Despite a late start in tourism, Puglia has jumped ahead of other regions in Italy with its abundance of stylish hotels, yet even in this high-design market, Borgo Egnazia stands out. Unlike many of its masserie (traditional Puglian farmhouses) counterparts, the hotel is newly built in the traditional style, a large compound surrounded by stone-walled fields of ancient olive trees. An enclosed courtyard leads into a lofty, domed hallway filled with hanging lanterns, while fireplaces set into the white stone flicker throughout the public spaces. The 63 comfortable guest rooms have white stone walls and canopy beds, and each comes with a terrace looking onto the sea, the hills, or two huge pools flanked by double-size daybeds. VAIR spa has a heated indoor pool, and an extensive menu of massages and treatments—the "little by little" facial, administered with a blend of lemon, mint, sage, rosemary, and lavender, all freshly picked from Borgo Egnazia’s kitchen garden, is a fan favorite—and the 18-hole golf course next door, the San Domenico, is one of the area’s main attractions (this, combined with a terrific children’s club, is a welcome combination for families).