Major travel magazines in the U.S. agree: March is time for Italy

If you've been to a magazine rack or received your monthly subscriptions of the United States' leading consumer travel titles you'll likely feel a hankering for a touch of la dolce vita. if you can't pinpoint exactly why, it's because Afar, Travel + Leisure, and Conde Nast Traveler all have Italy on their March issue covers (below).

March and April are popular months for magazines to promote European travel, but it's rare to see all the big players push the same country in the same month. Afar's cover story is about Venice, T+L's is about Rome, and Conde Nast Traveler's uses a Tuscany home to illustrate a feature on villa rentals.

But unlike an A-list star seen walking an awards-show runway with the same outfit as her rival, the travel mags won't be found sniping about their contemporaries' similar choice. And readers don't lose out either -- they have the added benefit of being able to distinguish between Venice's canals, Rome's urban charms, and Tuscany's scenic landscapes.

Nancy Novogrod, Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure tells Skift, "As far as I'm concerned Rome is a perennial—a destination that offers singular returns in culture, dining, and spirit—any time of the year. However, March is a month when many travelers' thoughts turn to Italy, and to the sun-soaked pleasures of traveling in this world that is at once ancient and modern, with great hotels, cities and villages, beaches, resorts, and food."

Julia Cosgrove, VP and Editor-in-Chief of Afar was equally enthusiastic about the cover star. "This time of year, most people are in the midst of winter doldrums," Cosgrove told Skift. "Their spring travel is already planned, and it's time to start dreaming about and planning summer trips to Europe. For the breadth of experiences on offer --culinary, wine, hiking, cycling, art, archaeology -- Italy will always be a top destination for Americans."

Afar takes you to Venice

Travel + Leisure takes you to Rome

Conde Nast Traveler goes to Tuscany.