🇧🇪 Brussels vs 🇮🇹 Rome

Brussels sits in a broad valley carved by the Senne river, with the city climbing from the low-lying lower town (~15m elevation) to the upper town and surrounding plateaus (~100m). This topographic split creates distinct microclimates: the lower town is prone to fog, temperature inversions, and trapped humidity, while the higher southeastern districts enjoy better ventilation and slightly cooler summers. The city's extensive parks and forested edges — particularly the Sonian Forest to the southeast — provide significant cooling corridors, but the dense 19th-century urban core generates a pronounced heat island effect.

Mediterranean — hot dry summers, mild wet winters, abundant sunshine

Rome's climate is quintessentially Mediterranean. Summers are hot and dry with intense sun. Winters are mild and occasionally rainy. Spring and fall are extraordinary for sightseeing.