What's The Weather Like In Puglia In October
October marks the beginning of autumn in Puglia, a beautiful region in Italy's far southeastern corner. Summer is officially over and the weather slowly makes its way toward the cooler and wetter winter season. The forests and hills in the region are nothing less than gorgeous this time of year, while the coastline still makes for a nice destination as well. There are several great towns to visit and the cuisine is exquisite all-year roundt's Italy, after all.
Rain/Storms
October is characterised by an increase in rainfall, although the region is still quite dry compared to other places in Europe this time of year. The total amount of rainfall is 66mm, which makes it the fourth wettest month of the year in Puglia. There are 8 days with rainfall. There are a few types of rainfall that you may experience when visiting southern Italy in autumn. Moderate rain is the most common one, occurring on 45% of the days with rainfall. Thunderstorms are observed on 28% of those days; light rain happens on 14% of the rainy days. The probability that rainfall occurs increases throughout the month. The beginning is the driest part with a 32% chance of rainfall. It gets slightly wetter toward the end, with a chance of 38%.
This increase in rainfall is linked to the cloudier skies. Cloud cover increases quite greatly in the course of the month, from 38% in the beginning to 52% at the end.
Sunshine Hours
October is also characterised by decreasing day length. October 1 is the longest day of the month and has 11.45 hours of daylight. October 31, the shortest day, has 10.26 daylight hours left. This is a day-to-day decrease of 2.5 minutes.
This all results in fewer daily sunshine hours. There are 6 hours of sunshine per day on average, a two-hour drop since September.
Temperature
Another thing that decreases in October is the temperature. The average temperature is 17°C, four degrees below the 21°C that was recorded the previous month. The weather is still enjoyable, though. The afternoons see the mercury rise to 21°C on average, while the nights don't get cooler than 13°C.
Check out our weather forecast for Puglia if you are making plans to visit the region in the upcoming weeks.
Puglia Hotels For October
Hotel Degli Haethey
Otranto is one of the nicest coastal towns in southern Italy and a recommended destination, even in October. When looking for a place to stay, check out Hotel degli Haethey, a four-star hotel featuring all kinds of great facilities. There is day and evening entertainment for children, a music room, a piano bar, meeting spaces and wedding facilities, an outdoor swimming pool, and a beach only a few minutes' walk away.
Hotel Solara
Another wonderful place to stay is the three-star Hotel Solara, situated in the village of Conca Specchiulla and surrounded by gorgeous natural features such as coastal cliffs, pine forests and sand beaches. The hotel lies about 350 metres from the beach and has rooms equipped with a bathroom, a TV, a fridge and a private garden with a table and chairs.
Masseria Montelauro
A bit more upscale, the four-star Masseria Montelauro is an incredibly charming hotel housed in a former 19th-century farmhouse. It features a restaurant serving traditional regional dishes, an outdoor swimming pool with solarium, a well-equipped spa, beautiful gardens and 29 beautifully furnished rooms.
Puglia Beaches For October
With the sea water temperature averaging 20°C in October, swimming may still be possible this time of year.
Torre Guaceto
Situated just north along the coast of Brindisi, Torre Guaceto is one of Puglia's greatest beach destinations. Having been awarded 3 Sails of Legambiente, a prestigious status indicating the area's natural beauty, this protected marine and nature reserve is a marvellous place to immerse yourself in the Apulian nature.
There are private and public beaches, beautiful sand dunes, impressive sea cliffs and pine forests. Activities range from scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, sunbathing and swimming to mountain biking, hiking and wildlife watching.
Bars And Restaurants
L'Altro Baffo
Ristorante L'Altro Baffo in Otranto is set in the most beautiful of locations, just a few steps from the Aragon Castle. This family-run restaurant focuses on dishes prepared with locally grown produce and ingredients, its menu changing according to the seasons. The selection of wines features Apulian brands as well as Italian and international wines.
Hotel Albania
When staying at Hotel Albania in Otranto, you can enjoy a great meal and a couple of drinks in the panoramic rooftop restauranthe views of the Bay of Otranto are nothing less than spectacular. This is also a wonderful venue to sample local dishes and products.
Another recommended dining venue is Ristorante Il Cantico dei Cantici, an amazing fish and seafood restaurant in the very heart of old Otranto.
Things to Do In Puglia In October
Take advantage of the still-warm afternoons in October to visit the Riviera of Leuca and Otranto in the far south of the Puglia.
Town Of Leuca
The town of Leuca is set on a peninsula and is where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. This is effectively the southernmost point in Puglia, enclosed by Punta Meliso and Punta Ristola. Punta Meliso is home to an iconic lighthouse, which is 47 metres high and dominates the rocky coastlinet's one of the most significant lighthouses in all of Italy. The town of Leuca is home to several beautiful buildings, from a fortified basilica to Art Nouveau villas. In addition to this cultural heritage, the town and its surroundings are also popular because of the presence of grottoes, of which the Grotta del Diavolo, Porcinara and Grotta del Presepe are the most important.
Otranto
The other town mentioned, Otranto, is also a great coastal destination. This ancient town is set on a rock spur that juts out into the Adriatic Sea, its old city centre recognized as a "Culture of Peace Messenger Site" by UNESCO. Many attractions make this a visit-worthy town, including the Aragon Castle, the striking Cathedral and the wonderful Lungomare degli Eroi, or Heroes' Promenade. Just outside Otranto, you may want to visit the Bauxite quarry and the nearby emerald-green lake, and the lighthouse on Punta Palascia, which is where the first place to watch to sun rise in Italy.
