Viareggio - Carnival

February is among one of the best months to visit Italy for those who are travelling on a tight budget. Usually, the peak tourist seasons in Italy are during the summer and the spring months and most visitors avoid traveling to the country in the winter months. For this reasons airfares and hotels are available at very low rates in comparison to the peak seasons. However, because of the famous festivals and carnivals that are celebrated through Italy in February, some parts of the country (Venezia, Viareggio)  would again be expensive in comparison to the rest of the places.

Italy's Weather in February

Weather in Italy in February is definitely quite cold in most parts of the country, almost as cold as January. The northern regions remain very cold due to the close proximity to the Alps. The central parts of the country are slightly better than the regions in north, but they are still cold and damp. The regions located on the southern side and along the coast have temperate climate and have the best weather in February.

Sky Chairlift

Northern Italy is definitely the coldest part in the country because of its proximity to the mountain ranges and the Alps. In Milan and other parts of northern Italy, average temperature would remain between -3 degrees Celsius to 8 degree celsius (27 to 47 degrees Farenheit) . In February precipitation is frequent and snow is quite probable.

In Central Italy including Rome the temperature is approximately between 7 to 13  degrees Celsius (39 to 55 degrees Farenheit), In February precipitation is frequent but snow is rare (In Rome it snows only once every few years).

In Southern Italy and Sicily the winters are quite mild with temperature remaining between 11 to 15 degrees Celsius (51 to 59 degrees Farenheit). Precipitation is frequent but not as much as in the North, snow is very rare .

 Italian weather in february.

Reasons to Travel in February

February is a good month to travel to Italy for quite a few reasons. The first reason is that the airfares and the hotel tariffs are lower than in the other months, which means shorter wait times and less tourists. The other reason is that in February the world famous carnevale is celebrated in many parts of the country with celebrations spread through a number of days. Also, the party-like atmosphere in the carnival season is quite energetic and fun.

Venice - The Carnival

February is known through the world for the Valentine's Day. Those who are travelling with their partners should definitely travel to Venice for a special gondola ride on Valentine's Day and a romantic dinner with the best local wines. Another reason why Venice can be a perfect place to visit in February is that it is known to be place where the biggest carnival is organized each year. Other than that those who are not interested in the festival can either head to the north to some of the skiing resorts or to the south where the temperature is milder than the rest of the country. Anybody really into swimming somewhere in Italy during the month of February should look into the available Hot Springs resorts

February Festivals: Carnevale and More

February is a big month in Italy in terms of the festivals that are celebrated in the country. The biggest festival in the month is the famous Carnevale but other than that too there are many more festivals celebrated in the country, some of which are mentioned below:

Viareggio - Carnival

The famous Carnevale takes place throughout Italy in various places. The best known place for enjoying the carnival in Italy is Venice. However, in Venice the hotels get booked weeks in advance and the rates would definitely be very high. The carnival takes place 40 days before Easter so the exact dates vary each year. Celebrations last for a few weeks with Venice and Viareggio known to have the most popular celebrations. Every part of Italy celebrates the carnival in different ways, some with very uniquely themed carnivals like Roman carnival and even orange throwing carnival.

The actual celebrations begin in Venice around two weeks before the actual date of the Carnevale. Many entertainment programs and public events are organized each night in different locations in Venice. The atmosphere of the city itself is quite festive, people roam around the streets at all hours dressed in various costumes and music, food and good wine are available everywhere. Some of the best events in Venice during the Carnevale are the boat parades and the gondola parades in the Grand Canal.

Other festivities include a grand and beautiful firework show on the last day of the carnival to mark the end of the festivities. A mask parade is held in St. Mark's Square in Venice and there is also a small carnival for the children which take place in the district of Cannaregio.

Venice - Carnival - Masks at the Parade

Another well known place for enjoying Carnevale is Viareggio, which is located along the coast of Tuscany. The carnival in Viareggio is known mainly for its famous giant mannequin. During the festival paper mache creatures and floats are used on the Sundays before Shrove Tuesday and even after that. In order to view the parades visitors would have to pay an admission fee. Many concerts, cultural events, festivals and even charming masked balls are organized during the season. Even the restaurants in Viareggio have a special menu for the carnival.

Although the biggest carnivals are hosted in Viareggio and in Venice, another place worth visiting during carnival is Ivrea. Ivrea is located in the region of Piedmont and has a very unique celebration. The parade is colorful and it is later followed by a unique battle which includes throwing oranges at each other. This battle takes place in the town center. The battle even lasts for three to four days. The end of the carnival is marked with burning of large poles in the Square of every district which have been covered with dry leaves.

Other Events in February

Sicily - Catania - S. Agata's Cathedral

Apart from the carnival, another important festival that takes place in Italy in February is Saint Agatha's Feast Day. This is known to be the second largest religious celebration in the entire world. The feast takes place in the city of Catania in Sicily. Saint Agatha (San Agata) had been the patron saint of the city and at 15 years of age had died in the year 252. The festival is spread through two days when a procession takes place throughout two days beginning 4^th of February. A mass is held at dawn and the statue of the Saint where her relics are placed on a large carriage weighing 40,000 pounds and made from silver is pulled by local men to Monte Sangiuliano. Along with the procession, the feast features a lot of good food and wine and fireworks at the end of the festival.

Also in Sicily, the town of Agrigento is known for its Almond Blossom Festival. The festival takes place in the first weekend of the month and goes on for a week. Along with the festival there are various cultural events like puppet shows, parades, live performances and an International level Folklore festival. Various traditional food items and especially sweets are served, which are mainly made from almonds.

Val Gardena - Ski resort in Italy.