Borgo Egnazia: The Resort That Put Puglia on the Luxury Travel Map

| Mon, 02/19/2024 - 06:00

Bar del Portico at Borgo Egnazia

Ed.: The Inspired Stays series highlights hotels we love around Italy. Each property is independently reviewed by an Italy Magazine writer, who is generally hosted on a complimentary basis. Our contributors do not accept compensation or gifts in exchange for specific types of coverage. We only showcase properties we would genuinely recommend overall.

Why we love it

Modeled on a traditional Pugliese village, Borgo Egnazia combines all the bells and whistles of a luxury resort with a sense of place rooted in this idyllic region.

What to expect

Completely self-contained, this sprawling resort has a central piazza as its anchor, with villas and buildings containing the restaurants, spa, fitness center and boutique. There are four outdoor pools, a beach club, tennis courts, padel courts and a football field. It was the second member of the Leading Hotels of the World in Puglia and has won many awards over the years. It paved the way for other luxury hotels and resorts in Puglia, but it remains in a class of its own.

Background

Aldo Melpignano is the visionary hotelier behind the resort and the management brand Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana, which launched last year. His mother started the family on the hospitality path when she transformed their vacation home into Masseria San Domenico, but Aldo took it to the next level.

Location, location, location

About halfway between Bari and Brindisi, in Puglia’s bucolic Valle d’Itria, Borgo Egnazia is well positioned for day trips to charming towns like Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, Cisternino and Ostuni. In the summer, a shuttle takes guests to the beach club Cala Masciola.

Where you’ll sleep

*Villa at Borgo Egnazia / Photo: Giorgio Baroni*

Rooms are either in the main building, which houses the reception area, Il Porticato restaurant and bar, and the Michelin-starred Due Camini, or in a series of villas surrounding the piazza in the borgo, so to speak. They range from snug double rooms to standalone villas that can house up to 14 guests. All are swathed in white linen and decorated in a style that feels rustic yet perfectly stage-managed, like staying in a quaint farmhouse with mod-cons like air conditioning and minibars.

Dining & drinks

With seven restaurants and three bars, you’re spoiled for choice. Due Camini is the standout, with gourmet tasting menus that make regional products and recipes sing. My dinner there ended with dessert eaten standing at the chef’s counter in the kitchen. La Frasca was my favorite spot for breakfast, with an ample buffet of local specialties, both sweet and savory. Il Porticato is ideal for a light lunch of Pugliese classics like panzerotti, salumi, burrata, salads and pasta.

Service notes

This property is a well-oiled machine, service-wise. Staff are trained to be efficient but also genuinely warm and welcoming.

Spa time

Vair Spa at Borgo Egnazia — *Vair spa at Borgo Egnazia*

You’ll definitely want to block off a couple of hours to spend at the Vair spa. The Roman Baths are a highlight and the massages and facials use organic products developed by N&B Natural Is Better with local ingredients like almond, olive and caper oils.

Family perks

Little ones can learn to make pasta during cooking classes at the kids club, ride bikes in the countryside, swim in the pool or at the beach, and play with farm animals at the Fattoria di Maria. There are even treatments specially designed for kids at Vair spa.

You should know...

From April through October, the piazza gets activated with “Feste” like a Cherry Festival and other events full of food, live music, and dancing the tarantella. But they also want guests to get out and explore Puglia — and will happily arrange tours of olive oil mills, wineries and other experiences.