Borgo Egnazia – Puglia, Italy
Standing exotically on the Puglian coast, Borgo Egnazia is an exquisitely designed village that transports you into the realms of fantasy. Limestone turrets and bell towers, labyrinthine alleys and restaurants spilling out onto wide piazzas, evoke the charm and distinct character of this magical part of Italy. It’s owned and run by a family with a passion for all things local – the detail of which is found in the architecture, the food and the festivals that take place year round in the main square.
We love the sense of space and authenticity at Borgo – jasmine scented terraces, pergolas bursting with bougainvillea, prickly pears and rows of ancient olives against the bright stone and vast blue skies. This is a place for experiencing Italian life to the full, whether you explore the surrounding countryside and fishing villages, or embrace all that Borgo Egnazia has to offer within its walls and at its beach club. Most importantly, you’ll be looked after like never before.
At A Glance
Boutique Hotel
Why We Love It:
For how beautifully chic everything is. It is family friendly at its finest, with delicious food & wonderful kind Italian team.Style:
Contemporary Apulian chic.Location:
In Puglia the garden of Italy. On the sparkling Adriatic coast of Puglia.Rooms:
182 rooms, suites & villas.Swimming:
There are 3 outdoor pools (1 adult only & 1 for children) & 1 indoor pool at the spa. There is also a sandy beach (La Fonte) & a Beach Club where you can swim.Children:
Just try dragging them away after a few days here…Accessibility:
The Borgo Egnazia has good accessibility.Open From:
April – November.rooms
No detail has been left forgotten, and no comfort spared – every room, suite, cottage and villa is a luxurious haven. They are all built from lightly hued limestone, hung with posies of herbs and lavender and furnished with divinely comfortable beds and eight hundred thread count linen. In the main part of the village is La Corte, where each room has either a balcony, terrace or private garden, with Mediterranean views or out over olive groves and the Murge hills.
Super-king size beds (or twins), heavenly bathrooms made of stone and artisanal and traditional décor, make these rooms the perfect bolt hole. A few of the rooms and suites in La Corte can interconnect, as well as accommodate a cot for an infant.
Around the main piazza, is Il Borgo with rooms, suites and “casette” – little cottages, all elegantly designed and decorated in traditional pugliese style.
At the top end, the villas at Borgo Egnazia resemble mini palazzi. Sophisticatedly designed and furnished over three floors, with every comfort you could possibly wish for, they give guests complete privacy and come with their own “massaia” who’ll prepare your breakfast and look after the housekeeping. With ample living space, all the villas have three en suite bedrooms, sleeping between six and nine people, a Mediterranean garden full of herbs bougainvillea, roof top terrace and a pool. There’s even a little room that can be used as a fitness studio or for in-villa spa treatments. Villa guests also have the services of a local adviser who is on hand to help you with anything you need, or would like to book during your stay. Each villa also comes with a couple of bikes for you to use during your stay.
food
When you’re on the coast, surrounded by fertile pastures and have a team of innovative chefs with a passion for Italian food, the result can be nothing short of sublime. Fresh ingredients from small local producers, created into extraordinary cuisine, bursting with flavour can be found in all of Borgo Egnazia’s restaurants. From the Michelin starred Due Camini where the seasons are followed and traditional dishes are given a contemporary treatment in candle lit elegance, to the rustic charm of La Frasca, with its sunny terrace.
La Calce serves deliciously simple and elegant food in a stunning cloister like setting, and Mia Cucina is a family favourite for wood fired pizzas and relaxed dinners. Down on the water’s edge, you’ll find fresh seafood dishes at Cala Masciola beach club and restaurant – the perfect spot to while away an afternoon or two. And if you just want a little pool snack, then Capanno and Angoletto have a very tasty selection of treats – don’t miss the ice cream. In true Italian village life style, Egnazia puts on regular festivals in the piazza, with street stalls cooking to order, against a lively backdrop of musicians playing and dancing.
activities
You can come to Borgo Egnazia to relax and forget about everything, or you can spend your entire stay here indulging in every activity you can think of. Golfers will want to tee off on the eighteen hole championship golf course; gourmets will find it hard to choose from all the cookery courses and adrenalin junkies will head straight to the water sports centre. There are bikes for exploring the wider surrounds, and your local adviser will help plan itineraries taking in everything you want to see and do.
Don’t miss the Spa – from individual treatments to a whole package of therapies throughout your stay – you’ll feel totally renewed. Borgo has four pools, and a choice of beaches. One is pebbly and another has sand, whilst the beach club offers supremely comfortable cabanas for a day of doing nothing. Hopefully, you can fit everything in whilst you’re there.
family
It is no secret that Italians love children and at Borgo Egnazia, this is no exception. The casette and villas are perfectly set up for families, and there is a multitude of activities for all ages. The Trullalleri kids club caters for children between three and seven, with indoor and outdoor activities with a fun and qualified team. From creative workshops to exploring Borgo’s own farm, you can relax in the knowledge that your children will be having a ball.
Older children between eight and twelve have their very own Marinai teens club – where the team organise five-a-side football, arts & crafts workshops, go karting and pool games. There’s even a club for thirteen to sixteen year olds with the opportunity to learn to dive or take a cookery course. And for parents who’d like a night off, there’s a babysitting service.
sustainability
Sustainability is built into Borgo Egnazia. The construction process involved traditional building techniques aligned with sustainable architectural standards and environmentally-protective restrictions. This entirely involved ‘tufo’, a locally-sourced white stone designed to remain cool in summer and to be easily heated in winter, reducing energy costs. All furniture has been produced from recycled materials, whilst decorations are provided by staff from repurposed natural elements from the hotel’s grounds.
LED bulbs have replaced filaments, boilers feature thermal insulation, and air-conditioning systems are fitted with breakers to switch off when windows are left open. Water is recycled across the grounds, in irrigation systems and laundry rooms. In attempting to minimise single-use plastics, Borgo Egnazia uses a plastic-smart approach. In some instances, plastic has been phased out in favour of metal or ceramic alternatives. Wherever possible, materials are recycled. Across their restaurants, a zero-mile policy has been enforced upon ingredient sourcing, reducing the distance food travels before reaching your plate. Electric cars have generally replaced other vehicles, whilst cycling is also encouraged during your stay. Finally, Borgo Egnazia is deeply committed to its local community. Around ninety percent of staff are drawn from Puglia, fostering the growth of local, talented people.
Location
Puglia, Italy
In Puglia the garden of Italy. It is located midway between Brindisi & Bari airports (about a 45 minute drive either side) on the sparkling Adriatic coast of Puglia.
