Southern Italy is as sunny as it gets, where whitewashed hilltowns reflect the light which twinkles from the sparkling emerald sea. Puglia’s flavoursome cucina povera can be enjoyed in tumbledown countryside inns overlooking the unique conical stone huts known as trulli, while historians can wallow in years of ancient history in towns like Lecce, often nicknamed the ‘Florence of the south’ due to its abundance of Baroque architecture.
When to travel
During the summer thousands of Italian holidaymakers descend on Puglia’s unspoilt beaches. The ‘heel’ of Italy stays warm long into autumn, when the crowds thin and the heat becomes more bearable. For sightseeing you can visit its ancient towns for much of the year; for beaches you’ll want to time your trip for May-September.
WEATHER: Puglia is blessed with some of Italy’s best weather, with very hot summers and mild winters; the shoulder season is best for sightseeing.
| Month | Temp(C) |
Sun(hrs) |
Rain(mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
Jan |
9 | 4 | 62 |
Feb |
9 | 4 | 57 |
Mar |
11 | 5 | 50 |
Apr |
14 | 7 | 69 |
May |
18 | 8 | 35 |
Jun |
22 | 9 | 14 |
Jul |
24 | 10 | 24 |
Aug |
24 | 9 | 30 |
Sep |
21 | 8 | 50 |
Oct |
17 | 6 | 66 |
Nov |
13 | 4 | 99 |
Dec |
10 | 3 | 92 |