The days have already started to get shorter, but in a few days the time on the clock will change as well. On the night between Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, Rome will switch from daylight saving time to standard time: you’ll gain an extra hour of sleep, which you can use, perhaps, for a morning without an alarm clock or to enjoy a longer breakfast on an autumn Sunday.
What time should you set your clocks back in Rome?
The key moment to remember is the night between Saturday and Sunday. At 3:00 a.m. on October 25, clocks will be set back to 2:00 a.m.: the hour between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. will be experienced twice, and the night will have sixty extra minutes. Smartphones and digital devices usually update automatically; for alarm clocks and analog watches, simply set the time back before going to sleep.
With standard time, the days seem to change their rhythm
Changing the clock hands neither adds nor subtracts natural light, but shifts its timing on the clock face. The sun will rise and set one hour earlier according to official time: mornings will be brighter, while in the afternoon, darkness will fall sooner. In Rome, this means that the first trips of the day can take place with more light, while walks in the parks, outings in the city center, and evening returns home will occur closer to sunset.
Those who like to get out early will be able to enjoy a little more daylight in the morning. For those who come home late or exercise outdoors after work, however, the change will be most noticeable in the late afternoon: fall will continue to shorten the days, and indoor activities will once again become more appealing.
Will daylight saving time be abolished?
Not yet. The European Union has discussed the possibility of doing away with seasonal time changes, but there is no consensus on ending the current system. For now, therefore, Italy will continue to change the clocks twice a year: after the October change, the clocks will be set forward again on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
