Why go?
For a candlelit Puglian fever dream with endlessly photogenic backgrounds, fresh Italian cuisine, and an army of staff catering to honeymooners’ every whim (as well as those of any kids in tow). Borgo Egnazia is one of those film set-worthy honeymoon spots that will elicit a sigh at every turn.
Honeymoon style
As well as a knockout stay for couples seeking five-star service in an exquisite setting, the outstanding family facilities (and innate Italian way with children) make Borgo Egnazia especially magical for those honeymooning with a baby or young child.
Set the Scene
It’s hard to believe, as you pull up at its soaring stone arches, that this seemingly ancient Puglian village was in fact built from the ground up just over a decade ago, inspired by the nearby Roman settlement from which it takes its name. That fact becomes even more mind-boggling inside, wandering around the maze of paved alleyways, the piazza, and past stone houses built in step with traditional Puglian architecture. Amid all the creamy hues and natural stone rooms, there’s enough to explore that guests have to really peel themselves away to soak in the antiquity and authentic rhythms of this part of rural southern Italy.
The entire ‘village’ is constructed from reclaimed local tufa, a buttermilk-shaded stone that lifts to a golden glow in the sunlight. Interiors here are a masterclass in quiet luxury, where deft architecture and materials need little dressing but elegantly speak for themselves. Every space reveals a new Instagrammable background: bougainvillaea trails across Moorish-style arches; bicycles are propped up next to wagons of fruit and vegetables; the attention-to-detail is so fastidious that even the cacti have been shaved of their spikes, one of dozens of parent-pleasing details.
The main part of the hotel, La Corte, is modelled on a traditional Puglian masseria (farmhouse), where an artfully arranged display of antique farming tools surround the faux olive tree in the candlelit atrium. Two of the hotel’s four swimming pools can be found in La Corte; the other two child-friendly pools are located in the Il Borgo section, where families are afforded more space in apartments and split-level cassette (mini houses, which come with kitchenettes). The outskirts are dotted with 28 private villas for those looking to balance villa-style seclusion with five-star hotel service.
On arrival, guests are allocated a local adviser to sort restaurant reservations and excursions. Their blend of warmth and professionalism is present across the entire team at Borgo Egnazia.
Rooms
The lavishly restrained Puglian fairytale continues via billowing linen drapes, overstuffed cushions and golden limestone bathrooms. Beds are almost comically large and just as comfortable, complimentary minibars are filled with fresh juices, and guests are welcomed with locally made snacks and reusable aluminium water bottles. All rooms have balconies or terraces; some overlook the pool or golf course. In the family-friendly Il Borgo rooms, fragrant greenery spills over patio walls, providing an enchanting place to enjoy a glass of red (particularly for families, while their little ones sleep).
Food and Drink
Seven restaurants include a poolside pizzeria and traditional Apulian trattoria, La Frasca, plus an all-day brasserie, a vegetarian restaurant and, finally the fine-dining spot – so options span the hearty, home-spun plate of orecchiette to the Michelin-starred tasting menu. The hotel’s private beach club, Cala Masciola, serves fresh seafood, while a seasonal al fresco restaurant offers whatever the chef has plucked from the kitchen garden. Every fortnight, Borgo Egnazia stages a festival in its piazza, complete with live cooking stations, entertainment and free-flowing wine.
As the sun begins its descent, pull up a stool at the inviting stone bar Bar del Portico in La Corte, or tuck yourselves away in one of many romantic candlelit nooks. At breakfast, families can cause happy chaos over chocolate pancakes and a temptation-filled buffet at La Frasca, or couples can enjoy a more peaceful start to the day at La Corte. Make it a mission to seek out the gelateria hidden in the piazza – possibly the world’s chicest ice-cream shop.
The Story
Borgo Egnazia is the brainchild of architect Pino Brescia, whose fantasy took four years to construct. Beloved by celebrities and well-heeled families alike, the small matter of hosting Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s wedding in 2012 helped put it – and this part of Puglia – on the map.
Family-Friendly
Exceptionally. Little ones can career happily between two shallow pools and an outdoor playground, a children’s menu is served at every restaurant (high chairs, bibs and cutlery are provided), and there’s a kids’ club, tennis courts and a games room for older children. The on-site bicycle rental service also offers tiny bikes and trikes: perfect for a trip to the kids’ farm, where chickens, ducks, goats, sheep and a horse and donkey eagerly greet carrot-wielding little guests.
Spa
Voted Italy’s best hotel spa at the 2023 World Spa Awards, Vair Spa is a candlelit subterranean idyll presided over by staff clad in Grecian robes. Honeymooners can spend an hour submerging themselves in Roman-inspired thermal baths, before retreating to the couple’s treatment cabin for a facial or massage, many of which use locally-sourced ingredients and holistic techniques. Opt for the Timo facial to prolong that newly-married glow. There’s also an expansive gym, complete with an outdoor training area.
Eco-Friendly
Absolutely. The resort carries a minimum of single-use plastic – guests are encouraged to use their refillable water bottles, and rooms come with separate recycling bins for glass and cardboard. In winter, fireplaces are fuelled by homegrown timbers, and plans are in place to convert all organic waste into fertiliser for the hotel’s acres of olive groves. Local raw materials are used wherever possible, and aromatic herbs, fruit, vegetables and olives are all grown onsite (and duly flung into the kitchens as spanking-fresh ingredients for the chefs).
Location
Set just outside the fishing village of Savelletri in eastern Puglia, Borgo Egnazia’s private golf course is all that separates the hotel from the sea – guests can hire bikes for the 10-minute cycle, or take a free transfer to the beach club, where loungers line the rocky promontory.
What this part of Puglia lacks in sandy beaches (those can be found on the southwest coast), it makes up for in sun-dappled day trips. The trullo-filled Valle d’Itria, including the towns of Locorotondo, Martina Franca and Alberobello, are within a 30-minute drive, and both the renaissance beauty of Lecce and the ‘white city’, Ostuni make for first-rate daytripping. The hotel can organise outings to any of these places, as well as set up insider excursions, such as olive-oil tasting at a nearby masseria. Borgo Egnazia is an hour’s drive from Bari airport, and 45 minutes from Brindisi airport.
Double rooms in La Corte from £375 per night, including breakfast.
For more details go to: borgoegnazia.com
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