Why you Should Visit Southern Italy in the Winter

Everyone comes to Italy in the summer. And why not? The summer is amazing for baking yourself on a beach and swimming in the sea but the winter has some magical touches as well…

Top reasons to travel in winter

There are no tourists!!!

Have you ever dreamed of coming to Positano when you see those beautiful photos of that one girl standing in front of the hill of colorful houses on the beach alone?… Guess what? that girl got up at 5:30am in the morning at the ass-crack of dawn to take that picture with no people around her. If you would like to do that, here is my Positano summer guide.

After October in Italy, you can find yourself on a beach almost entirely alone and certainly without hearing any Americans. You feel as if you got let back stage at your favorite concert and are officially VIP.

 

Everything is cheaper!

Hotels are 1/3 of the price. In August the cheapest hotel in Positano is 200 euros per night. In November/ December you can find a place for 60 euros. You won’t have to pay 25 euros to park in a parking garage because you can find parking spots for free on the street.

You can still eat outside in the sun.

In southern Italy it is always sunny. Even when its 55 degrees F, there is the strong warm beautiful sun. And we all know Italians love the sun. So as long as it’s not raining, you can sit outside for lunch. There are not many restaurants open but the ones that are offer in season local food and better quality. They are not rushing to cook for 100 people per hour so they take their time. Italians will sit and have lunch until the sun is gone for the day. There will also always be a local deli open where you can buy food or have a fresh panini of your choice made on the spot. If you make it to Ischia Dal Pescatore in Sant’ Angelo is one of my favorite restaurants on the island. 

Nothing beats Christmas in Europe.

Italians love Christmas. Every street and piazza has lights strung and Christmas trees lit up. The Italians are much nicer. (I don’t know why but this is really true.) There are outdoor Christmas markets in small towns that sell .50 cent wine by the cup and delicious meat and cheese snacks. Along with the fresh crisp air mixed with the scent of burning wood gives you a Christmas wonderland magical feeling.

The sunsets are spectacular!

Much like California, the sunsets in winter are always better. Colder air and more clouds make the sky a rainbow of colors which is always appreciated with a glass of wine or aperol spritz in hand.

It’s truffle season!

From October until January, if you head a little ways inland from the coast you can find truffles on the menu in many restaurants. Unlike America where a plate of truffle pasta will cost you well over $50, here in Italy you can buy one for around 15 euros. Cheese, truffles and red wine in the cold might be a natural gift from planet earth to make you feel better about life. 

My personal favorite restaurant (possibly on Earth) is in a small town called Pescocostanzo in Abruzzo.  The restaurant is called da Paolino. Truffle pasta pictured below is from there. They also have the best ricotta and blue cheese stuffed raviolis with pear sauce on top. You can happily die after eating this unbelievably delicious masterpiece.  

If you make it to Pescocostanzo, the best hotel is Mario’s Garni. A beautifully renovated boutique hotel with a steam room in the bathrooms of most suites.