Mediterranean climate (Spain, southern France, Italy, Greece, etc.) is exactly like that of California. Or, with an Australian example, like Adelaide's (that's what Wikipedia says
). Winter is less cold. But there are some exceptions:
Due to the altitude of the inner plateu, the climate in central Spain is like that of the non-Mediterranean Western Europe. So winter can be very cold. Last year, I took this photo at the frozen gardens beside Madrid's frozen Royal Palace with my frozen hands:
In northern Italy (e.g. Milan) there are very cold winters too, and snowfalls are common there.