![The history of Borgo Egnazia, the resort that hosts the G7 in Puglia The history of Borgo Egnazia, the resort that hosts the G7 in Puglia](https://media.famigliacristiana.it/2024/6/borgoegnazia_3427882.jpg)
In the Italy of small villages abandoned or struggling to survive, the Apulian one Borgo Egnazia is definitely an exception.
Because it is not one of the many villages in the Italian rural province but – despite its name – it was completely built from scratch between 2005 and 2010 in Savelletri, marina of the municipality of Fasano, in the province of Brindisi, and has become a luxury resort, the setting for sumptuous parties and a holiday destination for politicians, VIPs and international jet set figures: from Madonna (who celebrated his birthday in 2021) a Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel (who got married in 2012 with a 5 million euro party), from Chiara Ferragni up to the former US Secretary of State Henri Kissinger and to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (who spent a weekend here at the end of June last year).
In short, the glamorous side was already there, the institutional side will be brought by the G7 scheduled from Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th June with the greats of the world, from Biden to Macron, from Trudeau to Sunak, from Scholz to Ursula von der Leyen, who will find themselves discussing geopolitics, war, climate, economy and new European structures, in this dreamlike and artificial citadel surrounded by impenetrable privacy.
In fact, entering the resort is already very difficult in normal times, in these days of preparations for the summit it is impossible.
Borgo Egnazia is not a village and is not the result of the recovery of some historic farmhouse, as there are many in these parts, but an imagined country that has become the international projection of a certain Apulian quality with its mix of architecture, history, traditions, hospitality, gastronomy and folklore.
The clientele is two thirds foreign and comes from 40 percent from the United States and Great Britain, followed by Europe, and to a lesser extent, Asia, South America and Australia. A stone’s throw away, there is the enchanting Itria Valley, with the pearl of Martina Franca, the intense blue of the Adriatic, dry stone walls and taverns that delight tourists and locals with local delicacies, starting with the legendary “bombette”. And then Fasano, Monopoli, the trulli of Alberobelloa UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, where the group photo of the leaders participating in the summit could be taken.
«The choice to host the G7 fills us with pride but we don’t want to give ourselves any credit. Evidently, in terms of logistics management, Puglia presented the best solutions. The region will have very positive repercussions from the event”, he said in a recent interview with Bari Republic Marisa Melpignano, the entrepreneur who together with her husband Sergio (died in 2015) brought Puglia to the top of the global hit parade of quality tourism with her structures, starting with Masseria San Domenico.
Borgo Egnazia is made up of three separate areas (the courtyard, the village and the villas), it can accommodate up to 520 people and was created by local artisans under the guidance of designer Pino Brescia, «who was inspired by the ancient farms and peasant villages of the region, interpreted in a contemporary key» with a modern design. The structure is surrounded by vast Arabic-style gardens with dry stone walls, then there are four swimming pools, a 1,800 square meter wellness centre, three tennis courts and a private beach.
Prices vary depending on the solution chosen and the time of year. On a low season weekend, for example, it starts from 429 euros for a night in the Corte Bella with a pool view, goes to 809 for a day in the splendid La Casetta, up to 1,189 euros for the Casa Bella.
In addition to hospitality, the aim of the resort is to recover (and relaunch) Salento traditions for the international public by involving the local community: artisans, farmers, popular artists. For this reason, it was born in the first months of this year the CLARA association which organizes various initiatives (workshops, tastings…) on Salento traditions.
If the village was built “on plan”, the name, Egnazia, it has an ancient history and can be known and admired in the nearby archaeological park, one of the largest in Puglia, which is a “tale” of the dominations that have occurred in this area of Salento.
Inhabited since the Bronze Age (15th century BC), the area was invaded by populations from the Balkan area, the Iapigi. Subsequently, starting from the 8th century BC it was inhabited by Messapi, whose domination ended in the 3rd century BC as for all of Salento, with the arrival of the Romans who equipped it with a defensive wall with the northern wall which reaches 7 meters in height and is still visible.
While outside the walls there is the Messapian necropolis with pit, semi-chamber and chamber tombs, some of which are decorated with refined frescoes.
Classical authors like Pliny, Strabo and Horace they mention the ancient city of Gnathia as a lively center of trade and commerce, favored by its geographical position, the presence of the Via Traiana and its proximity to the port of Brindisi.
A geographically strategic position which has been its fortune over the centuries and is the reason why it was also chosen to host the G7 with proximity to Brindisi airport and Grottaglie (Taranto).
And since artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the topics of discussion of the summit with the presence – for the first time in the history of the G7 – of Pope francescoa virtual journey was created to present the territory hosting the event to leaders with an exceptional guide: the poet Virgil, recreated thanks to AI and the result of the initiative of the Municipality of Fasano, Its Turismo Puglia and Carraro Lab.
The poet, in recalling his journey to Egnazia in 37 BC along the Appian Way, will welcome the greats of the Earth as a digital influencer, guiding them to discover this beautiful piece of the Apulian territory.