Corte Altavilla Relais & Charme

The 4 star hotel “Corte Altavilla” is an old medieval court situated in a residential area of the historical centre of Conversano, (City of Art). It stands on a hill, 8 km far from the sea, near the area of the “trulli” and the “grottoes”. In 1100 beautiful and young Sibilla d'Altavilla lived here, who were Roberto Courtehouse's wife, the son of William II the Conqueror. Sibilla, missed queen of England, is buried inside the cathedral of Rouen, in Normandy.

Following a complete restoration in 2002, a very unusual complex of antique dwellings, located within the walls of the medieval Altavilla court, has been transformed into a receptive centre with hotel rooms, elegant suites and apartments where original stone built rooms with whitewashed plasters, barrel vaults  and wooden beams  charm the guests. Nothing is made by chance: attention to the details, to the smallest things, in order to make everything elegant and sumptuous, between the past and the present, an harmonic contrast between the modern and the old.

Discretion, kindness and helpfulness of our staff at the reception meet your needs to suggest itineraries from the cliffs of Polignano to  the “trulli” of Alberobello, from the landscape of the Itria Valley to the “grottoes” of Castellana, and then the “white city” of Ostuni, Frederick II and Castel del Monte, the “rocks” of Matera, Salento, farmhouses, rocky churches: in a word: Apulia.

The 32 dwellings (suites and rooms)  are equipped with all modern comforts: direct control air conditioning, satellite TV, direct telephone, safes, internet connection, fire alarm, minibar and kitchen area (available in some rooms). On request we have a Junior Suite with hydromassage bath tub.

Also available: solarium terrace, concierge/information desk, bikes, transfer facilities and chauffer, daily  excursions by car or on boat all around the area.  Relaxing shiatsu massage service is also available in the rooms, cookery course and parking area.

In the morning at our restaurant on the terrace with a beautiful view of the old town, you can have breakfast buffet: orange juice, yoghurts, different cereals, croissants, cakes and tarts, bread of a local baker’s, toasted bread, marmalades, seasonal fresh fruit, taralli, cheese and salami, eggs.

For dinner our chef offers a typical regional cuisine using fresh seasonal products and every day it proposes different menus which enclose the history and the culinary customs of our town.

IN SHORT:

Every room offers the following service: sat TV, heat/cold air conditioning with remote control, telephone, Internet connection socket, safe, hairdryer, kitchen area (on request in Standard rooms), minibar and smoke alarm.

In the common area: wireless environment, lounge, free Internet point, typical cuisine restaurant on the terrace with the view of the old city, 2 meeting halls, hall with reading area and courtesy café, solarium, lift, free parking service, fitness centre (not yet ready, it will be finished not before the end of 2008).

Furthermore, we have at our guests disposal: rental bikes, transfer service, organized excursions  around Apulia, cookery course, boat or cruise excursions, riding school at 5 km far, olive oil bottles on sale with Corte Altavilla mark.