Sunglasses for summer, a scarf for fall, gloves for winter and an umbrella for spring. Put all of these things in your travel bag - we’re about to embark on a journey of the four seasons in Italy!
Learning about the seasons in Italian is more than memorizing the Italian months of the year and recalling weather terms in Italian. It’s also about understanding Italian culture and how it can be heavily influenced by the seasons. Simply put, understanding Italy’s seasons can help you better connect with its culture!
For instance, many people in Italy are accustomed to “seasonal living,” or adapting to the ebbs and flows of seasonal changes and incorporating them into their daily routines. The best example of this is eating seasonally, like using fruits and vegetables primarily during their peak times, rather than using frozen ingredients all year round.
In this article, we’ll examine the four seasons while highlighting useful vocabulary and typical holidays that occur in each one. We’ll even practice some seasonal language that you can use at different points of the year, and most certainly give you ideas for what clothes you’ll need to wear!
The seasons in Italian
Before we explore each season, we need to have pizza. Yes, you read that right! Pizza.
If you’ve ever been to an Italian pizzeria, you may have noticed or tried an iconic pizza on the menu: Le Quattro Stagioni - the four seasons!
This isn’t just a clever name for a popular pizza, though. Each ingredient actually represents each of the four seasons, and is confined to one part of the pizza. It’s actually my go-to pizza, because it’s like you’re eating four different pizzas in one!
The four ingredients vary depending on the region you’re in, but you can typically find the following:
- Tomatoes and/or basil (i pomodori e/o il basilico) represent Summer - L’estate
- Mushrooms (i funghi) represent Fall/Autumn - L’autunno
- Cooked ham (il prosciutto cotto) or Olives (le olive) represent Winter - L’inverno
- Artichokes (i carciofi) represent Spring - La primavera
We’re going to come back to this pizza when we look at each season individually. For now, here’s an overview of each season, including how to say “rainy” and “dry” seasons.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | IPA |
| Season / Seasons | la stagione / le stagioni | sta-joe-neh / sta-joe-nee | staˈdʒone | staˈdʒoni |
| Summer | l’estate | eh-sta-teh | esˈtate |
| Autumn / Fall | l’autunno | ow-two-no | au̯ˈtunno |
| Winter | l’inverno | een-ver-no | inˈvɛrno |
| Spring | la primavera | pree-ma-ver-ah | primaˈvɛra |
| The rainy season | la stagione delle piogge | sta-joan-na deh-leh pyo-ja | la staˈdʒone ˈdelle ˈpjɔddʒe |
| The dry season | la stagione secca | sta-joan-na seh-ka | la staˈdʒone ˈsekka |
Summer in Italian
Welcome to our first stop: Summer in Italian! Think about the ripe tomatoes and green basil on our pizza. This season represents everything that is fresh and cool, even though the temperatures in Italy have risen to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) and broke record highs in 2021.
This first table shows you the typical range of Summer months in Italy and the surrounding Italian-speaking countries or regions. For the most part, June to August is considered to be the Summer season, with August as its peak month.
| Country | Summer months range | Additional notes /facts |
| Italy + Vatican City | June-August | August is the most typical summer month.. |
| Switzerland | June-August | The summer “tourist” season typically starts in May. |
| San Marino | June-August | Summers in San Marino are typically warm and humid. |
| Croatia | June-August | Summers tend to be hot and dry. |
| Slovenia | June-August | Compared to Italy, this destination is not as crowded in the summer. |
Notable summer holidays in Italy
Most Italians will take their annual holidays in August, and it will usually align with this important national holiday:
August 15: Ferragosto
Ferragosto comes from the Latin phrase, “Feriae Augusti”, loosely translating to “Augustus’ Vacation”. It was introduced in 18 BCE by the Emperor Augustus and called for a period of rest and appreciating the harvest from a summer of cultivation. Nowadays, you’ll find Italians spending this day with their families or friends, whether it’s on the beach or at a local sagra (town festival).
Throughout most of Italy, hardly anything is open on this day. In fact, most businesses will actually close down for a week or two around this holiday. However, it’s also a peak tourism period, so this tradition is slightly changing in more popular cities, like Rome or Florence. In any case, it’s a good piece of information to keep in mind if you plan on traveling throughout Italy in August!
