THE HILLTOP RETREAT
A beautifully-restored 18th Century house for rent in the protected hilltop town of Motovun in Croatia. This 3 double-bedroom, 2 reception, 2 bathroom, terrace and garden home offers plenty of room for 6 and overlooks the truffle-packed forest below.
© Vanda Vucicevic (www.vandavucicevic.com)Book now!+44 (0) 7949 777 140+44 (0) 7887 550 229
Location
Motovun is in the heart of Istria, a Northern coastal region of Croatia, christened 'Terra Magica' by the Romans, and 'The New Tuscany' by travel-writers is a land of truffles, wine, olive oil and bucolic bliss. It was part of Italy until World War II and has great restaurants Italians now cross the border to savour. Here, nothing is far away: the crystal clear Adriatic Sea, Roman ruins, wine roads, golf courses, oyster farms, music & film festivals, mountain biking, horse-riding; even elephants on the Brijuni Islands. Trieste, Venice and Slovenia are an easy drive or ferry boat ride.
Motovun is the perfect base for exploring and relaxing away from the Summer crowds. Built by the Venetians it's ancient walls sit high above the truffle-packed Motovun Forest, sloping vineyards and River Mirna below. The sea shimmers on the horizon, just 15-minutes away.
Today Motovun is home to 300 inhabitants. It has all you need: locals selling fruit & veg, wine & liquors, a fish 'man in van' selling the day's catch, bars, cafes and restaurants, boutiques and butchers... plus a swimming pool and spa with massage service. For travel information see How to get there below.
The House
Renovated over 5 years the Hilltop Retreat offers the character of an ancient space [original stone walls, olive grinder...] complimented by the work of local craftsmen [handmade doors, windows, shutters, kitchen and oak stairs] and the technology you need [flatscreen TV, cable, wireless broadband, freestanding Smeg cooker and fridge-freezer, Bosch dishwasher].
Arranged across 200 sq metres over 4 floors the house is ideal for 6 with a huge master bedroom, 2 further large double bedrooms, 3 toilets, 2 showers, 1 bath tub, 2 living rooms/reception rooms, 2 terraces and mature herb and fruit garden.
Children are very welcome and a cot and baby feeding chair are provided.
There is a good washing machine. Pets can be accommodated in most cases, contact us to discuss.
One living room/library has a large open fireplace; the garden comes with a Barbeque [BBQ]; there is a dining table and chairs for up to 10 and you can park cars just 10 metres away.
Inside house
Outside house
Motovun
Prices & Availability
July & August: €1300 a week
June & September : €1150 a week
Other months: €800 a week
Discounts for groups staying 2 weeks or more.
Discounts for groups of 4 or less. Contact us to book and discuss.
How to get there
Airports: Croatia: Pula - 45 minutes [RyanAir], Rijeka - 75 mins [EasyJet],
Zagreb - 2 hours [EasyJet]
Slovenia: Ljubljana - 2 hours [EasyJet]
Italy: Trieste - 60 minutes [RyanAir], Venice - 2 hours
Car: Check out viamichelin.com for the best route
Special Options by Arrangement
- In-house massage
- Truffle hunting tour
- Restaurant booking
- Airport transfers
- Car-hire on your behalf
When to go?
Perfect all year round, not just Summer. Spring for truffles and wild asparagus. Summer to escape the crowds, swim, BBQ and fall asleep in the garden. Autumn for white truffles, porcini mushrooms and long walks. Winter for seclusion, log-fires [or central heating] and cosiness -- Motovun is a great alternative family and friends Christmas & New Year Break.
Things to Do within 10 minutes
- Visit Bienvenuti in nearby Kaldir to taste and buy award-winning local wine
- Eat local peasant food at Dolina Konoba or Stefanic Agrotourism
- Go Olive Oil Tasting at Ipsa
- Cycle along the Parenzana - Mussolini's old train line
- Walk by the River Mirna
- Take a walk round the old city walls
Things to Do for a Day Trip
- Pop over to Trieste, home of Illy coffee
- Take the fast ferry to Venice, see www.venezialines.com
- Check out the art galleries in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Eat in the great restaurants in Volosko
- Check out the Roman amphitheatre in Pula
- Swim at Rovinj, pearl of the Adriatic