The phrase: “All roads lead to Rome” is not an exaggeration or a figure of speech. Indeed, not having seen Rome, one cannot say that he even knew a little Europe and the history of Western civilization. When the question arises, is it worth going to Rome in January, there can only be one answer - certainly! It is worth coming to the Eternal City at any time of the year and each season has its own advantages. We will tell you about the weather in Rome in January, what it is worth doing here at this time, and what you must see and do.
Geographical position
The capital of Italy is located on the west coast of Central Italy. Rome also leads the province of the same name and the Lazio region. The city is located on the hills of two banks of the Tiber River. Legend has it that the Eternal City is located on seven hills, but geographers say that in reality there are several higher hills, historically, such heights as the Palatine, Capitol, Quirinal, Aventin, Celius, Esquiline, Viminal, Yanicolo and Pincho are attributed to the urban district. Today, the area of the city is almost 1300 square meters. km Rome was originally located in a very convenient and comfortable place. The river provides the city with water, fertile soil gave food. Arriving in Rome in January, you can see that this capital is beautiful at any time of the year - not for nothing that it was here that one of the greatest civilizations was born. After all, the geographical location and climate created very favorable conditions for life.
Climate
The capital of Italy is located in the Mediterranean temperate zone with long hot summers and short warm and humid winters. The average annual temperature is plus 15 degrees. Rome ranks fourth in Europe in the number of sunny days. Spring in Rome begins in early March and ends in late April. The temperature at this time is kept in the region of 15 degrees Celsius, and in the afternoon it happens more. It rains quite often, about 13 days a month. Summer lasts from May to the end of October, the middle of the season is characterized by great heat. So, in July, the temperature of 30-35 degrees Celsius is not uncommon. There is little rain in the summer, 5-7 days a month. Autumn in Rome is short, it begins in early October and ends in late November. In the last month it becomes very humid, since it rains more than half of the days per month. The average temperature of the season during the day is + 14 degrees. Winter begins in December and ends in February. December is the wettest month of the year, in January and February there is much less rainfall. Sometimes snow falls, but the cover does not hold. In winter, the weather is unstable throughout Italy, so variability is the main word that characterizes Rome in January. Reviews of tourists say, however, that the seasons are always different, very good winters with little rainfall may well fall. The rainiest months of the year are October, November, December.
January weather
The capital of Italy in winter is as popular with tourists as in other seasons. Indeed, at this time, a lot of interesting things are happening in the city, and there are always sights that are even easier to see in cool than in a hot summer. The weather in Rome in January, as we have already noted, is characterized by instability, which is due to the north wind tramontan. It can bring cold air and rain, but usually this happens much less frequently than, for example, in December. About 55 mm of precipitation falls this month, and it rains about 10-12 days a month. But often this is only a short-term buildup, showers almost never happen. But humidity and a cold wind can complicate walks, so clothes and shoes should be waterproof and warm. The average temperature during the day in January is +12 degrees, at night - about 3 degrees.
Weather in Rome in January: tourist reviews
Many travelers today enjoy visiting Italy in the winter in the hope of avoiding huge crowds of tourists. But in January, this is hardly possible. At this time, there are fewer visitors here than in July. According to tourists, at this time on the streets, in addition to travelers, you can meet many Romans who enjoy walking and shopping.
There are many reasons to come to Rome in January. Reviews say that at this time there are sales that attract a huge number of people. At the beginning of the month, Christmas markets are still working , and many different events are taking place. All tourists are advised to carefully think through their wardrobe in order to be ready for the vagaries of nature. You should not come to Rome in a down jacket, despite the cool weather, yet it is not so frosty here that it is very warm. But you need to take care of moisture and windproof clothing.
