Italy - Rome or Palermo in August (if u had to choose)?

Long story short, I need to pick Palermo or Rome for a week vacation in August, August 8-14. Have been to both, love them, worried about everything being closed, except for very touristy things. Will rent an apartment, not a hotel. Anybody have thoughts/experiences that can help me choose? Grazie!

i have never been there in august. however, i know both rome and venice(been there) are miserably hot and humid in aug. palermo is cooler, and one can stay either at the beach, or in the up in the mountains.

i have never been there in august. however, i know both rome and venice(been there) are miserably hot and humid in aug. palermo is cooler, and one can stay either at the beach, or in the up in the mountains.

I heard Palermo is miserably hot and humid during the summer.

Long story short, I need to pick Palermo or Rome for a week vacation in August, August 8-14. Have been to both, love them, worried about everything being closed, except for very touristy things. Will rent an apartment, not a hotel. Anybody have thoughts/experiences that can help me choose? Grazie!

Hi there. Firstly, my disclaimers: by choice I have avoided traveling to Italy in August so I have no firsthand experience whatsoever. And when I read that you were considering visiting Palermo in August I immediately pictured the scene in Visconti's "Il Gattopardo" when the Prince's family just arrived at Donnafugata - and they were covered in dust and sweltering. So there's that bias!

But I'm posting because I had given a bunch of links on a Slowtravel thread with events that take place in Rome during the summer - and if you HAVE to travel in August, there does seem to be a lot of really great things happening in Rome. (The beginning of the post addresses the OP's transportation and discount ticket questions, but scroll down for the summer specific stuff. I'd suggest first clicking on the "When to go to Italy" article, which is towards the end of the post, to get a good overview of what's on offer in Rome during the summer and then check out the other links, and the other Slowtravel thread that I linked in the post):

Slowtravel post (http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/862600685/m/695004196001?r=540007196001#540007196001) (my name there is Jady).

Hope this helps.

1k-all-the-way if you do end up choosing Rome, I have a couple of suggestions for apartments that seem very suitable for a stay during hot weather. (I've researched tons of Rome apartments for myself, and have bookmarked the ones I've liked best - so it's easy to share the info).

Let me know if you want the links.

I would think that Rome is the better choice although neither place will likely be very comfortable in typical summer weather.
The GF and I once spent about 10 days in Sicily in May. Very fine conditions and lots of flowers, fruits in abundance (lemons and other citrus littering the ground after dropping from trees). Even then, it was becoming borderline hot in the day but very cool nights. A couple of the locals told us that May is the best month to visit; the summer is too HOT, all the plants become parched and turn brown. On the other hand there should be relatively easy access to Mondello, the beach town north of Palermo. Generally, Sicily's climate feels more like North Africa than Lazio.

Thanks - know it will be hot. Generally hot is ok with me, its more the empty city, only touristic experiences that I am trying to evaluate in each place. The same in each?

I would pick Palermo. Rome is disaster in August. Palermo is less stress.

Palermo is the better choice. I also know of a wonderful, inexpensive rental apartment in a palace on the waterfront in the Kalsa district. PM me if that turns out to be of interest.

Are your touristic experiences more geered towards museums, sights, or does this include some beach time and countryside viewing?

Regardless of where you stay it is going to be hot so it's a step in the right direction that you're already ok with that. You've said you've been to both before so you know what to expect in terms of sights, people, etc.

Since you're decision is really based on the availability of places being open, Rome will offer a bit more of that because of it's catering to tourism. But keep in mind that Palermo won't shut its doors completely as well, as many Italians head to the beach for Ferie. Palermo and many other Sicilian towns are popular destinations for those Italians who don't head to the beaches of Sardegna.

If you're looking for museums, churches, and some historical sightseeing, go to Rome. If your interest lies in all of the above (just not as the crux of your vacation) and some fun in the sun on the beach, Palermo. They'll have the Festa Madonna della Catenagoing on as well. It's a touch choice we'd all love to have.

Are your touristic experiences more geered towards museums, sights, or does this include some beach time and countryside viewing?

Regardless of where you stay it is going to be hot so it's a step in the right direction that you're already ok with that. You've said you've been to both before so you know what to expect in terms of sights, people, etc.

Since you're decision is really based on the availability of places being open, Rome will offer a bit more of that because of it's catering to tourism. But keep in mind that Palermo won't shut its doors completely as well, as many Italians head to the beach for Ferie. Palermo and many other Sicilian towns are popular destinations for those Italians who don't head to the beaches of Sardegna.

If you're looking for museums, churches, and some historical sightseeing, go to Rome. If your interest lies in all of the above (just not as the crux of your vacation) and some fun in the sun on the beach, Palermo. They'll have the Festa Madonna della Catenagoing on as well. It's a touch choice we'd all love to have.

Grazie Trastevere! Your remind me that they are both a priviledge to go to. Did I mention my parents were Sicilian? Deal breaker for Palermo I guess!