As a fan of the Italian region of Puglia, I’m particularly drawn to its medieval towns and seacoast, the historic stone farmhouses/masserias, groves of olive trees and rich, rustic cuisine. I wasn’t as sure that I would like Borgo Egnazia, having been warned by residents of the region that it was a new build emulating an historic village, it was too big, it wasn’t right on the sea, etc. And they were right that it was all of those things—bigger than an authentic masseria and a golf cart ride (past several holes of the golf course) to get to the water’s edge. But as I saw from the variety of other guests, ranging from chic urban couples to families with young children, there are additional advantages and draws to being a full service resort, even if not a strictly authentic one. The Vair Spa is one and starting in March, it’s expanding to include three new wellness retreats.
Fure, which translated to “outside” in the local Apulian dialect, is meant to reinvigorate and connect to nature. The activities are somewhat out of the ordinary—climbing olive trees, dry stone wall jumping, juggling, doing a local folk dance called pizzica plus Igenyar yoga. There are two levels of intensity and meals composed of the healthy, Mediterranean diet ingredients are devised for rigorous training needs. This program is available on certain dates in March, April, May, October and November.
Tarant Special Style of Dance is a retreat solely for women based on an ancient Apulian ritual. Here, it takes place over three days and includes dance movements, music therapy, yoga and the always popular spa treatments plus specifically designed Mediterranean meals. This program is given on other days than Fure’s also in March, April, May, October and November.
A more concentrated, detox program centered around Iyengar yoga and specially designed examples of the Mediterranean diet is on offer on certain days in May and October. For maximum detox and purification results, some fasting is also included.
Apart from these programs, guests have the option of staying in rooms in the main building known as La Corte where the spa and fine dining restaurant Due Camini are located or the recreated village The Borgo which houses other facilities. We took one of the villas for the privacy and the pleasure of having a relaxed breakfast served by our sweet caretaker by the pool. The décor is the same in all—very white, contemporary but comfortable with just a few embellishments such as metal lanterns or branches or brushes on the wall.
There are several restaurants and the only one in which I had less than successful results was Due Camini with more complex but badly executed dishes. In contrast, the simple fare at the trattoria La Frasca was very good and the pasta with seafood and grilled fish at the seafood restaurant Pescheria da Vito was exceptional. And with a table facing the crashing waves of the Adriatic, even though my friends had warned me otherwise, at least for lunch, I was very much at the sea.
