Italy - Weather in November?

This seems a bit premature to ask since I have just read that Bologna seems currently flooded from torrential rain, but here I go.

I'd like to go to Bologna for the end of October/beginning of November for about 5 days to take my husband for his birthday. He's passionate about Italian food and it'll be his fourtieth, however with global warming setting our forests on fire, causing enormous droughts, and now flooding and deaths in that city, I have to ask what Italy is like in November?

Any locals living there who can provide some info? I've googled, but it's not really enough. No one who googles what the weather is like in Vancouver (where I'm from) will likely hear about the yellow smoke that settles on the city when the forest fires get too much in summer. We can't breathe and people tend to stay at home when they can, shutting all windows. Does Italy, or at least the area around Bologna have anything like that?

Thanks in advance.

We went to Venice in November and were lucky, had blue skies, mild days around 15 °C, and very few other visitors.

But it's pot luck. The week before had seen plenty of rain.

> Does Italy, or at least the area around Bologna have anything like that?

In a word, no. Forest fires which cause substantial air pollution are not the norm in Italy. Very few European countries have substantial forested areas and, although there can be droughts and summer heat, extensive forest fires are unusual. Those which do occur ....as, for example in Greece 2021..are very often deliberately started (and then get out of hand) rather than a result of natural occurrences.

Some parts of the region of Emilia-Bologna (and Liguria) are presently experiencing floods following very heavy rainfall. However, heavy rainfall resulting in floods in European countries is not so very unusual and, frankly, it cannot be predicted.

I visited Bologna in late October. It's a lovely city to explore on foot and the weather was ideal for doing just that with daytime temperatures in the low>mid-teens Celsius/ low to mid 60s Fahrenheit. It was mostly cloudy but when the sun shone...as it did on my easy daytrip by train to unmissable Ravenna...temperatures quickly rose.

Please don't worry about your visit. You're no more at risk of experiencing severe floods/air pollution/wildfires/other catastrophes in late Autumn Emilia-Romana than you are in any other European country....and the chances of you experiencing anything untoward are absolutely tiny.

Look forward to your trip with pleasurable anticipation. Bologna is fantastic (especially for foodies). Enjoy eating, enjoy wandering the city's many arcaded streets.....and do make sure you visit the unique and absolutely fascinating complex of Basilica Santo Stefano with its churches dating from the 400s, 700s, 1100s and 1299s. :-)

[ Edit: Edited on 6 May 2023, 18:53 GMT by leics2 ]

Hello!

Thank you very much I'll take a look then to organize our trip! It's the perfect place to head to for us since we're moving back to Europe and it's been a while!

Thanks again

Hi, November is an ideal time to immerse yourself in Venetian culture and traditions. You might stumble upon local events such as the Festa della Salute, a religious celebration, or the Festa di San Martino. Hoever keep in mind that November is part of the "acqua alta" season, when high tides may cause temporary flooding in certain areas of the city.

Quoting hulkk531

Hi, November is an ideal time to immerse yourself in Venetian culture and traditions. You might stumble upon local events such as the Festa della Salute, a religious celebration, or the Festa di San Martino. Hoever keep in mind that November is part of the "acqua alta" season, when high tides may cause temporary flooding in certain areas of the city.

Hi Hulk. Good information, but the question was about Bologna, not Venice. I think she's okay with Bologna.

Thank you for the info anyway

What about train travel around the Milan-Bologna Route, or the Bologna-Firense route? Anyone have any experiences? Thank you!

>What about train travel around the Milan-Bologna Route, or the Bologna-Firense route? Anyone have any experiences?

Lots all over Italy, including both routes you mention (late-middle-aged female travelling alone).

Italian train travel is safe, comfortable, clean (inside...trains may sometimes have graffiti on the exterior) and imo very pleasant indeed. The high-speed trains are excellent, the 'normal' and local trains are wonderful for people-watching.

1. For all train times, details and fares use the official Italian railway website in English:

https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

There is another high-speed train operator which runs pretty much the same routes as the Trenitalia high-speed services. Fares and journey times are also much the same but stations sometimes vary.

NB Use the Italian name for a place on both sites e.g. Firenze, Milano, Roma.

2. High-speed trains can and sometimes do get full-up because standing is not allowed (it is on 'normal' and local trains). High-speed fares are usually cheaper if they're bought in advance (online or at the station).

3 Tickets which aren't for a specific train (they have the train time & date printed on them) ....e.g. for local trains such as Bologna > Ravenna or Firenze to Pisa....must be validated using the machines on station platforms. Guards do check and there are on-the-spot fines for non-validation.

4. Trains have luggage space though local trains often don't have dedicated luggage racks. Keep smaller bags with you (there are overhead racks), keep valuables on you or in a bag on your lap/by your feet, keep larger bags locked and keep and eye on them when stopping at a station. The chance of a bag being stolen is tiny (who wants someone else's dirty washing??) but it can happen, just as it can happen on trains in any other EU country.

5. Trains almost always have toilets. They are cleaned...and, in my experience, are mostly clean... but there's no guarantee they'll be perfect when you use them: it all depends on the people who used them before you on that particular journey. Always have tissues with you because train (and other public) toilets don't always have paper (again, that's down to the people who used them before you).

6. Take your own food & drink. High-speed and sometimes other trains can have a trolley service or buffet car but it's best not to assume.

7. Make sure you buy a ticket to the station you actually want. Cities in particular often have several stations and I've seen people caught out. For Milano you'd want Milano Centrale, for Florence you'd want Firenze SMN (Santa Maria Novella..wonderful church), for Bologna you'd want Bologna Centrale et etc

8. In all the countries I've visited city railway stations attract 'interesting' people.

Always be wary of pickpockets (many as good as the best table magicians) and people who offer 'to help' (very often a pickpocket distraction technique). Don't get pulled into conversations (also a distraction technique) and stay aware of your surroundings and bags at all times.

Also be wary of people who offer to 'help' you with your bags: most won't intend to steal them (dirty washing!) but they will expect a hefty payment! For all such offers just keep a tight hold on your belongings, keep walking and say 'Non, grazie' politely but firmly. No need to be rude or aggressive: they're just chancing their arm and will give up when it's clear you're not falling for it.

9. Loads of useful info & train interior photos from the excellent and long-established seat61 site:

https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm

10. You'll have a brilliant time! :-)

[ Edit: Edited on 24 May 2023, 07:56 GMT by leics2 ]

Wow! That is a lot of information, thank you! I've been to Italy before but it's been a while since I've taken the train, so this is a really, really good refresher, thank you!!

Would you know if there are any delays around the Bologna area at all? From the floods?

Am working out on a route we can take (we're moving back to Germany so we will be leaving from around Munich), since my husband turns into a bit of a grump if you stick him onto transport that is a bit too longish (<3). Generally, I take it all as an adventure but am trying to put in a bit more effort this time since it'll be for his 40th and I'm trying to be nice to him

Thank you ahead of time!