Tourist high-season in Italy is usually in the spring and summer, when the country is drenched in sun and packed with seasonal festivals and events. January is typically ski season for travelers to Italy's north but -- even in the dead of winter -- heading south guarantees warm temperatures and a mild Mediterranean climate year-round. You'll miss Italy's scorching summer and the countryside in bloom in spring, but you're also likely to find cheaper off-season pricing and be able to better appreciate Italy with fewer tourists around.

Off the southern coast of Italy, the Mediterranean island of Sicily has some of the country's warmest weather year-round. Even winter lows in January seldom dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Without the heavy heat of summer, January can be a good time to enjoy outdoor activities in Sicily, such as climbing Mount Etna -- the highest volcano in Europe -- or walking through the Greek ruins of Agrigento.