publication date: Apr 23, 2011
If you are thinking of
Italy for a family
holiday, here are seven great reasons to choose
Puglia.
1. Borgo Egnazia Hotel Villas Golf & Spa ResortThis luxury destination resort borders the ancient ruins of
Egnazia to the north, the fishermen's village of
Savelletri to the south and is surrounded by acres of stunning
Apulian olive groves. The resort comprises a 184 room
boutique hotel, private villas, and a traditional
Borgo (village) created as a modern interpretation of the ancient city that once stood in its place. There is a
cookery school, stunning spa,
kids club, tennis academy, three restaurants and four
swimming pools.2. Vair Spa at Borgo EgnaziaThe
spa offers a 1,800 sqm oasis of
relaxation and rejuvenation, with a gym,
yoga studio, a salon and a wet area with a
Tepidarium (warm room),
Calidarium (hot room),
Frigidarium (cold room), and two
Roman bath scrub rooms, offering the only
modern Roman bathhouse in Italy.
3. Space Kids Club at Borgo Egnazia Resort The leading
family beach resort in the
Mediterranean offers a full range of
childcare for children aged
eight months to 13 years. Staff are friendly,
multilingual and highly qualified.
Activities include cooking lessons, outdoor sports activities, computer and console games for the older ones and
soft crèche areas for youngsters.
4. Italy's finest boutique agri-turismoMasseria Cimino – this boutique
hotel is one of Italy's finest, an 18th century "
agri-tursimo" farmhouse located next to the
San Domenico Golf course;a stone's throw from the coast. It has 15 rooms, all with views overlooking the golf course or the
Adriatic. The food at
Masseria Cimino is grown
organically on the estate or sourced locally.
5. Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites- Puglia boasts three World Heritage sites:
- Castel del Monte (The Castle) is a unique piece of medieval military architecture built by Emperor Frederick II near Bari in the 13th Century.
- Alberobello – the limestone dwellings here offer examples of prehistoric building techniques used in the region. Stunning prehistoric town of Matera in Basilicata region.
6. The "White Caves" of PugliaEntered by a 60 metre vertical tunnel, the caves in
Castellana, are said to be among the deepest in the world. This huge gaping chasm, known as
La Grave (the Deep), leads to the cave network's
central chamber - a vast passage almost 600 metres long.
7. The Cuisine of PugliaFresh vegetables are key to
Apulian cuisine. Olives, aubergine, onion, garlic, hot red pepper, sweet pepper and fresh mozzarella contribute to the
tantalizing dishes created in a traditional kitchen.
Pizza and focacce are extremely popular, as is
Calzone – a pizza pie made of two sheets of thin oil based pasta stuffed with a mix of vegetables. Though much of
seafood is eaten raw with prawns, sardines and cuttlefish as big ingredients, another favourite dish, is
polpi arriciati (curled octopus).
