What's The Weather Like In Puglia In March
March is a month of transition in Puglia, a region that is more commonly known in English as Apulia and which has weather similar to Greece. It marks the end of the (mild) winter and the beginning of the spring season that sees the weather, which wasn't bad by any means, improve greatly. Spring is characterised by increasing temperatures, day length and sunshine hours per day, and March is the first month to show it.
Temperature
Let's start with the temperatures. The average daily temperature in March is 11°C, which is a two-degree increase since the winter months of January and February. In April, that temperature will be three degrees higher and it will continue to rise until its maximum of 24°C is reached in July. The average afternoon temperature is 15°C; the average nighttime temperature 7°C two temperatures that are also two degrees higher than the previous months. In the course of March, those averages rise significantly. The average high temperature increases from 13°C to 17°C, while the average low temperature climbs from 6°C to 8°C.
Sunshine Hours
Day length increases from 11.17 hours of daylight in the beginning of the month to 12.39 daylight hours at the end. This 1.22-hour increase implies a day-to-day increase of no fewer than 2.7 minutes. These longer days, of course, also affect the number of potential sunshine hours per day. March has 5 hours of sunshine each day on average, one hour more than the winter months.
Cloud cover is the only weather factor that remains essentially constant throughout March. It ranges around 55%, which means that the sky in Puglia is partly cloudy in general.
Rain
A decrease is observed in the total amount of rainfall. Now, the total rainfall accumulation in the course of the month is 50mm. There are 8 days with precipitation. The chance that precipitation occurs drops very slightly in March, from 40% in the beginning to 37% at the end of the month. Moderate rain is what you should expect in terms of precipitation it occurs on 56% of the days with rainfall. Light rain is recorded on only 19% of those days. Other possibly types of precipitation, although quite unlikely, are thunderstorms and drizzle.
Puglia Hotels In March
Hotel Barion
When visiting Bari in March, consider booking a room at the excellent Hotel Barion, a four-star accommodation in the heart of the city. This modern hotel features many facilities and services, including a car park, restaurant and bar, fitness centre, tours and activities, and conference rooms. It's a great place because of its affordability and great location.
The Nicolaus Hotel
Another four-star hotel in Bari is The Nicolaus Hotel. Featuring two restaurants, a bar, a wellness centre, 174 rooms, and an area with no fewer than 14 meeting rooms, exhibitions spaces and conference rooms, this is a superbly well-equipped hotel. It's ideal for business travellers, while regular tourists will find the facilities quite impressive as well. This is definitely a place worth looking into.
Riva Del Sole Hotel
The Riva del Sole Hotel is situated in Giovinazzo, a coastal town just to the north of Bari. This four-star accommodation offers both hotel rooms and apartment-style flats. It's set right at the beach and boasts two swimming pools, a private church (popular for weddings), a restaurant serving Apulian and Italian cuisine, and a garden.
Puglia Beaches For March
The beaches of Gallipoli are said to be amongst the most stunning and scenic beaches in Italy and are facing west off the mainland. The largest and most famous of them is Baia Verde. Gallipoli is located at the southern part of Puglia and is several kilometres long and is home to beaches including Lido Conchiglie which is about 7 km north of Gallipoli.
Padula Bianca
Padula Bianca is another beach found southeast of Lido Conchiglie and is roughly 4 km long. Padula Bianca is a beautiful destination due to the golden sands and sand dunes that cover the beach. It's the perfect location to relax, surrounded by crystal clear water which is perfect for you to cool off from the sun.
Rivabella Beach
Rivabella beach is again one of the other well known beaches in the area. The beach has a beautifully clear sea with darker coloured sand and plenty of space to sunbathe and enjoy the gorgeous weather. It is also neighboured to a water park 'Parco Acquatico Splash' which makes a great day out for the family and kids.
Grotta Smeralda
Grotta Smeralda, beach of Spiaggia Terme and Spiaggia di Sfinale beach are other well known beaches that make up Puglia's mediterranean coastline. All of these beaches are similar in many ways such as the golden sands, beautiful waters and stunning scenery which is what makes them ideal locations for a day of ultimate relaxation.
Bars And Restaurant
Bari is one of the region's major highlights and when you're staying in the city, visiting a couple of local restaurants and sampling traditional Apulian cuisine is a nice addition to your trip.
Chez Jo Ristorante Pizzeria is a rustic, welcoming and cosy pizza restaurant in the heart of Bari. The restaurant doesn't serve only pizzas, but also other regional specialties, such as Bari focaccia, orecchiette with broccoli, baked pasta with meatballs and delicious seafood appetisers.
A quite interesting restaurant in Bari is Terranima. Housed in an early 20th-century court, this restaurant serves delicious food and has an extensive wine list. It also organises cooking lessons and food education classes for children, to teach them about the importance of healthy food.
Another recommended restaurant in the city is La Bul Ristorante. Located near Corso Vittorio Emanuele, this locally owned restaurant features a seasonal menuts dishes are homemade with local ingredients and produce.
Things To Do In Puglia in March
March's average temperature of 11°C doesn't invite visitors to jump into the Adriatic or Ionian Seas for a refreshing swim. This is the time of year to do other things instead. Exploring the natural landscapes, for example.
Foggia, the northernmost area in Puglia, is particularly great for that. Also known as Daunia, this area comprises the peninsula of Gargano, which is sometimes referred to as the "spur of Italy's boot." This is arguably the most spectacular natural area in Puglia, made up of the coves and beaches of the Adriatic coast, Gargano National Park and Foresta Umbra. The Tavoliere, incidentally the largest plain in southern Italy, with its waving fields of grain is a great place for cycling and horseback riding, while the Dauni Mountains offer great hiking opportunities.
Arguably the most popular destination in Foggia is the Tremiti Islands. Part of Gargano National Park, this archipelago is made up of lush Mediterranean vegetation, karst rock formations and caves and gorges, and surrounded by crystal-clear water. This is a marvellous year-round destination for hiking, wildlife watching and photography. In summer, diving and swimming are popular as well.
