Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the best times to visit. Temperatures are mild, the Aniene valley is green, and the rose garden at Sacro Speco is at its best in May and June. Summer weekends bring day-trippers from Rome and can feel crowded around the monasteries; weekday visits are significantly quieter even in July.
Winter is cold and the mountains may have snow above 1,000 metres, but the town and monasteries remain open and are virtually tourist-free. The light on the cliff face at Sacro Speco in low winter sun is remarkable.
The feast of Saint Benedict (11 July) is celebrated with a procession and mass at Santa Scolastica that draws pilgrims from across Italy.