What to wear in Rome in summer — an honest packing list

Rome in high summer is not a beach holiday. You walk a lot, mostly over cobblestones, often without shade, and in between you stand in churches that have a dress code. That changes the packing list.

The three things people underestimate

• Shoulders and knees. St Peter's and many of the larger churches won't let anyone in with bare shoulders. A loosely cut T-shirt solves the problem; a strappy top doesn't.
• The ground. Sampietrini, Rome's cobblestones, are round and uneven. You feel thin soles after two hours.
• The heat stands still. Between the buildings the air barely moves. Loose clothing keeps you cooler than tight clothing.

The list

• Three to four T-shirts made of pure cotton, on the loose side
• One pair of long, light trousers — more comfortable than shorts in the evening and in churches
• Broken-in shoes with proper soles, not new ones
• A cap. The shade is rarely where you happen to be standing.
• A water bottle. The nasoni, the small drinking fountains, are everywhere and deliver cold water for free.

Why cotton and not performance fabric

Performance shirts are made for movement that creates airflow. Strolling through a city creates no airflow. Then polyester smells after two hours; cotton doesn't. A firmer cotton shirt also drapes more softly and clings less to the skin than thin jersey.

In the evening

Rome dresses up in the evening, but not stiffly. A clean shirt, long trousers, decent shoes — that gets you in anywhere you can enter without a reservation.

Our Roma Pomegranate T-shirt in 100% combed cotton (220 g/m²) goes well with this, and if you want to see the rest of the range, you'll find it in the Riviera category.