Though the climate of Puglia, Italy, is mostly dry, you may wonder what you can do if you are caught by rain during your holiday in Puglia.
Travelling to Puglia from September to June means enjoying this gorgeous authentic Italian region without tourist crowds. Far from the noise and frenzy of July and August, Puglia reserves its best for the travellers: tastier food, gentler service, empty shops and better rates.
Back to the characteristic tranquil pace of the region, visitor can really live like a local, tasting the warm and discreet welcome of the Puglian people. Are you ready to discover our top five things to do when it rains in Puglia? Read our tips here!
1 – Visit The Museum ‘Sigismondo Castromediano’ in Lecce
Located in the sumptuous city of Lecce, the temple of Puglia’s luxurious baroque, it is the most antique museum in Puglia. It was founded in 1868 by Duke Sigismondo Castromediano, a renowned archaeologist of the 19th century.
Once inside (you may enter on the side entrance), you take a walk in history: from the Greek origins of Puglia to the Hellenistic period – with hundreds of ceramics from the ancient civilizations of Apuli and Messapi and Greek-style vases – from the Roman time – with Roman marbles and statues of the Imperial age coming from the amphitheatre located just amid the city centre – until the Middle Ages and present times.
Among the museum’s treasures, there are also remarkable paintings dating back from the 13th till 20th century, bronzes and silvers and the reconstruction of prehistoric Grotta dei Cervi of Porto Badisco – the largest and most important set of paintings from the European Neolithic and a must see when on holiday to Puglia.
The collection of the Castromediano Museum is so impressive, the space so well designed and pleasantly airy that we suggest it among things to do in Puglia when it rains, but it is worth a visit even when the sun is shining. The visit takes about two hours and the entrance is free.
Photo: courtesy of http://eneaportal.unile.it
2) Discover Grotte di Castellana In Bari Area
Among our listing of attractions of Puglia to be visited when it rains, we enthusiastically suggest Castellana Caves, near the city of Bari. Righteously considered one of the most stunning natural wonders of Puglia, Thanks to their amazing beauty and breath-taking colorful sceneries, the caves Grotte di Castellana attract tourists from all over the world.
Just put on your walking shoes and prepare for a stroll that takes about fifty minutes for the short itinerary and two hours for the longer one. The semi flat path goes from the surface to minus 76 meters, with a stable temperature of about 20 degrees and a high humidity level.
You will be astonished to know that Grotte di Castellana began to form 90 million years ago, though they were first discovered in 1938 by the speleologist, Franco Anelli. Enjoy this outstanding karst cave system, made of marvellous stalactites, stalagmites, fossils, canyons and caves of different shapes and colours.
Castellana Caves is a natural wonder of the region which is well worth a visit during your Puglia holidays, whether or not it is raining.
Photo: courtesy of http://www.grottedicastellana.it/
3) Roll Up Your Sleeves For A Puglian Cookery Class
Do you want to completely change the mood of your day? Why not try a funny and highly enjoyable Puglian Cookery Class! This is a great opportunity to learn how to make a complete menu with typical recipes of Puglia from a friendly local chef, who is also a professional sommelier.
The cooking class begins from guided shopping in the local covered market, where you will buy all the ingredients needed. And then you will proceed to the wine shop, where you will choose the best wines to pair with the meals you are going to cook.
In the kitchen, have fun preparing handmade pasta, cooking fish or meat, and creating Puglian dessert under the chef’s instructions. And finally, enjoy your lunch or dinner, savouring your creations paired with good wines of Puglia. Choosing a Puglian cooking class when on holiday in Puglia, you won’t even notice that it is raining outside, thanks to the warm atmosphere inside the school!
4) Have A Blissful Day In A Spa
If raining makes you feel like you want to relax, or worse, it makes you moody, we have a remedy for you! When it rains in Puglia, a day in a spa will surely make your day.
Imagine pampering yourself with luxury spa treatments, sipping herbal tea and listening to a relaxing music. Indulge into pleasant sensations of Turkish sauna and a sensual scrubbing with Moroccan black soap savonage. Unwind in the hydro massage pool, and relax with after body treatments.
Do you feel better now?
5) Enjoy a Buffalo Mozzarella Workshop
A rainy day in Puglia is the perfect excuse to go into more depth of one of the most renowned foods of the region: mozzarella cheese, the king of the Italian cuisine.
Take the chance to immerse in the true essence of Puglia, attending a mozzarella demonstration in an authentic masseria (farmhouse).
In learning how to prepare mozzarella, you will discover the ancient cheese making techniques of the Puglia. After this exciting cheese workshop, you will sample several types of cheese produced in this huge farmhouse of Puglia.
So, this is our top five activities to do in Puglia when it rains. Most of these suggestions include child-friendly things to do in Puglia when bad weather occurs. Of course, you don’t have to wait for rain in order to try the abovementioned experiences. But if it rains in Puglia, they will surely make your day more joyful and pleasant.