Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal: comfortable temperatures, the site not overwhelmed by visitors, and the surrounding Sicilian countryside at its most appealing. Summer is hot (35–40°C) and the Villa Romana can be crowded in July and August with both domestic Italian tourists and international visitors.
The Palio dei Normanni, held in mid-August, is a medieval pageant commemorating the Norman conquest of the town in 1061. The main event is a jousting tournament held in the Piazza Garibaldi, with participants in elaborate medieval costume. It is one of Sicily's better-organized historical reenactments and worth timing a visit around if you happen to be in Sicily in August.