Florence, Italy....are we mad?

[Hairydogmummy]

We're booked to fly to Tuscany on Thursday to stay in a lovely villa with pool belonging to a colleague of DH but there turns out to be no aircon and in this heatwave?!! I've only just found this out. I'm worried about the whole trip but especially all the sightseeing we've booked on Saturday in Florence. We could still cancel this day trip at least without losing money. I've never been to Italy and was so excited to see and do as much as possible. DH colleague has advised us to just stay around the pool. WWYD? My DSD18 and DS 19 are coming with.

Exactly. I wish I had contacts and someone would let me use their Italian villa at mates rates.

i would not cancel. If you do some sightseeing stop at bars on the way they have amazing fans which sprinkles water. Its genius and refreshing!

I dont think you should go. However I am prepared to go in your place and will report back as to the heat and if I managed to sleep.
Ok? 😉

Well you could go and plan to return early, if the heat proves to be too much for you. Having aircon in a hire car would help as you could drive around the hill top towns and make quick photo/cafe stops in the heat.

For those saying you could come early, are there regular flights from the airport you are flying from? How are you getting to the villa?

I was just about to mention these fans, we did Rome and Florence in July and when it got too much we stopped off for a drink in bar with these and made sure the restaurants we had lunch in had them. They made such a difference.

DS loved those fans in Greece, when he visited the other week.

Unfortunately, all those things that help us keep cool are probably not helping climate change

I'd go but maybe book a hotel in Florence for a night with air con so you have somewhere to go when it's too hot in the afternoon. Florence is lovely and really worth seeing. Maybe cut down how much you do when you're there.

Could you do Florence on your own and DH look after the kids at the villa, if you can cope with heat?

We are southern Europe. Despite what people seem to think, air conditioning is really unusual to have. I think hotels, large shops, large offices maybe. I don’t know anyone who is air conditioning in their actual home.

It would cost an absolute fortune also ( as we have cold winters so already high heat bills).

Thick walls, close windows and shutters when hot. Awnings and umbrellas. Hopefully they have tress planted nearby also.

It was 39 outside ours a few days ago, the hottest room in the house was 25. The other rooms stay 21-23 usually daytime then cool down more once sun goes down. This is a hot hot day. Is it’s 30 outside it usually 20 or cooler everywhere indoors. So the outside temperature shouldn’t be the same as inside.

Honestly, I wouldn't do it. I've been to Florence when it was 35 degrees and it was bad. I wouldn't want to be there when it's 40. It's too hot to sight see or lounge by the pool. You just feel like you're baking in an oven the whole time and there's no reprieve!

There is currently a Q&A on BBC News website about the heatwave including questions about holidays

Big old farmhouses in Italy don't need air con. Just keep the shutters shut in the daytime.

We're on a Greek island currently, it's 40 during the day and around 30 at night.
We paid for aircon in our hotel rooms (we weren't informed it was extra when we booked) and we wouldn't be coping well without it. We've altered our usual holiday plans (hiking/exploring) and spend days under beach umbrellas with regular swims/paddle boarding or at the pool under shade, and long afternoon siestas.
It's hot, and then some - and we've lived in very hot places before so are used to it.

I'd definitely go, old houses are cooler than modern properties. They are much less insulated and don't have all the glass. There might well be a cellar or an old pantry to sit in and read a book if it's unbearable.

If it's too hot in bedroom at night, sleep outdoors.

I would go on the trip, flake around the pool in the shade but not go sightseeing in Florence unless it cools down significantly. It's in a bowl-shaped valley so traps the heat. Very, very hot.

An old stone farmhouse with thick walls built into a hill will be very cool; that’s why they were built that way. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Don’t cancel. It will be glorious.

Last June we stayed in an old farmhouse on the coast south of Genoa. Temps were high 30s. The building had thick walls, shutters, tiled floors, and a couple of electric fans. We don't cope well with heat, but it was fine. There was also a shady terrace to eat on.
Keep the shutters closed, use the fans (buy more if you need to) and stop worrying!

Same for me I wouldn’t hesitate !

no aircon urgh !

Some great tips here, I'd 100% still go and I'm so envious of you! I hope you all have a super time.

What you need to do is to do as the Italains do. Don't do what Northern Europeans do.

There is physics to heat. Get up early, if it's cooler outside throw everything open and get a breeze. The second it gets a little warmer, close everything on the 'hot side' of the house. Shutters, windows, everything. Showers slightly cooler than body temperature, not hot or cold. Go out early and come back for a siesta at 11am. Swap the windows and shutters over depending on the 'hot side'. Sleep in the basement if there is one. If not, damp sheet and a fan on you. You'll actually get cold. Don't guzzle giant icy drinks. Sip water and sugary drinks. Eat late and light. Dress for shade not exposure, seek shade, walk slowly.

Florence in the evening is beautiful - try to reschedule for then instead of during the day if possible.

You did the right thing cancelling Florence- it's in a bowl in the hills, so gets exceptionally hot. Will you have a car while you're there? You could head up, up into the Apennine mountains- look up Aquacheta- massive mountain waterfall.

we regularly go to france and have been there in 40+ heat.

The house is an old farmhouse on the side of a hill, similar to what you are going to.

The trick is to keep the inside cool.
Keep shutters 90% closed. So just open a crack. All the time. Don't let the sun in at all.
At night when it is coolest, have windows open both sides to allow the air through.

Cool shower before bed.

Don't sit in the sun at all, swim and then into the shade

I would agree if it was Florence, but a farmhouse in the hills is very different