Italy Coolcation: Beat the Heat and Bag Property Bargain

Note: Subscribers will find in this article the full list of “cool towns” we have identified and, of course, are welcome to use the Town Explorer to find the combination of weather and location that suits their Italian relocation needs.

The “coolcation” trend is on the rise. As extreme heatwaves hit Southern Europe each summer, more travellers are seeking out cooler climates for their holidays. A recent European Travel Commission report found 28% of Europeans now intentionally choose cooler destinations to avoid summer heat, with the shift especially evident among people from heat-struck countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece. Instead of the usual sun-baked beaches, many are heading for alpine lakes, breezy mountains, and northern latitudes. This trend isn’t just about vacations – it’s also influencing where expats, retirees, and second-home buyers set their sights. After all, who wouldn’t prefer a pleasant 25 °C summer afternoon over a sweltering 40 °C?

1. A Warming Climate and New Realities for Southern Europe

Climate change is steadily re-drawing Europe’s comfort map. The European Environment Agency (EEA) warns that Southern Europe will face more frequent heatwaves and droughts as temperatures climb. By 2100, much of Italy, Spain, and Greece will be hotter and drier, with harsher summers than we’ve ever known. The EEA even projects dramatic economic impacts: farmland values in parts of Southern Europe could plummet by 60–80% by 2100 due to climate shifts, potentially rendering some areas untenable for agriculture.

Strikingly, Italy alone might account for two-thirds of those losses – around a €100 billion drop (about a −60% devaluation of Italian farmland) under high-end warming scenarios. While coastal resorts won’t turn into deserts overnight, these long-term predictions are a wake-up call. They hint that today’s “hot” property markets in Europe’s warmest regions could cool off in the future – literally and figuratively. 

What does this mean for those dreaming of la dolce vita in Italy? In short, climate resilience is becoming part of the equation. Savvy investors and would-be retirees are starting to ask not just about the nearest airport or café, but also “Will it be comfortable here in August 20 years from now?” Southern Italy’s summer allure has always been its sunshine – but if that sunshine regularly comes with 42 °C heatwaves, the appeal may fade. Climate-conscious expats and retirees are therefore wise to consider Italy’s more temperate corners for second homes or summer bases. After all, Italy is a country of microclimates and contrasts: when Rome is roasting, the Dolomites might be delightfully mild. 

2. North vs South Italy: Finding Cool Spots in The Summer

Italy’s geography offers escape valves for the heat. The towering Alps and Apennine mountains create high-altitude havens where summer is gentler. Even within a single region, altitude and breeze matter immensely – locals know that a hilltop village can be far cooler than the valley just below. In fact, Italians themselves often flee the cities in August for mountain towns or alpine lakes. The Italian Alps and Apennines have long provided respite; most people head to the Alps, where summer temperatures are cooler than in the rest of the country. It isn’t, however, all about altitude: some areas, such as Lake Garda – featuring stunning towns like Malcesine – as well as parts of the Ligurian coastline near Sanremo and even towns on the north coast of Sicily, benefit from substantially cooler weather conditions.

3. Finding Italy’s “Coolcation” Zones – Magic Towns Italy’s Analysis

Where in Italy can you enjoy sunny summer days without the extreme heat? This is the question Magic Towns Italy set out to answer with a special geographical analysis. By combining data on average summertime apparent temperature (a “feels like” measure factoring heat and humidity) and sunshine duration, we identified towns that hit the sweet spot: warm, pleasant summers but rarely uncomfortably hot, along with plenty of clear skies. In other words, places where you can relish an Italian summer comfortably – enjoying an aperitivo outdoors at 5 pm without baking in heat. 

The result is a map of Italy’s potential coolcation destinations. Broadly, these tend to cluster in the Alps of the far north, the Apennine mountains that run down Italy’s spine, and a few elevated pockets in the southern mainland and islands. High elevations and northern latitudes keep temperatures moderate, while sufficient sunshine ensures these areas still feel like summer (just not an inferno!). It’s in these temperate towns that climate-conscious travelers and second-home seekers can have the best of both worlds: Italian summer vibes minus the heatstroke. 

Below, we highlight 10 such towns – drawn from Magic Towns Italy’s dataset – that offer a glimpse of this trend. We’ve avoided places that are merely tiny hamlets in the middle of nowhere; instead, we’ve picked small towns and modest cities that combine cooler summer climate with culture, scenery, or accessibility. Each has an average daytime summer “feels-like” temperature well below the national norm, making them ideal for a cool summer holiday or home.

4. 10 Italian Towns for a Cooler, Happier Summer

The table below presents our ten picks, from north to south, along with their average apparent temperature in summer (June–August) and a brief note on what makes each place special. These range from alpine resorts and spa towns to hilltop villages rich in history.

List of 10 Coolcation Destinations In Italy

(Temperatures are average daytime “feels like” values for June–August, based on Magic Towns Italy data.) 

As the table shows, Italy’s coolcations span the map. In the far north, Courmayeur and Bormio are classic mountain retreats where you might even need a light sweater at night – yet they’re anything but sleepy in summer. Courmayeur, a 17th-century Alpine village turned chic resort, sits under Mont Blanc and offers summer hiking with Mont Blanc’s glaciers in view. Bormio, nestled below the Stelvio Pass, lets you soak in outdoor hot springs even in July (the town’s thermal baths have attracted visitors since Roman times). Over in the Dolomitic Alps, Vipiteno (Sterzing) combines bracing mountain climate with fairy-tale charm – complete with a medieval clock tower and pastel-painted streets. It’s officially recognized as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”, and on a sunny 21 °C afternoon, its cafe-lined piazza is pure magic. 

