Apulia, or ‘Puglia’, makes up Italy’s most Southern and arguably most vibrant provinces that now demand attention for travellers and luxury holiday makers wishing to delve deeper in to the historically and agriculturally rich, geographical ‘boot’ shape of Southern Italy. In part one we focus upon the sublime holiday resort of Borgo Egnazia, a tailor-made complex built to invest much needed discerning tourism in to a previously overlooked, beautiful area of Southern Europe. The Brindisi and Bari provinces are fast becoming an exclusive destination for unique, tailor-made holidays.
Whether you decide to stay in a stylistically Apulian, decadent and private luxury villa, a two-storey country home or even within the stylish hotel situated in the middle of the complex, your new Mediterranean roots at Borgo Egnazia are nourished to perfection, while providing the perfect base for all that wish for an Italian adventure. This guest post from Design Holidays introduces some nearby, culturally significant settlements to visit during your stay in Fasano, on the days where the promise of new discoveries entice you away from private beaches and the stunningly designed white-stoned poolside eateries and welcoming spa.
The Borgo Egnazia resort is situated in Savelletri di Fasano, a traditional, unspoiled fishing village. Scenes of old friends, groups of ladies sitting outside in the morning sun, embroidering traditional clothes within colourful billowing clothes lines are just a few steps away from the Adriatic coast. The village is home to unique buildings named ‘Trulli’, a unique dry-stone building style with conical rooftops, with vineyards and olive groves stretching inland as far as the eye might see.
1. MARTINA FRANCA
With the Borgo Egnazia resort just forty minutes away, a hire-car or even organised bus trips and train routes can assist the wanderers of Apulia to the municipality of Martina Franca. The town is a must-see for the Apulian journey of reconnaissance. The second largest settlement in the area, all travel guides and locals recommend visiting this startlingly ornate old town.
The name, Martina Franca, represents the town’s patron saint of St. Martin, and images of his legend are found on many of the town’s sacred chapels. The light stone and winding alleys and extravagant, ornate decoration makes Martina Franca an essential place to explore for the day and provides a wonderful photography spot to epitomise the wonderful local Italian style. Photographers unite in this ancient town centre where baroque culminations of historic buildings stand preserved, protected and proud.
2. LOCOROTANDO
Just 20 km from the Borgo Egnazia resort, and a short trip away from neighbouring Alberobello, the town of Locorotando is circular in structure, with ancient, intact, surrounding town walls and a view of the Valle d’Itria that one could never forget.
Interestingly, three of Puglia’s most beautiful towns are often visited together due to their close proximity to each other. Found between Alberobello and Martina Franca, Locorotondo has officially been named as one of the ‘Borghi più belli d’Italia’, or, one of the ‘most beautiful villages in Italy’.
A road trip of this region passes through the Valle d’ Itria, and is widely famed for its lush green stretches of natural and agricultural vegetation; amongst this, the picturesque, winding streets of trulli and cummerse architecture and copious vineyards.
Locorotondo is famous for its round, ancient-town structure, extensive wine production and whitewashed reflective buildings.
3. ALBEROBELLO
Alberobello is situated in the Bari Province of Puglia. Within the province of neighbouring Brindisi, Borgo Egnazia is approximately twenty kilometres away, making it an obvious nearby excursion. ‘Il Borgo’, Borgo Egnazia’s village has been built with a luxurious nod to traditional Apulian villages such as this, and it presents many a stunning replication of many stylistic, interior and exterior architectural features of the region’s historical towns, including the renowned UNESCO world heritage town of Alberobello. The calcareous sedimentary building blocks were first mentioned in record books dating back from the early 16th century, however, the town of Alberobello sat, dry stoned without mortar, for nearly two hundred years so that greedy Lords might escape land taxation.
Alberobello is famous for its strange dwellings and buildings, collectively named ‘trulli’ or, singularly, a ‘trullo’. The tourism in Puglia has seen a great amount of regeneration and upkeep of these buildings, protected by the government as a place to protect forever.
4. OTRANTO
To suit a separate day trip, perhaps, the wonderful town of Otranto is situated in the very southern province of Lecce, approximately ninety minutes car drive from Borgo Egnazia. Locals describe this area as ‘Salento’ – Italy’s most recognisable peninsula – the very tip – in fact. Overlooking the Adriatic sea, Otranto is a small port town, and has remained an important place of connection for trade by sea throughout Puglia’s historically colourful past.
It is possible to see the coast of Albania when the warm haze diminishes – if one isn’t already distracted by the immediate, close beauty of this stunning seaside town. If beaches are your raison d’être, both Otranto beach and its surrounding coastlines can provide a wealth of sun-worshipping and bathing hotspots. The ‘Baia de Turchi’ and ‘Laghi Alimini’ are both easily reached from Otranto town. Predominantly sandy, lake-side beaches, entice the packed beach-bags of the inquisitive, the enthusiastic photographers, divers and snorkelers alike, to further explore the strikingly beautiful coves of Porto Badisco.
For more information, check out our previous post featuring the stunning Borgo Egnazia, or check out the fantastic http://www.egnazia.co.uk. For direct enquiries call their expert team on +44 (0) 1444 87 22 00 or email them directly: enquiries@designholidays.co.uk.
