Many people want to vacation in Italy during the peak tourism months of summer when they are guaranteed plenty of sun, fun, and excitement but this means that one may well encounter a heatwave or just some particularly hot days throughout one’s stay.
Staying cool is really important when temperatures do soar and there are plenty of ways to do this:
1. Plan indoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
There are plenty of options for incredible indoor activities on holiday in Italy that will keep you inside and protected from the sun and heat between 12 and 3, which is generally the hottest part of the day. This could be done by planning a visit to one of the world-class and globally-recognised museums or art galleries of the country such as the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia for those who find a luxury villa in Florence or taking refuge inside the cool and hallowed interior of one of the endless famous churches such as St Peter’s if you find a vacation rental in Rome. This is also a perfect time to pop in and out of the air-conditioned interiors of boutiques while enjoying some of the famous style and shopping afforded by the country’s fashion capital of Milan if you are enjoying a day-trip in the city while staying in a holiday rental in Lombardy. You could also go wine-tasting in a vineyard, plan a long and indulgent lunch, plan a trip to an architectural gem and explore it, or a whole host of other indoor activities.
2. Stay near the sea.
Temperatures are generally cooler when one gets closer to the sea, there are often breezes coming in over the water, and, of course, you can always go for a dip to refresh yourself and cool down. While Italy’s cities are often best-known to international tourists, increasingly the rest of the world has begun to copy in-the-know Italians by fleeing to the country’s endless gorgeous seaside resorts and coastal towns during the height of the summer. Luckily, there are different options that will perfectly suit the needs of almost all travellers. For those who still want to experience Tuscany’s culture and to visit her famous cities and towns on day-trips, a villa on the Tuscan Coast is an ideal combination of both. Those looking to enjoy utterly striking surroundings and picture-perfect beaches that almost look tropical, then a vacation rental in Apulia is just the thing, while those who love pretty seaside towns with endless charm might find a holiday rental on the Amalfi Coast or a vacation rental in the Cinque Terre to be perfect choices. Those who enjoy an island getaway have villas on Sardinia and villas on Sicily to choose between. And even those choices are only a fraction of the incredible coastal vacation destinations in Italy. Stay cool and stay near the sea but remember to always come equipped for days on the beach with sunscreen, water, and shade (whether you bring your own, choose a beach with natural shade, or choose a beach where you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers) and, again, maybe choose to avoid spending too much time out in the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
3. Drink coffee and eat gelato.
Iced coffees are increasingly popular around the world but, actually, it can sometimes counter-intuitively be sometimes better to drink a hot drink when temperatures are higher. Provided it is not very humid heat and that one’s sweat can evaporate, drinking a hot drink makes one sweat and this helps the body naturally cool down. While this might sound like a risky experiment to some, those brave enough to give it a go will find that this might be the perfect time to indulge in some of the country’s famous coffee while on vacation in Italy. Or, if you don’t fancy sweating, even if it might technically help, and would prefer something cold instead, well Italy has the answer there too with an endless array of gelato options in all sorts of flavours to get sampling during your holiday in Italy.
4. Wear the right things.
We mentioned shopping in Milan earlier but there are plenty of great places to shop all throughout Italy and Italians are well-accustomed to dressing in order to both stay cool and to remain looking cool. From markets to high-end flagship stores for famous designer brands, from unique little boutiques to sprawling outlets, from high street favourites to vintage gems, you’ll find lots of great places to get your hands on a little bit of that chic Italian summer style for yourself while on vacation in Italy. There are just a few things to keep in mind while you shop to make sure you stay cool:
- Be sure to pick up light coloured fabrics as they reflect light and heat – this is why you will see plenty of Italians wearing beige, white, cream, and lemony shades during the summer.
- Ensure that these fabrics are light-weight and loose to allow air to circulate and that they are made of natural fibres such as cotton, linen, and silk, as these will absorb sweat and allow the skin to breathe.
Then, of course, you can complete your look with practical and stylish accessories, emulating classic Italian style to a tee; chic hats and head scarves to protect your scalp and face from the sun, elegant sunglasses, and light wraps and shawls that can be both used to protect bared skin when out in direct sun and to cover up when visiting places such as churches that require modest dressing for access.
5. Be sure to choose a villa in Italy with air-conditioning and a villa in Italy with a pool.
Of course, the best tip for staying cool during your holiday in Italy is to ensure you have somewhere comfortable to stay and two of the greatest comforts in a villa in Italy during the summer are air-conditioning and swimming pools. While lots of Italian vacation villas boast swimming pools, air-conditioning is not actually as common, generally speaking. It is, therefore, quite important that you use the filters feature when searching for properties on our website if you want to find a villa in Italy with air-conditioning and also if you want to find a villa in Italy with a pool. There are over 1,000 properties to choose from that boast both features and using our filters means that you can immediately find this selection and then start browsing the options in order to book your next holiday in Italy with air-conditioning to keep you cool indoors and a pool to keep you cool outdoors. So, if you really want to beat the heat while on vacation in Italy, then this is our number one tip to do exactly that!
A magical summer getaway in Italy is always a good idea and many travellers specifically love the heat and sun but for those who are not quite as fond of it all who might be in your travel party or just to offer even the most ardent sun-worshippers some respite when it is needed, then you should keep our aforementioned heat-beating tips in mind from the moment you think about booking your villa in Italy and then also throughout the duration of your stay! Stay cool so that you can come and comfortably enjoy all of the endless wonders and delights of summertime in Italy.