Puglia rewards the unhurried traveller in every season, but each has its own character. Knowing what you are looking for (quiet, warmth, harvest, light) makes all the difference to when you come.
Spring (April–June)
Perhaps the loveliest moment of all. The valley is green, the wildflowers are out, the days are warm and the crowds have not yet arrived. Evenings still ask for a light jacket. This is the season for cycling, for the gardens, for long walks between the towns.
Summer (July–August)
High, golden and lively. The sea is at its best and the festivals, Martina Franca’s celebrated opera festival among them, fill the evenings. Days are hot; the trick, as the locals know, is to do little until the light softens.
Autumn (September–October)
Our quiet favourite. The heat eases, the olive and grape harvests begin, and the kitchens come alive. The light turns amber and the valley feels like it belongs to you again.
Whenever you come, come slowly. Puglia is not a place to be rushed through.