Small tour of the regions
With its rather homogeneous relief, the region of Puglia benefits from an essentially Mediterranean climate. Temperatures are mild in winter and hot in summer. Over a large part of the region, annual averages oscillate between 16 and 17 °C, with some variations between Gargano and Salento. In winter, the average temperature is between 10 and 16 °C, the coldest month being January. Rainfall is infrequent and concentrated in late autumn and winter. The Adriatic Sea averages 24°C in August, while the Ionian coasts enjoy a degree or two warmer. In the Daunia, Gargano and Murge mountains, summers are a little cooler and in winter there can be snow and fog at night. It is on the Tavoliere that the temperature differences are the most marked: in summer it is scorching hot, with temperatures that can exceed 40°C, while in winter the temperatures sometimes plunge below zero. The other particularity of Puglia's climate is its inconstancy. The absence of a mountainous barrier gives freedom to the winds, which can cool the land as well as bring heat and humidity. This can have catastrophic consequences on agricultural production
Calabria is certainly the territory with the greatest climatic diversity. Over a hundred kilometres, one can go from one climate to another very quickly. Three main profiles can be identified: the Tyrrhenian area with a temperate climate, hot in summer and mild in winter; the mountainous area of theApennino Calabro with a cold continental climate, with snow on the peaks in winter and mild temperatures in summer, accompanied by stormy episodes; the Ionian area, the hottest and driest. This type of climate makes the region attractive, as it is possible to sunbathe in summer and ski in winter.
The climate of Basilicata is relatively similar to that of Calabria. It is continental in the mountains and Mediterranean on the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts. The inland area is the link between these two climates and, while it is quite hot in summer, from 300-400 metres above sea level, winters can be harsh and wet, with snowfall between November and March. The capital of Basilicata, Potenza, is one of the coldest cities in Italy: situated at an altitude of 819 metres, it has an average of 40 days of frost per year. The mercury falls well below zero in winter, with a record low of -12.2°C recorded in January 1968.
The ideal seasons to visit the south
This remains spring and autumn: you can enjoy the good weather without the summer heat. However, a stay on the coast can be considered at any time of the year: even in the middle of winter, the coastline is often sunny, with little rain and mild temperatures, although not enough to allow a swim. You will certainly see a few locals keeping up their tan in their swimsuits on the beach! It is, however, best to avoid the months of July and August as the coastline is crowded with holidaymakers, including many Italians, who also take their holidays in August, especially around Assumption. On the coast, the late season offers beautiful sunny days, and swimming is still possible beyond mid-October. In the mountainous regions of Calabria and Basilicata, late spring and early autumn are the best times of the year to discover these territories and to go hiking; powder lovers will find their happiness in winter.
