The fact that in ancient times there were only 10 months on the calendar, ending with Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec (respectively 7, 8, 9 and 10) raises the question...were they trying to avoid including the brutal summer months in the ancient Roman Empire? Of course that's just a rhetorical and senseless question, but wanted to get you thinking!
The month of July, named after Julius Caesar, came into effect in 709 A.U.C. , or from the founding of Rome. In more modern terms, it was 45 B.C.
After Julius' grandnephew Augustus defeated Marc Anthony and Cleopatra and became Emperor of Rome aka as "god" (Trump is really jealous!!!!), the Roman Senate decided he too should have a month named after him. Not only did he get his own month, but they gave him 31 days, just like granduncle Julius..how even handed of them! However, in order to make this adjustment, February, which just happens to be the month of my birth, was reduced,, albeit sporadically, to just 28 days.
Now that we have some background history out of the way, let's examine the months of July and August as they relate to travel in the Mediterranean countries and more specifically Italy (or whatever little is left of the former Roman Empire).
When advising clients who must travel in summer because of work schedules, I always suggest July over August. August has become in more modern times, the Socialist Eurozone's gift to workers.
August 15 (FERRAGOSTO), is the biggest holiday of the year and it encompasses the week before and after the 15th in most cases.
Most people get one month paid vacation and if you are left in the various urban centers at that time you will be part of one of several categories:
a)You are unemployed and therefore cannot afford to leave
b)You are elderly, collecting a tiny fixed pension and your families don't want to bother taking you along for the fun and games,
c)You are part of a small group of workers in the emergency services and you drew the short straw.
d)You actually decided against all odds to remain in the urban caldron despite having the means to escape. Call the medics immediately...this one is lacking oxygen in the cranium!!
So, what's left in Rome, Florence, Venice and all other large cities? Tourists. And..more tourists.
Meanwhile the Italians are crowded like sardines covering every inch of available space on the beaches, and they are not a happy lot. Getting to the beaches meant enduring hours of endless traffic jams on highways and smaller roads leading to the sandy or rocky shores. Others, headed in the opposite directions, are headed to the hills where the cooler air offers respite from the burning sun, but encountering the very same traffic jams before arriving at their destinations.
Just as an example, a day trip from Rome to the Amalfi Coast could mean spending 10 hours in a car enjoying the view of the backs of other cars, while having a very limited time at the destination.
Maybe that's why Italians stay for a month, after arriving at their vacation destination.
Back in the cities, many will be disappointed in finding many of their favorite restaurants closed, half the pharmacies, many family owned stores, and even some museums and monuments inaccessible because of skeleton staff. Even medical services are at a premium. Yes the streets will be less crowded and traffic lighter, but what you will miss is partly the reason you go to Italy in the first place: the cultural experience of seeing and encountering locals as they go about their daily activities, shopping in the markets, gathering at coffee shops, having their evening "passeggiate", actually hearing Italian spoken rather than the familiar American slang, or British, German, Japanese and others for that matter.
If you must go in August, plan ahead, know what to expect but most of all avail yourself of the trustworthy advice of an expert, someone, like myself, who knows the country and its nuances. There are still ways to enjoy Italy in August and avoiding some of the pitfalls and disappointments.
Buon Viaggio e....buone vacanze estive a tutti!!
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