I finally convinced my wife to write something for my blog… so here goes her first contribution.
Everyone knows that Rome is about fashion, especially in the area of footwear. But unless you are born and raised in Rome, you will never be able to look like an Italian. So the most important thing to consider when visiting Rome is comfort. A great deal of walking is involved when seeing all the wonderful sights in Rome. The most important thing to consider is comfortable footwear. And this does not mean flip flops, fellow Americans! I speak from experience!
- Comfortable, sensible shoes are a necessity. GEOX, above, are extremely popular in Rome.
The cobblestones are just too wearing on something as flimsy as flip flops. There are too many people around to step on the back, too many broken curbs that pop up, etc. You need something like Ecco’s, Clarks, Mephistos, or a really comfortable walking shoe or sneaker. Especially something with support for your heel. In the summer, a good sandal is fine, but your feet will be filthy by the end of the day.
As to clothing, it is always best to dress in layers. The average temperature in the late fall and early winter is about 35-40 degrees fharenheit. Scarves are the greatest invention and are used constantly in Rome. It is important not to get your neck cold, as this will lead to other complications (according to Roman belief). It is easy to find inexpensive, nice looking scarves all over Rome. Bancarelli (street vendors) sell them and department and clothing stores usually have a great selection, no matter what season.
It is very easy to find a nice warm coat at the flea market, like Porta Portese, for around 5 euros. Many are water proof, which is important as it rains a great deal during the fall and winter. This leads to umbrellas. It’s better to bring a nice tote umbrella that is well made instead of buying one off the street. Those umbrellas sell for around 3 euros but at the first big wind, they break. You can see corpses of umbrellas all around Rome during the fall and winter months.
- You can always wait till you get here!
Roman stores are usually kept very warm inside during the winter so it’s best to be able to take off your coat and still stay warm. As for the summer, the temperature is usually scorching in July and August. You will notice very few Romans around town at that time. Most people repair to their mountain/beach houses and leave the city to the tourists or those who don’t have mountain/beach houses. Even stranieri (people from other places) find a way to go somewhere else cooler (last year we went to Copenhagen and Stockholm).
So if you are here, make sure you wear as little as possible without being indecent. There are some places that offer air conditioning, but not all places have that luxury. Cotton and linen are the best choices for the climate at that time of the year. Polyester is just too darn hot! During the day it can reach 95 degrees and at night it might cool down to around 80.
Make sure that you have a hat or head covering of some kind as well. It’s easy to get to the beach from the Metropolitana (Metro) or by bus, so make sure you bring your bathing suit. At the beach you can rent an umbrella and a chair for around 10 euros. Most beaches also have a bar where you can buy drinks and food.
Shopping in Rome, my wife’s passion – She should probably write a book. Above our some great guides for shopping in Italy. Click on any to get more information! For more travel accessories, head to our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for travel accessories at amazon.co.uk.
Shopping in Rome, my wife’s passion – She should probably write a book. Above our some great guides for shopping in Italy. Click on any to get more information! For more travel accessories, head to our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for travel accessories at amazon.co.uk.
Let Me Coach You, if you’re looking for travel assistance or some help creating an iitinerary! If you want to build your own vacation, please feel free use the information in the articles of the Ron-in-Rome website to help plan your next trip. If you need consulting, head to the Coaching page; For a list of all articles on this website, head to the Postings page. Or use the SEARCH Box, on the top right of each page!
Header: Roma Retail – Photo by ken mccown
I would wear whatever makes you comfortable. They will know you are a tourist regardless of your show appearance. New Balances are sold in Europe and some folks do wear them. The important thing is that you are comfortable. The cobblestone and uneven sidewalks can be uncomfortable – so go in what makes you “FEEL” best. As far as treated snubly as a tourist, that probably won’t come down to shoes … Most Italians are quite gracious and will reflect your behavior towards them.
My podiatrist told me today that sneakers (like the new pair of New Balance I bought) are frowned upon in Italy. I just can’t see walking all over Italy on our trip using anything else. Will I really look that out of place. Will I look “like a tourist” and be treated snubly?
Walking sandals are great. I wear a nice pair of Clark’s black sandals when visiting Europe and my feet do better than my friends’ with their Nike’s. There are several kinds of sandals that are designed for walking, with good arch support and cushioned soles. They look nice enough to go into almost any restaurant without feeling conspicuous. And it’s much better than having your feet get all sweaty in socks and athletic shoes!
Great article! I have a question. My husband and I planning a trip to Rome the first week in May. I would really like to bring one pair of walking sandals. Is it really impractical? Also, will it be warm enough for sandals that early in May? I’m at a loss as to what kind of walking shoe to get. The shoes I have found just look too frumpy or sneaker like. I would like to be able to wear skirts most of the time and want a comfy but dressier looking shoe. That is why I am thinking of walking sandals like Ecco. What are your thoughts? Thanks!