Page 65 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

ROME THROUGH THE Y EAR  63

Average Monthly Temperature Temperature Chart
The chart shows the
°C °F average minimum and
30 85 maximum monthly
temperatures. July and
24 75
August can be unbearably
18 65 hot, making sightseeing
a chore. The fresher days
12 55 of spring and fall are
ideal to visit Rome, but
6 45
there are some cloudy
0 32 and rainy spells.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Winter
During the winter, Rome
is bracingly chilly but the
temperature rarely drops below
freezing. Not all buildings are
centrally heated, so if you are
staying in a small hotel, bring
warm clothes and request extra
blankets as soon as you arrive,
as they can be in short supply.
Warm up in cafés with hot
chocolate and cappuccino.
The Christmas season is
great fun in Rome, especially
if you have children. Manger Rome during one of its rare snowfalls
scenes, presepi, are set up in
many churches, piazzas, and Via Cola di Rienzo, and the Public Holidays
public places, and from mid- Pincio. Keep out of the way of
December to Twelfth Night, teenagers with shaving-cream New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
Piazza Navona hosts a market spray cans and water balloons. Epiphany (Jan 6)
where you can buy manger Easter Monday
scenes, decorations, and toys. Events Liberation Day (Apr 25)
Unless you have friends in Labor Day (May 1)
Rome, Christmas itself can be Festa della Madonna Republic Day (Jun 2)
SS Peter & Paul (Jun 29)
rather lonely, as it is very much Immacolata (December 8), Ferragosto (Aug 15)
a family event. On New Year’s Piazza di Spagna. In the pope’s All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)
Eve, however, everyone is out presence, firemen climb up a Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
on the street to drink sparkling ladder to place a wreath on the Christmas Day (Dec 25)
wine and set off fireworks. statue of the Virgin Mary. Santo Stefano (Dec 26)
La Befana, on January 6, is Christmas Market (mid-
a traditional holiday when a December–January 6),
witch, called La Befana, delivers Piazza Navona. Christmas
candy to children. and children’s market.
The Carnival season runs Nativity scenes (mid-December–
from late January to February, mid-January), many churches.
celebrated largely by children Life-size scene in St. Peter’s
with costume parties and Square, collection at Santi
parades along Via Nazionale, Cosma e Damiano.
Midnight Mass (December 24),
at most churches.
Christmas Day (December 25),
St. Peter’s Square. Blessing by
the pope.
New Year’s Eve (December 31),
all over city. Fireworks displays,
furniture thrown out.
La Befana (January 6), all over
Market on Piazza Navona city. Parties for children. Via Condotti at Christmas
View of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

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