In August, as Italians close shop and head to the beach or mountains, the tourist tide rolls in to cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence. There are still outdoor concerts, typically the continuation of festivals from July, and major sights are still open. But the pace of life in August is much ...

Will you be in Rome in August? Here are some reasons to rejoice and lament your stay in the Eternal City during the hottest month of the year.

The prevailing travel wisdom about Italy has always been to avoid going to the country in August. "Don't go to Italy in August!" they say, because it's hot, many shops and restaurants are closed, and the cities are emptied out of residents and replaced by other tourists. All of this is quite ...