Series of annual and seasonal temperature and precipitation representing, respectively, northern and southern Italy are compared for trend in the period 1865–1996. Temperature and precipitation trends are almost always apposite except for the northern winter where they have a correlated behaviour till about 1980. The result is that the Italian climate is becoming warmer and drier. Monthly mean values of daily minimum and maximum temperature and of daily temperature range (DTR) have a positive trend. In particular the DTR reaches its maximum values in about 1945 then it decreases increasing suddenly in the last ten years.