pop" type trattorias that dot the small hamlets throughout Tuscany.

MAY is a great time to visit Tuscany. The weather has finally turned around - the wet and windy days of MARCH and APRIL have bestowed upon us glorious green hillsides dotted with wild flowers.  The sun is warm enough to enjoy a pleasant outdoor meal, but rarely hot enough to swelter!  JUNE is spetacular!  Lots of sunshine and long hours of daylight make this month one of the most popular times to visit Italy.  The crowds are impressive and the lines outside the museums are too, but the weather is very seldom unpredictable.  Because of the crowds it is advisable to pre-book museum tickets during this period.  Italian Welcome would be happy to do this for you.  The sun can be quite hot during JUNE and the other summer months therefore it is advisable to bring a sunscreen and a hat.  This is a great time for a beach holiday if you want to avoid crowds, as the Italians usually take their vacations in JULY and AUGUST.

The SUMMER months are beautiful.  There is lots to do and see in Italy during the months of JULY and AUGUST.  Every little town has its festivals dedicated either to the local patron saint, to some historical reoccurance, or... just for the heck of it!  Long trestle tables are set up in the main squares and tourists and locals sit elbow to elbow enjoying the wines and delicious food.  There is usually dancing afterwards and everyone of all ages is invited to get up and whirl around the dancefloor.  The days are hot, but the humidity is usually at uncomfortable levels only in the larger cities.  The evenings are pleasant - just perfect for outdoor dining and this is possible in every corner of Italy.

The daylight hours begin to shorten by the end of AUGUST and before we know it there's a chill in the morning air and the country folks start replenishing their wood piles.   The pleasant smell of firewood pervades the countryside during the AUTUMN and WINTER months.  Most of the tourist have gone back to their own countries, suitcases laden with wines, balsamic vinegars, pasta, and the dozens of other delicacies that Italy offers.  The vines are laden with grapes and the olives are beginning to ripen.  The farmers are gleefully (or woefully!) contemplating their fields and calculating their yield.  The wine harvest begins in SEPTEMBER while the olive picking starts in NOVEMBER or DECEMBER.  The country hamlets once again come alive with festivals dedicated to wine, olive oil, porcini mushrooms and the precious truffle.  The trestle tables come out again, but now more often than not, are placed in a church or community hall rather than outdoors.  The food will differ from the summer fare.  Wild game makes an appearance, as hunting season is now upon us.  Hare and boar are the most common, but there are many kinds of wild birds used in Italian country cooking. Simmered with rosmary, wild mushrooms and herbs all of these are a succulent treat for meat lovers.  The weather in OCTOBER is delightful.  Besides giving us spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the sun is still quite warm.  Foreign students are filling up the major cities and especially the local hang-outs.   The lines at the museums have begun to be manageable. AUTUMN is an excellent time to visit Italy.

WINTER in Italy is a restful time. The harvests are over - the wine and oil have been bottled and the oil is ready to be savored.  Freshly pressed olive oil has an unforgetable piccant taste - delicious on a thick slice of toasted bread or dribbled on soups or raw vegetables.  Most farms provide wine and olive oil tastings. The second half of NOVEMBER can be rainy.  Although Florence and Tuscany have a very bearable WINTER climate with an average of 40° F. , some of Italy tends to get very snowy and very cold.  There are many beautiful days in DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY.  These are great months for seeing the Italy of the Italian people.  These are not popular months for North American tourists as most travelers don't take their vacations during these months.  Restaurants and trattorias are filled with Italian families on Sunday afternoons.  Many country eateries also offer late afternoon "merende" of bread, salami, prosciutto, cheeses, and pickled vegetables, many which are home-made.  With a bottle of local red wine shared around a fire, this is a fantastic treat after a leisurely country walk- a favorite Sunday pastime of Italian families.  Accommodations are considerably cheaper during the WINTER months and the lines are non-existant in front of museums and other places of interest.  If one doesn't mind the chilly and the occasional damp days, WINTER is also a good time to visit Tuscany.

Italy has much to offer in every season of the year!