Assisi is a town in the Umbria region of central Italy. It is home to the Basilica of San Francesco dâAssisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
The climate of Assisi can be described as Mediterranean, but the absence of a defined dry season means it is more commonly defined as humid subtropical. Such climates are defined by hot, humid summers and cool winters. Unlike Mediterranean climates, Assisi experiences roughly uniform rainfall year-round, with slightly lower rainfall in the hottest summer months.
Summer lasts from May to September, and is usually very warm and sunny. May sees summer temperatures arrive, with a monthly average of 22°C, Naturally, this is higher in the latter part of the month when temperatures can reach the high twenties on a regular basis. May also sees a very health eight hours of sunshine per day, so visitors seeking sun but wishing to avoid the high temperatures of late summer may prefer May. Rain showers are common, however, due to Assisiâs position on the flanks of Monte Subasio. May hosts the Festival Calendimaggio (1-5 May) â" a re-enactment of Renaissance life.
June sees hot summer weather arrive in full force as average temperatures hit 26°C. Temperatures can regularly pass 30°C, and nine hours of sunshine per day can be expected. Conditions are ideal for long days wandering around the streets marvelling at the Franciscan monastery and the wealth of late-Medieval frescos.
July and August are the hottest months, in which temperatures average 29°C. Visitors can expect a very generous 10 hours per day of sunshine in July and 9 hours in August. Cool breezes from the Apennine Mountains serve to moderate temperatures somewhat, but the days can be quite humid. Night-time temperatures average 15°C in July and 16°C in August, so long evenings can be spent in warm conditions. July and August are the driest months, averaging 45mm and 59mm respectively.
Autumn covers October and November. October sees temperatures drop below 20°C to an average of 19°C. Although temperatures remain fairly warm, the level of sunshine drops considerably to average five hours per day and rainfall rises to 79mm. Rain can be expected on around 12 days of the month.
In November temperatures drop further to an average of 13°C, so it can get quite chilly at times. At night the average is just 5°C, so night-times and evenings can get cold. November is the wettest month of the year, with average rainfall of 96mm.
Winter lasts from December to February, and gets fairly cold but extremes of temperature are rare. December experiences averages of 9°C. At night temperatures can drop close to 0°C and occasionally lower. January is the coldest month, with a daily average of 8°C and nightly average of 0°C. As such, frost and occasionally snow is common.
Spring (March and April) is mild, and can be quite pleasant later in the season. Daily temperatures in March average 13°C, but night-time temperatures average just 3°C so it can get cold in the evenings. April is warmer, averaging a very mild 17°C during the day, although showers and cloud are common.