The Italy Guides

Italy in March: Early Spring, Low Prices, and Sicily in Bloom

· 3 min read Practical
Italy in March — early spring in Tuscany

Contents

  1. Weather in March
  2. The almond blossom in Sicily
  3. What’s open in March
  4. Why March is underrated
  5. March considerations

March is the pivot month in Italy — still winter in the north, but with the first genuine spring warmth arriving from the south. Sicily in late March, with almond blossoms and the Valley of the Temples in quietude, is one of the most rewarding experiences in Italian travel. The mainland cities are quiet and cheap. Easter, when it falls in March, brings the first surge of the spring tourist season.

Weather in March

Rome: 7–16°C. Variable — can range from cold rain to genuinely warm spring days within the same week. Layers essential.

Florence: 6–15°C. Similar to Rome. The Arno valley can channel cold air. By late March, genuinely pleasant.

Venice: 5–14°C. Fog is still possible. Cold on the water. Late March can be very pleasant on sunny days.

Milan: 5–14°C. Cold and often wet. The Alps still snow-covered; skiing continues.

Naples: 9–16°C. Significantly warmer than the north. March is the beginning of the outdoor season for Naples.

Amalfi Coast: 9–16°C. Still cool. Most hotels and restaurants open by late March. Not yet warm enough for swimming but the landscape is extraordinary.

Sicily: 10–16°C. Almond blossoms in late February/early March in Agrigento. Wildflowers in the archaeological parks. The best time for walking the Valley of the Temples.

Sardinia: 9–15°C. The sea is cold; beaches are empty. But the interior is green and beautiful.

The almond blossom in Sicily

The most compelling reason to be in Sicily in late February–early March. The Agrigento Almond Blossom Festival (Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore) is usually held in the second week of February, and the blossoms continue through early March. The Valley of the Temples with white-flowering almond trees growing among the 5th-century BC Greek ruins is one of the most improbable and beautiful images in Italian travel.

What’s open in March

Most major museums and attractions are open from March — including the Vatican Museums, Colosseum, Uffizi, and Pompeii. Coastal resorts begin reopening from mid-March to Easter. The Amalfi Coast comes alive around Easter.

Holy Week (if Easter falls in March): Easter in March is an early Easter (Easter can fall between 22 March and 25 April). The Sicilian processions — particularly in Trapani (24 hours, Good Friday) and Caltanissetta — are among the most dramatic in Europe.

Why March is underrated

Cost: March is still off-season pricing for most of Italy. Hotels in Rome, Florence, and Venice are 25–40% cheaper than April–May.

Crowds: No queues. You can walk into the Vatican Museums in March without booking weeks ahead.

Sicily timing: March–early June is the best time for Sicily’s archaeological sites — the temperature is comfortable for walking, the wildflowers are out, and summer crowds haven’t arrived.

Spring light: The low March sun, combined with the clear post-winter air in the cities, gives excellent photographic conditions.

March considerations

Weather variability: March in Italy can be genuinely cold and wet — particularly in the north. Packing for 5–20°C range is necessary.

Amalfi Coast: Some restaurants and smaller hotels still closed in early March; call ahead for specific dates.

Mountains: Ski season continues through March in the Dolomites and Alps.