History of the city
Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world. He appeared on the map of Europe in the 8th century BC. But long before that, people lived here. The legend of the creator of Rome Romulus is known to all. However, historians do not confirm this event. The city appeared in a very convenient place - on the fertile banks of the Tiber - in the form of nomad camps. Gradually, they began to lead a sedentary lifestyle, because there were all conditions for life. The location at the intersection of many trade routes contributed to the rapid growth of the settlement. In the 5th century BC e. the Roman Republic was proclaimed here, which lasted until the time of the coming to power of Christians. In this era, many magnificent temples were built, wide roads laid. The Roman Empire expanded and grew rich, its ruler - the emperor - lived in Rome. This influenced the structure of the city: it was landscaped, built up in public and private houses, for the first time there appeared multi-story buildings - insuls. In the 4th century AD, the Roman Empire fell, the city was attacked by barbarians, many magnificent buildings were destroyed. The former authority is replaced by the reign of the Pope. Rome becomes the main city of the Catholic world, later the residence of the church will stand out in a separate state - the Vatican. For several centuries, the city has been shaken by various historical events, it passes into the power of different forces. And only in 1870 it becomes the capital of Italy and the period of revival and construction begins. Later, Rome was still able to become an arena for many events, but its present appearance mainly developed in the late 19th - early 20th centuries.
sights
To list the best monuments of the capital of Italy is a thankless task. After all, this city is a solid attraction. Arriving in Rome in January, you should think over the route well to alternate walks with being indoors, this will help you not freeze and see all the most important things. The main monuments of the city include:
- Colosseum.
- Forum.
- Capitoline Hill.
- Spanish Steps.
- Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
- Castle of the Holy Angel.
- Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore.
- Patneon.
- Trevi Fountain.
- The terms of Caracal.
- The Arc de Triomphe of Constantine.
Things to do
A trip to Rome in January should be planned already because at this time you can see the city at the same time in festive decoration and in the usual everyday rhythm. In the summer, many Romans go on vacation, and the capital of Italy becomes a kind of tourist attraction. And in winter, ordinary life boils here: people go shopping, in the cafe you can watch meetings of typical residents of the city. In early January, you can still plunge into the atmosphere of Christmas, visiting the festive markets with delicious hot wine, pies, souvenirs. January is also known for the fact that at this time enormous discounts begin in stores and all residents and visitors with excitement go shopping, looking for maximum discounts. At this time, it’s so nice to sit in trattorias and pizzerias and taste famous national cuisine.
What to see
A visit to Rome in January is a great opportunity to visit the famous museums of the capital. At this time, however, the queues are slightly less than in the summer and this should be used. The first place, of course, is the Vatican Museums, but it is also worth going on a trip to the Coliseum with an excursion to hear a lot of interesting information and to feel the significance of this place. In good weather, you should walk around Rome. There are several main routes. It is worth walking along Via Corso, wandering around the Trastevere area where you need to eat, because here are the best home restaurants in the city. A separate walk must be made through the main squares of Rome, with a visit to the famous fountains and monuments: Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna and Navona. And you also need to wander through the streets of the city, absorbing the atmosphere of this ancient place. Arriving in Rome in January, you can work out your own routes. For example, go through the quest and find all the fountains and sculptures of Bernini, or explore all the bridges of the city, or go through the locations of the movie F. Fellini's “Sweet Life”. In any case, Rome is a city that is beautiful at any time of the year.
Helpful information
To visit Rome? Russians need to get a Schengen visa. The capital of Italy has a well-developed international transport network and you can easily get here by plane or high-speed train from anywhere in Europe. There are many hotels of different levels in the city, the most budgetary of decent hotels are located in the area of Termini Station. You can also eat in Rome at different price categories. You can buy a piece of pizza and a glass of wine and keep it at less than 10 euros, or you can have dinner with delicacies for a four-digit amount. It is most convenient to travel around the city with a tourist pass, which allows you to significantly save and get absolute freedom. Transport in the city works well, you just need to first deal with route diagrams.
Tourists reviews
Travelers in their stories note that the temperature in Rome in January practically does not drop below zero, and on successful days it warms up even to 15 degrees. Many say that the rains at this time do not bother much, since they are usually short-lived. But the wind can cause serious problems, so you need to stock up on a windproof jacket. In all reviews of tourists you can read that the city captivated travelers. For each person, he reveals his own side, but everyone has a reason to love him.