Italian summer words
Here is a list of common words that you would probably use in the summertime. We’ll use some of these in helpful sentences later on!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | IPA |
| Hot | caldo/a | kal-doe / kal-da | ˈkaldo | ˈkalda |
| Sunny | soleggiato/a | so-leh-ja-toe / so-leh-ja-tah | soledˈdʒato | soledˈdʒata |
| Dry | secco/a | sek-ko / sek-ka | ˈsekko | ˈsekka |
| Thirsty | assetato/a | ah-se-tah-to / ah-se-tah-ta | asseˈtato | asseˈtata |
| Gelato/Ice cream | gelato | je-lah-toe | dʒeˈlato |
| Aperol Spritz | Aperol Spritz / Spritz con Aperol | ah-peer-all spritz / spritz con ah-peer-all | aˈpɛrto spritts | spritts ˈkon aperol |
| Campari Spritz | Campari Spritz / Spritz con Campari | kam-par-ee spritz / spritz con kam-par-ee | kampari spritts | spritts ˈkon kampari |
| Swimming | il nuoto | nu-oh-to | ˈnwɔto |
| Beach | la spiaggia | spee-ah-ja | ˈspjaddʒa |
| Beach chair | il lettino | leh-tee-no | letˈtino |
| Sunglasses | gli occhiali da sole | oh-kya-lee da so-leh | okˈkjali da ˈssole |
| Snow cone/Italian ice | la granita | gra-nee-ta | ɡraˈnita |
| Popsicle | il ghiacciolo | gya-cho-low | ɡjatˈtʃɔlo |
| Festival / Neighborhood or town festival | la sagra | sah-gra | ˈsaɡra |
Fall in Italian
Ah, can you hear the crisp sound of leaves under your boots? We’ve arrived at our next season: Fall in Italian.
In Italy, sweater weather typically starts in late September. If you’re visiting Italy in one of the fall months, make sure to bring a jacket and dress in layers. Speaking of that, this period is a great time to visit Italy, as it tends to be less crowded when compared to the summer months.
| Country | Fall months range | Additional notes /facts |
| Italy + Vatican City | Late September - late December | Most of September tends to be warm like August, but then quickly shifts to cooler weather by month’s end. |
| Switzerland | September - late November | October can already bring below freezing temperatures in the mountain chains! |
| San Marino | Late September - late December | Most of September tends to be warm like August, but then quickly shifts to cooler weather by month’s end. |
| Croatia | October - December | The further north you go, the earlier fall begins. |
| Slovenia | September - late November | Most of September tends to be warm like August, but then quickly shifts to cooler weather by month’s end. |
Notable Fall holidays in Italy
Some of Italy’s national holidays involve feast days from the Catholic church.
October 31*: Halloween
November 1 - Tutti i Santi (All Saints’ Day)
Celebrated after Halloween, this day celebrates the saints of the Catholic church. Depending on where you are in Italy, the weather in November can actually feel more like winter, so it’s common to start roasting chestnuts or le castagne on this day!
*Not a national holiday, but still celebrated
Italian Fall words
Let’s think back to our pizza again. The mushrooms or i funghi are fresh and just waiting to be picked. Imagine foraging for i funghi after a rainstorm. Then, you come back home to sit by a fire and roast le castagne as you cheer on your favorite team while watching il calcio on TV. It’s the epitome of coziness and fall in Italy!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | IPA |
| Leaves | le foglie | fo-lee-eh | ˈfɔʎʎe |
| Orange (color) | arancione | ah-rahn-cho-neh | aranˈtʃone |
| Cooling down | il raffreddamento | ra-fred-ah-men-toe | raffreddaˈmento |
| Harvest | il raccolto | ra-kol-toe | rakˈkɔlto |
| Pumpkin | la zucca | zoo-ka | ˈtsukka |
| Fog | la nebbia | neh-bya | ˈnebbja |
| Chestnuts | le castagne | kas-tahn-yeh | kasˈtaɲɲe |
| Mushrooms | i funghi | foon-ghee | ˈfunɡi |
| Truffles | i tartufi | tar-too-fee | tarˈtufi |
| Soccer | il calcio | kal-cho | ˈkaltʃo |
Winter in Italian
Bundle up, it’s Winter in Italian – it’s time to go skiing (or relax in the ski lodge). Italy and Switzerland boast incredible mountain chains, ranging from the Alps to the Dolomites, and this period is a busy time for ski aficionados and other winter sports’ lovers.
