Hotel Review: Borgo Canonica

Nestled between Martina Franca and Ostuni, Borgo Canonica is a boutique hotel consisting of 14 immaculately restored trulli (traditional buildings with cone-shaped roofs).

Borgo Canonica sits on six hectares of property that features ancient olive trees, a garden, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant with bar. Every room and suite at the property is situated in a trulli, adding to the charm of staying here.

The hotel is located in the countryside of Cisternino, situated directly between Martina Franca and Ostini. It’s the perfect place for a quiet city break.

The Resort

The resort’s limited number of rooms provides a quaint, intimate atmosphere. There is a gorgeous main pool, bar area, and a separate restaurant area surrounded by olive trees. If sitting poolside doesn’t suit you, there are plenty of lounge chairs sprawled around the property for guests to use.

Check-in is handled quickly in the reception area so that guests are able to spend as much time enjoying the resort and the restaurant.

The Food and Drinks

Bring an appetite for Puglian cuisine and primitivo wine to your trip to Borgo Canonica. There is only one restaurant on-site at the resort, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner – but that is all that is needed. The on-site restaurant is utter brilliance and will leave you craving more. My husband and I were beyond blown away by the quality of food offered and the moderate prices for cocktails.

Most of the food served is sourced from the property, giving the flavors a crisp, local freshness. Each dish is perfectly portioned with balanced seasoning and thoughtful delivery. Food was so good at Borgo Canonica that we didn’t leave the property during mealtimes.

Room Booked: Suite (Number 4)

We decided to splurge a bit and booked a “Suite” for our stay at Borgo Canonica. Our suite featured a separate seating area, a bedroom area, and a large bathroom. Sadly, our suite did not have a private outdoor patio space (as we expected due to the language on their website).

Room design and décor are subdued, making the structure’s history front and center. Comfort and calm are found everywhere on the property, making Borgo Canonica a perfect escape in southern Italy.

Our room, suite number 4, was located near the resort’s entrance from the parking lot and was located on the corner of one building, which faced directly into another trulli. If privacy is extremely important to you, I’d recommend calling in advance to speak with the Borgo Canonica team.

The ensuite bathroom was artfully designed to showcase the trulli’s beauty, with a large shower and curvaceous vanity area. I loved the vibrant, local toiletries provided for guests to use.

Activities

Aside from relaxing at the pool and strolling through the garden, nearby the hotel are trails for bike riding, horseback riding, and other non-motorized activities.

Close to the resort are Martina Franca and Ostuni, which are popular destinations due to their architecture and history. If you’d like to take a trip to the beach, Monopoli’s sandy coast and beachside bars are worth checking out.

Overall

At Borgo Canonica, it doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family – you’re going to have a great time. The resort’s staff are absolutely incredible and will do everything to ensure that your stay in Cisternino is wonderful.

What We Loved

• The resort’s service is gracious and friendly. We really appreciated how hard each and every staff member worked.
• All meals at Borgo Canonica were memorable. Their menus are impeccably designed and we still dream of our favorite dishes from there.
• The rooms are well-equipped and spacious.
• The large pool area provided enough space for all guests.

What You Should Know

• Our particular suite offered minimal privacy. However, some rooms (such as room number 14) offer more space between you and other guests.
• At the time of our visit, there were a lot of families with children – which made breakfast and midday pool time quite a noisy experience.

Book your own stay at Borgo Canonica on Booking.com, Hotels.com or Expedia. For an adults only experience in Puglia, check out Masseria Palombara. Other fabulous hotels in Italy can be found here.