Low season in Puglia

During the low season, Apulia offers many activities, events, and attractions to organize a vacation focused on discovery. Moreover, it is renowned for its regional culinary tradition, one of the most respected in Italy.

The climate is mild above 24 °C in the months of May, September, and October. You can swim starting from May when the temperature of the seawater exceeds 20°C. In August, it reaches 26°C. Swimming becomes difficult only towards the second half of October.

Apulia is a land rich in folk traditions. Being, at one time, the obligatory passage of the Crusaders heading to the Holy Land, it always has a touch of religiosity mixed with paganism and magic, typical of peasant culture, in every celebration.

During the low season, Puglia offers many activities, events and attractions to organize a holiday focused on discovery. Moreover, it is known for a regional culinary tradition that is among the most respected in Italy.

The climate is mild above 24 °C in the months of May, September and October. Swimming is possible starting from May when the sea water temperature exceeds 20°C. In August, it reaches 26°C. Swimming becomes difficult only towards the second half of October.

Puglia is a land rich in folk traditions. Being, in the past, the obligatory passage of the Crusaders headed to the Holy Land, it always shows a touch of religiosity mixed with paganism and magic in each of its celebrations, typical of peasant culture.

Among the most notable events, it is obligatory to mention the Carnevale di Putignano, the longest in Italy. It boasts ancient origins and consists of popular processions, colorful masks, parades of thematic floats, and playful dialectal stornelli. It attracts many tourists from all over Europe every year and is suitable for all ages.

Where to stay? Abate Masseria & Resort (Noci), Relais Corte Altavilla (Conversano)

Another must-see event is definitely the annual procession of Fracchie di San Marco in Lamis on Good Friday. The fracchia is essentially a six-meter-long tree trunk with a central split, inside of which dry branches, scrub and wood chips are placed; it is held together by two sturdy iron hoops to form a torch in a maxi format. On Good Friday, the huge torch, loaded onto a cart, is lit to illuminate the street for the sacred procession that will escort the Sorrowful Madonna to the Collegiate Church, where the body of Christ is kept.

Where to stay? Hotel Il Porto (Mattinata Gargano)

Furthermore, Puglia offers many Easter celebrations in various cities and villages, such as Bari, Alberobello, Molfetta, and Taranto.

In Alberobello, the famous city of the Trulli, the entire city collaborates to stage the Passion of Christ, an event that attracts thousands of both religious and non-religious visitors. In the typical alleys of this magnificent town, over two hundred young actors, in two acts and scenarios, give voice to the Gospels. The first part takes place in Largo Indipendenza, on a stage about 100 meters long, and then climbs up the streets dotted with trulli, through the narrow alleys that squeeze around Christ passing by, to arrive at the place of crucifixion, the villa "Don Giacomo Donnaloja," in front of the Church of St. Anthony, the historical seat of the sacred representation.

Where to stay? Le Alcove (Alberobello), Abate Masseria & Resort (Noci), Nina Trulli Resort (Monopoli)

The Easter spent in Taranto is unforgettable. Holy Week is animated by ancient Catholic rites, which have been handed down unchanged for three centuries and still involve the soul of tourists and locals today. The rituals begin on Palm Sunday with an auction during which the brothers of the two city congregations win the honor of carrying the heavy statues in procession.

The most important moment is reached with the traditional processions of the Sorrowful (Holy Thursday) and Mysteries (Good Friday) traces of Spanish domination in southern Italy. The brothers parade in the so-called nazzicata, a very slow walk of fourteen hours, until dawn, with their heads covered by a hood, bare feet, dragging the statues of the Sorrowful Virgin and the Dead Christ. The religious procession parades through the crowd accompanied by a mournful and solemn march.

Where to stay? Masseria Bagnara (Lizzano)

In September, there are the Feast of Our Lady of Graces in Sanarica (Lecce) and the Sagra della Puccia in Minervino (Barletta-Andria-Trani) dedicated to the famous traditional sandwich made with pizza dough.

In October, the Feast of St. Francis is organized in several towns in Salento and the Sagra "della volia cazzata" in Martano (Lecce) dedicated to crushed olives. As an accompaniment, the “pizzica”, a traditional Puglian music played with tambourines, guitars, accordions and other instruments and danced with great skill by the locals.

Photo Credits
Easter in Taranto: Nikozar; Fracchie: Federico Sassi; Carnival: Allibito