Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008 - (Page 18)

MASSERIA TORRE COCCARO’s natural setting is incorporated into the design of its Orange Garden Suite (this photo). LAMA DI LUNA’s spacious double rooms feature fireplaces and open to a central courtyard; exposed brick adds rustic charm (below). ACCESS: TRANSPORTATION Flights from Rome and other destinations connect to Brindisi and Bari. Lufthansa (www.lufthansa-private-jet.com/main.html) offers private jet service, which can be booked to connect to Lufthansa’s and Swiss International Air Lines‘ (www.swiss.com) long-haul flights. SUGGESTED DINING Antichi Sapori: Pietro Zito’s restaurant in Montegrosso (near Andria). Try the orecchiette made with grano arso, traditional burned wheat. Book early, as there are just 10 tables. Piazza S. Isidoro 9/10; 39-088356-9529; www.antichisapori.biz; zitopietro@tiscali.it Il Piatto Reale: Owner/chef Salvatore Pallonetto’s creativity equals that of the ceramicists here. Try tortellacci stuffed with beef, pecorino fresco and pistachio and trickled with balsamico reduction. Via Cavour 13, Grottaglie; 39-099-566-7027 or 39-936-7173; salvino242004@ yahoo.it La Sirenetta: Generous portions of fresh seafood, including ricci (sea urchins) in season. Via degli Scava 5, Savelletti; 39-080-482-9393 SUGGESTED SHOPPING In Grottaglie, go to Quartiere delle Ceramiche, a.k.a. the ceramics quarter. Try La Grotta (www.ceramichelagrotta.com), which has been in the same family for 150 years. For art pieces, go to the studio of Nicola Fasano (Via Caravaggio 6; 39-099-566-1744). Locorotondo and Martina Franca are wine-producing areas. Look for the DOC-rated Bianco Martina, a dry and delicate white. Ask the hotel concierge to set up visits to local cantinas. (www.masseriatorrecoccaro.com), which is managed by co-owner Vittorio Muolo (vittoriomuolo @masseriatorrecoccaro.com; 39-335-45-0566), offers yacht excursions, golf, a private sandy beach and an Aveda spa that’s in an ancient cave (contact Spa Manager Angela Ignobile through the main hotel number and e-mail address). Of the resort’s 39 rooms, the best is undoubtedly the Orange Garden Suite, within a walled garden and with a private pool. Inside the stone-walled grotto, the suite has two sitting areas, a fireplace and a gigantic bathroom. Other large rooms are on the piano nobile (noble floor), with sea views and fireplaces; otherwise, ask for a room with a private garden. The hotel’s tower houses four rooms; of the three junior suites, opt for Deluxe Suite 36, which has a balcony and Jacuzzi. Pietro Petroni calls his 500-acre Lama di Luna (www. lamadiluna.com) a “bio-masseria” because the agriturismo aims to be environmentally responsible. An 18th-century building for coloni and mazzedri (farmers and sharecroppers), it has 44 chimneys. The 20 spacious double rooms, each with a fireplace, open into a broad center courtyard. Two larger suites will open in May, one with hydromassage and a Turkish bath, and a bio-swimming pool will open this summer. We liked room number 7, with its stucco fireplace and intricately designed brass bed; rooms 7 and 8 have bathtubs. Tip: Rooms 5 and 6 share an entry and can be set up with twin beds or a king—take both for a family. We hear Lidia Matticchio of the TV series Lidia’s Kitchen has come to Lama di Luna twice to treat guests to her delicious cuisine. Guests have first refusal on tables in the restaurant. 18 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | March 2008 http://www.lufthansa-private-jet.com/main.html http://www.swiss.com http://www.antichisapori.biz http://www.ceramichelagrotta.com http://www.lamadiluna.com http://www.masseriatorrecoccaro.com http://www.lamadiluna.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Dublin: We Tour the Irish Capital’s Top Offerings Puglia, Italy: Where to go for Complete Tranquility Small Meetings: Inspiring Settings for your Corporate Client The Thompson Beverly Hills: Bold New Style Arrives in Southern California US Grant: Unabashed Luxury in Downtown San Diego Sailing the Danube: Low-Key Luxury on River Cloud II Sin City Spas: The Latest From Some of our Favorite Las Vegas Retreats Bob Boulogne: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' COO Targets Elite Travel Advisors The Pulse Exotic Car Rental Jetset Report Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2008

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