| Country | Winter months range | Additional notes /facts |
| Italy + Vatican City | Late December - late February | January is typically the coldest month. |
| Switzerland | Late November - late February | January is typically the coldest month. |
| San Marino | Late December - late February | January is typically the coldest month. |
| Croatia | Late December - late February | January is typically the coldest month. |
| Slovenia | Late December - mid-March | January is typically the coldest month. |
Notable Winter holidays in Italy
The winter period contains quite a few holidays, and it’s not uncommon for Italians to take some holiday time from Natale (Christmas) to L’Epifania (The Epiphany).
December 8 - La Festa della Immacolata (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
This typically kicks off the winter period in most cities.
December 24* - La Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve)
Many families will celebrate with a large fish dinner on Christmas Eve.
December 25 - Natale (Christmas Day)
December 26 - Santo Stefano (Boxing Day / St. Stephen’s Day)
This day is usually celebrated with friends or family.
December 31* - La Vigilia di Capodanno / La notte di San Silvestro (New Year’s Eve / St. Silvester’s Day)
January 1 - Capodanno (New Year’s Day)
January 6 - L’Epifania (The Epiphany)
This holiday is nearly as important as Natale, and children receive gifts from La Befana (a good Christmas witch).
*Not a national holiday, but still celebrated
Italian winter words
This season on our pizza is represented by il prosciutto cotto (ham) and le olive (olives), hearty foods that make up filling meals to keep you warm. Just imagine ordering a spiked eggnog or un bombardino at your ski lodge before heading to the thermal spas or le terme to warm up on a freezing day. A picture of total relaxation!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | IPA |
| Cold | freddo/fredda | fred-doe / fred-da | ˈfreddo |ˈfredda |
| Snowing | nevicare | neh-vee-car-eh | neviˈkare |
| Freezing | ghiacciato/ghiacciata | gya-cha-toe / gya-cha-ta | ɡjatˈtʃato | ɡjatˈtʃata |
| Ice | il ghiaccio | gya-cho | ˈɡjattʃo |
| Frost | il gelo | je-low | ˈdʒɛlo |
| Skiing | sciare | shee-ah-reh | ʃiˈare |
| Mountains | le montagne | mon-tan-ye | monˈtaɲɲe |
| Scarf | la sciarpa | shee-ar-pa | ˈʃarpa |
| Gloves | i guanti | goo-an-tee | ˈɡwanti |
| Coat | il cappotto | cah-pot-toe | kapˈpɔtto |
| Spiked eggnog | il bombardino | bom-bar-dee-no | bombarˈdino |
| Thermal spa | le terme | ter-meh | ˈtɛrme |
| Christmas markets | i mercatini di natale | mer-cah-tee-nee dee nah-tah-leh | merkaˈtini di naˈtale |
| Mulled wine | il vin brulé | veen broo-leh | vim bruˈle |
Spring in Italian
We’ve made it to our last season: la primavera AKA Spring in Italian! A typical phrase you might hear about this season is: “Marzo è pazzo!” or “March is crazy!” because of the changing temperatures and weather conditions you might experience as the season changes from winter to spring. After that, though, you can expect temperate climates across Italy.
| Country | Spring months range | Additional notes /facts |
| Italy + Vatican City | March - May | Temperatures typically range from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Switzerland | March - mid-June | Even though there may be more sunshine, it’s still pretty chilly in higher altitudes. |
| San Marino | March - May | Temperatures typically range from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Croatia | March - May | Spring is a great time to visit Croatia as you can check out the Plitvice Lakes National Park! |
| Slovenia | Late March - May | Temperatures typically range from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. |
Notable Spring holidays in Italy
There are a ton of things worth celebrating in Spring! Our list below contains a mix of both national holidays and other fun holidays that are celebrated by locals. Perhaps the most exciting is Carnevale - a huge celebration with colorful costumes celebrated in Venice!
March 8* - La giornata internazionale dei diritti della donna / Festa della Donna (International Women’s Day)
Many people celebrate this day by giving a bouquet of mimosa flowers to special women in their life.
The day before Ash Wednesday / Shrove Tuesday* - Martedi Grasso / Carnevale
This festival is similar to France’s “Mardi Gras” and is full of eating, drinking, and being carefree before the period of Lent begins.
