means “truth,” and being “true” to Puglia’s history
and culture is the foundation and focus of this resort,
Borgo Egnazia. This unique medieval village-inspired
spa resort opened in 2012.
You can tell you are in a special place the moment
the elevator doors open to reveal the circular, candle-
lit entrance hall that welcomes guests to Vair Spa.
Inside the two-level spa, there are 11 treatment
rooms, plus saunas and steam rooms, but one feature
you might not expect is a small theatre showcasing
inspirational movies and healthy living lectures.
There is also a small gym and a yoga studio with
Saturday morning classes.
Against a contemporary backdrop of white,
oatmeal and wheat, there are natural elements for
decorating accents — rock, jute, stone, tree branches,
stone jugs of fresh almonds still in their shells and
glass jars filled with sea salt crystals. If there is a
signature item here at Vair, it is the lemon. They’re
everywhere — set out in white bowls, stone jars,
and glass vases of varying shapes and sizes. In the
background are
“les chanson de la nature,”
the
songs of nature.
Everything here elevates the sense-of-place
sensibility, including the signature treatments using
local products from Puglia, and the rest of the country.
Elegant in simplicity, meticulous in attention to
detail, and showcasing Puglia’s history and culture, the
resort and spa reads “like a book,” says spokesperson
Victoria Milo d’Amore.
As history tells us, spa culture dates back to ancient
Roman times when the public baths — designed for
both cleansing and socializing — included a carefully
orchestrated water circuit. On a recent trip to the
Aegean Coast of Turkey, I visited the spectacular
ruins of Ephesus, the capital city of Asia Minor from
the 4th century BC to the 7th century AD, and walked
through the remains of a two-story bathhouse. It was
all there. Remnants of the water circuit included the
fridgedarium
(cold), the
tepidarium
(tepid) and the
calidarium
(hot). Today these words are often found
on the spa menus of hydrotherapy-focused facilities.
Other spa terms that have their roots in Europe
include Balneotherapy, Fangotherapy, Scotch Hose,
Thermal Bath, Vichy Shower, Kur and Kneipp-therapy.
While hydrotherapy remains a cornerstone of
many European spas, there is also something for
every other special interest. We’ve kept that in mind
when selecting these five favorite European spas that
offer what the French refer to as
“Je ne sais quoi.”
(Loosely translated: “We’re not sure just what, but
it has something special.”)
AN ELEVATED SENSE-OF-PLACE
IN PUGLIA
At Vair Spa in Puglia, southern Italy, don’t be surprised to
find that your therapist is barefoot. I’m told that working
without shoes underlies the basic philosophy of the
spa — a state of nature. The word “vair” in Italian
202
THE AFFLUENT TRAVELER
|
Well-Being
BELOW
Ostuni, just a
moderate drive
from Vair Spa’s
home of Borgo
Egnazia, is one
of the most
stunning cities in
southern Italy.
RIGHT
Vair Spa’s
backdrop of
white, oatmeal,
wheat and
natural elements
combine to
create a soothing
atmosphere.
WELL-BEING
WB
