The Mediterranean islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily are the stepping stones between Europe and Africa. A mix of Italian, French and Moorish traditions visitors have long been attracted to the contrasting cultures and scenery of these three Mediterranean Islands. Traveler Ian Wright begins his journey on the French Island of Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon, where he enjoys a wealth of outdoor activities. He then sails to the Italian Island of Sardinia to celebrate the S'Ardia festival and witness the fine horsemanship of the locals. Ians final destination is the Island of Sicily where he cooks up a storm with a local pasta chef before ending his journey on top of Stromboli's smoking and lava spitting volcano. Hike a rugged Corsican mountain range. Drive an old Fiat Topolino through the hills of Sardinia. See a wild horse race in a remote mountain community. Work for your passage on a luxury yacht across the Mediterranean. Enjoy the Festival of Saint Rosalia in Sicily as the city comes alive with lights and people are showered with rose petals.
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Globe Trekker - italy. Video hosted on Google. Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily are the stepping stones between Europe and Africa. A mix of Italian, French and Moorish traditions visitors have long been attracted to the contrasting cultures and scenery of these three Mediterranean islands. Traveler Ian Wright begins his journey on the French island of Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon, where he enjoys a wealth of outdoor activities. He then sails to the Italian island of Sardinia to celebrate the S'Ardia Festival and witness the fine horsemanship of the locals. Ians final destination is the island of Sicily where he cooks up a storm with a local pasta chef before ending his journey on top of Stromboli's smoking and lava-spitting volcano.
Italy is a moveable feast of seemingly endless courses. Rome bristles with reminders of its Imperial past; Florence and Venice are virtually outdoor museums; Naples is full of Baroque bombast and Palermo locals view their Byzantine-Norman treasures with a shockingly laissez-faire attitude. But Italy’s riches extend far beyond the obvious. Ski in chic Courmayeur or climb the snow-coated peaks of the Dolomites; strap on your boots and take to the Tuscan hills or don designer shades and island hop around Sicily; sleep in converted farmhouses and dine in country kitchens on food so good you’ll swear no other cuisine compares.
Situated in the temperate zone and jutting deep into the Mediterranean, Italy is regarded by many tourists as a land of sunny, mild weather. However, due to the north–south orientation of the peninsula and the fact that it is largely mountainous, the country’s climate is variable. In the Alps, temperatures are lower and winters can be long and severe. Generally the weather is warm from July to September, although rainfall can be high in September. While the first snowfall is usually in November, light snow sometimes falls in mid-September and heavy falls can occur in early October. Freak snowfalls in June are not unknown at high altitudes. Mind you, with climate change, many ski resorts can remain distressingly snow-free until early January. The Alps shield northern Lombardy and the Lakes area, including Milan, from the extremes of the northern European winter, and Liguria enjoys a mild, Mediterranean climate similar to that in southern Italy because it is protected by the Alps and Apennine range. Winters are severe and summers torrid in the Po valley. Venice can be hot and humid in summer and, although not too cold in winter, it can be unpleasant if wet or when the sea level rises and acque alte (literally ‘high waters’) inundate the city. This is most likely in November and December. Along the Po valley and in Venice especially, January and February can be surprisingly crisp and stunning. In Florence, encircled by hills, the weather can be quite extreme but, as you travel towards the tip of the boot, temperatures and weather conditions become milder. Rome, for instance, has an average July and August temperature in the mid-20s (Celsius), although the impact of the sirocco (a hot, humid wind blowing from Africa) can produce stiflingly hot weather in August, with temperatures in the high 30s for days on end. Winters are moderate and snow is rare in Rome, although winter clothing (or at least a heavy overcoat) is still a requirement. The south of Italy and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia have a Mediterranean climate. Summers are long, hot and dry, and winter temperatures tend to be relatively moderate, with daytime averages not too far below 10°C. These regions are also affected by the humid sirocco in summer.
The immediate response is ‘any time’! On a more serious note, the best period is April to June. The weather then is sunny without being stifling, the countryside bursts with spring flowers, and the flood of summer tourism, largely dictated by school holidays, has yet to crash over the peninsula. Most Italians hit the road in July and August, so those two months – in which prices soar, tempers flare and the country broils – are best avoided. The vision of Italy as the land of eternal Mediterranean sunshine is a trifle distorted. In the Alps, winters are long and severe. First snowfalls usually occur in November and freak falls in June are not unusual. The ski season is high season in the Alps. Those mountains shield Lombardy from the extremes of the northern European winter, but cloud and rain are common – Milan comes close to being Italy’s London. Florence’s position, nestled in a valley surrounded by hills, creates ovenlike conditions in summer. Rome experiences hot summers and mild winters. That tendency continues in the south: in Sicily and Sardinia you can expect very mild winters and long hot summers (a dip in the sea is possible from Easter to October). Italy’s calendar of religious, local and national festivals, along with cultural events, is busy year-round but bulges with possibility from Easter to September.
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