March 19 - La Festa del Papà - (Father’s Day)
March or April - Pasqua (Easter Sunday)
The day after Easter - Pasquetta (Easter Monday)
This day is a national holiday, and is usually spent having a grigliata (BBQ) with friends - weather permitting!
April 1* - Pesce d’Aprile (April Fool’s Day)
This is literally translated to “April’s Fish”!
April 25 - La Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day)
This day marks Italy’s liberation from the Fascist regime.
May 1 - Festa dei Lavoratori (International Workers’ Day)
This day celebrates workers’ rights as well as the labor movement.
May 14 - La Festa della Mamma (Mother’s Day)
June 2 - La Festa della Repubblica (Italian Republic Day)
This day celebrates the creation of the Italian Republic in 1946.
*Not a national holiday but still celebrated
Italian spring words
The last slice of our pizza has i carciofi or artichokes, which are in season from March through May. Picture this: it’s a beautiful spring day, and you’re headed to a grigliata to spend time with friends over good food and great weather before taking a walk in the fresh air. Don’t forget to bring a jar of fresh carciofi for the group!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | IPA |
| Flowers | i fiori | fyor-ee | ˈfjori |
| Trees | gli alberi | al-ber-ee | ˈalberi |
| Birds | gli uccellini | oo-che-lee-nee | uttʃelˈlini |
| Gardening | il giardinaggio | jar-dee-na-joe | dʒardiˈnaddʒo |
| Mild weather | tempo mite | temp-poh mee-teh | ˈtɛmpo ˈmite |
| Green | il verde | ver-deh | ˈverde |
| Going on a walk | fare una passeggiata | fa-re oo-na pass-eh-ja-ta | ˈfare ˈuna passedˈdʒata |
| Riding a bike | andare in bicicletta | an-dar-eh in bee-chee-kle-teh | anˈdare im bitʃiˈkletta |
| Barbeque | la grigliata | gree-lya-ta | ɡriʎˈʎata |
| Wine | il vino | vee-no | ˈvino |
Seasonal speech
Here are a few phrases that might come in handy for each season. You can even take a look at the vocabulary in this article to come up with your own!
Summer
- Fa proprio caldo oggi! - It’s so hot today!
- Vorrei un Aperol Spritz, per favore. - I’d like an Aperol Spritz, please.
- Andiamo in spiaggia. Ti va di venire? - We’re going to the beach. Wanna join?
- Dove andrete in vacanza quest’estate? - Where are you guys vacationing this summer?
Fall
- Oggi fa fresco! - It’s chilly today!
- L’autunno è la mia stagione preferita. - Fall is my favorite season.
- Adoro mangiare la pasta con i funghi. - I love eating pasta with mushrooms.
- Per quale squadra fai il tifo? - Which team are you rooting for?
Winter
- Qui si gela! - It’s freezing here!
- Andremo a sciare a dicembre. - We’re going skiing in December.
- Non vedo l’ora che arrivino i mercatini di Natale! - I can’t wait for the Christmas markets!
- Prendo un bombardino, per favore. - I’ll take a spiked eggnog, please.
Spring
- Finalmente è primavera! - It’s finally spring!
- Hai un ombrello? - Do you have an umbrella?
- Facciamo una passeggiata. - Let’s take a walk.
- Le mie allergie stanno peggiorando. - My allergies are acting up.
A song for all seasons
ANTONIO VIVALDI - LE QUATTRO STAGIONI - Filarmonica della Scala diretta da Riccardo Muti
Le Quattro Stagioni is more than just a pizza - it’s a violin concerto, too! In fact, you’ve probably heard it before (especially its famous opening) as it’s Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi’s most popular piece. Check it out and reflect on the four different moods Vivaldi created in each section to represent each season. It starts with spring and works its way down to winter, so keep that in mind as you listen!
We’ve eaten all of our seasonal pizza!
So, what was your favorite part of the quattro stagioni pizza? Whatever your answer is, always remember that each season has a direct effect on Italian culture throughout the year. Each season introduces important parts of Italy’s culture – just like how those four seasonal ingredients make up a perfect pizza.
In addition to enjoying this new season, we’ll be rounding up our learning with the Italian days of the week, daydreaming about more pizza and looking forward to the next fun and free vocab article lessons on our Italian blog!
