Is April too early for Calabria/Puglia trip?

[Kportgrl]

This past year we got stung by hoards of tourists during our mid-May trip to Positano, Tuscany and Cinque Terre. We thought about trying the quieter ?Puglia/Calabria (and maybe Sicily) areas for 3 weeks in April of 2018. But we have since read that many towns there haven't really "woken" up yet since it is pre-Beach season. We aren't interested in lying on the Beach and are fine with temperatures in the 18-21 degree range. Still, we don't want to go too early, if there is such a thing. Any feedback is much appreciated.

 

[Alpinista]

The only thing I would be concerned about is Easter (April 1) and the Monday traffic following Easter. We normally are in Tuscany during our trips, but made one circuit of Puglia (June) a few years ago and loved everything about the region. The variations in food, culture, dialect, and scenery made the visit to Puglia akin to stepping into a different country.

 

[BryanS]

If you aren't interested in sitting on the beach them April is a great time to be in the South. April 1 is Easter so be aware of that and associated festivals and closings. Depending on where you plan to go you may still run into crowds, Italy has become popular year round.

 

[Kportgrl]

Thanks so much. Will likely wait until a few days after Easter to arrive. Was just worried that maybe we over-corrected because the areas we chose were less popular than Tuscany and Cinque Terre. I'm very excited to explore them though. I guess the year round popularity is a good sign of Italy's enduring allure.

 

[Pauline]

We visited Sicily in April, before Easter, and had a great time. Everything was open. And another year we were in Puglia in April. Everything was open.