Moving down the peninsula, altitude becomes the key. Abetone in Tuscany’s Apennines and Pescasseroli in Abruzzo’s Abruzzo-Lazio-Molise National Park are two highland gems. Abetone, straddling a mountain pass between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, is a ski resort in winter – meaning summer days rarely exceed the low 20s °C. It’s the kind of place Italians drive up to in August just to breathe the pine-scented air and picnic by a stream. Pescasseroli, for its part, is the heart of Italy’s first national park (established 1923). At 1,167 m elevation, it serves up idyllic 22 °C days perfect for hiking and wildlife-spotting (Abruzzo’s park is famous for its bears). No wonder it’s often dubbed the park’s “capital” – a hub for nature lovers seeking refuge from the heat. 

In Southern Italy, cooler havens exist – if you know where to look. Campobasso, the capital of Molise region, lies in hilly terrain that grants it far milder summers than the sultry coast. It may not be a tourist hotspot, but expats eyeing the south are increasingly drawn to such inland towns for a comfortable summer base (and bargain real estate). Meanwhile, some southern locales do combine cool climate with major attractions. Monte Sant’Angelo in Puglia is one example: perched high on Gargano Peninsula’s mountains, it stays refreshingly mild while beach towns below bake. This town boasts a UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary and a labyrinthine medieval quarter, offering cultural riches along with cooler temps. Over on the Amalfi Coast, Agerola has gained fame as the starting point of the “Path of the Gods” trail – and as a summer escape for Amalfi locals. At 600 m above sea level, Agerola enjoys fresh mountain breezes and lush farmland (it’s renowned for its fior di latte cheese), yet is just a short drive down to the sea. Waking up to 24 °C and mountain views in Agerola, then heading to the beach by midday, is a pretty sweet way to avoid August’s fury. 

The islands, too, have their cool corners. Sicily’s interior is generally hot, but elevation makes all the difference. Gangi, set over 1,000 m high in central Sicily, can honestly claim to have sweater weather some summer evenings. This storied village was the poster-child of Italy’s “€1 homes” program – over 100 crumbling houses were practically given away to foreigners willing to renovate. The result? An infusion of new life and businesses, as newcomers discovered the upside of Gangi’s location: panoramic views, traditional charm, and a far gentler summer climate than Sicily’s crowded coasts. And in Sardinia, known for its scorching summers, the mountain town of Fonni stands out. The highest town in Sardinia, Fonni even sees snow in winter. In July, when much of Sardinia is baking at 35 °C, Fonni lounges in the mid-20s – a rural retreat where you can enjoy folkloric festivals without breaking a sweat.

Climate Comfort – The New Factor in La Dolce Vita

From the Alps to the islands, these “coolcation” towns illustrate a broader point: climate comfort is becoming a key ingredient in choosing travel destinations and second homes. Italy will always be adored for its sun, but as global warming pushes that sun into extremes, a growing number of people are adapting their plans. Why not pick a town where you can enjoy Italy’s beauty and sleep comfortably at night without AC? Real estate trends hint that buyers are starting to factor this in – mountain and hilltown properties, once considered too isolated, are looking more attractive as summer bolt-holes. And local administrations are taking note: investing in those areas could pay off as they become summer sanctuaries for heat-weary Italians and foreigners alike. 

Of course, “cool” is relative – one person’s tolerable 30 °C is another’s unbearable. But the takeaway is that within Italy, options abound for those who prefer mild summers. Whether it’s a spa holiday in the Alps, a cultural tour of high-altitude shrines, or a retirement plan in a breezy hilltown, Italy’s cooler zones are stepping into the spotlight. In travel forums and property listings, you can already see the keywords popping up: “seeking a summer home above 500m elevation”, “looking north of Rome for milder summers”, and so on. The coolcation trend doesn’t mean everyone will abandon the Amalfi Coast for the Alps – but it does mean alternatives are gaining appeal. 

Ready to explore more? Magic Towns Italy has developed a the Town Explorer tool where you can compare towns by climate metrics, elevation, and more. Curious about which Tuscan village has the most summer breeze, or how Southern Italian towns rank by daytime comfort? Jump in and play with the data yourself. Our Town Explorer lets you filter and find places that suit your personal comfort zone – whether that’s a medieval borgo that stays below 25 °C in summer, or a lakeside town with cool nights. Climate might be changing, but with the right information, travellers and homebuyers can change with it – making smart choices to keep their cool in every sense. 

[Subscribers only] See The Full List of 900 “Coolcation” Towns in Italy

In the end, a “coolcation” in Italy doesn’t mean giving up gelato, sunsets, or lazing in a piazza – it just means picking the right piazza, perhaps at 700 meters above sea level, where the breeze still blows. So next time you map out a summer trip or house hunt in il Bel Paese, consider following the climate-conscious trail to Italy’s upland magic towns. You might find that la dolce vita feels even sweeter when there’s a touch of a chill in the evening air. 

Explore these towns and many more on the Magic Towns Italy website, where you can filter destinations by climate, sunshine, and other livability metrics. Plan your own Italian coolcation – your future self (sipping an Aperol Spritz in pleasant 23 °C weather) will thank you! 

Sources: Recent travel industry reports and climate data have informed this feature. European travel trends toward cooler destinations are documented by the European Travel Commission and travel media. Climate projections for Southern Europe and Italy’s land values come from European Environment Agency studies. Town climate data and rankings are from Magic Towns Italy’s 2025 analysis.