Italy traditionally enjoys an Indian Summer in the days around St Martin's Day - but not this year.

According to popular legend, Italy traditionally enjoys a wave of unseasonably warm weather with a short "Indian summer" that coincides with St Martin's Day on 11 November.

Despite a mild start to the month, this year the tradition of balmy weather courtesy of the fourth-century saint is not expected to materialise.

In fact Italy will face a wave of cold weather this week, with heavy rain in Sicily, Sardinia and north-western regions and snow in Alpine areas, according to the latest meteorological forecasts.

Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours: who was San Martino?

Martin was born around the year 316, in Pannonia in modern-day Hungary, on the edge of the late Roman Empire. He grew up in Pavia, northern Italy, where his military tribune father was given land, according to Vatican News.

Although his parents were pagan, Martin was interested in Christianity and at the of age 12 spoke of embracing the life on an ascetic in the desert.

However, following the arrival of an imperial edict, Martin was forced to enlist as a soldier in the Roman army and was stationed in the territory of Gaul.

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According to the popular legend, some time around the year 335 Martin, now an imperial guard, was leaving the French city of Tours on horseback when he met a pauper dressed in rags.

Martin took off his woollen cloak and cut it, sharing one half with the poor man.

With that, the sun came out and warmed up the chilly days of mid-November, a tradition that is marked in Italy to this day.

The night after his good deed, Jesus appeared to Martin in a dream wearing the cloak, prompting the young soldier to become baptised.

Martin served in the Roman army for another 20 years before dedicating his life to prayer and to helping the poor and sick in France. He became bishop of Tours in 371 and died in 397.

Martin is the patron saint to many groups - both animals and people - including: cavalry soldiers, horses, geese, tailors, beggars, reformed alcoholics and the Swiss Guards.