Casa della Vigna : Croatia Holiday Villa & Apartment Rental

Casa della Vigna
Oprtalj, Central Istria, Croatia

2-bedroom house in medieval hilltop town;
breathtaking views across central Istria;
sleeps 4-6, air-conditioned, terrace and garden;
golf course 30min away.
A house for all seasons

This delightful house is perched above the medieval town walls and has breathtaking views over valleys, vineyards, olive groves and distant mountain ranges. The landscape is wonderful; in the spring and summer you are surrounded by lush greenery, and in the autumn a whole range of colours is dazzling – from yellows and golds, to pinks, bright reds and browns. The view towards the town is also charming – sitting on the terrace, among the fig and palm trees you can discern the white Venetian church bell tower across the road, on the little town square.

The house is in the medieval town of Oprtalj also known by its Italian name Portole. The population there is bilingual – Croatian and Italian. All around the town are panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The house is south facing with a terrace planted with vines and a private garden. The garden is planted with a large fig tree and rosemary bushes, and typical Mediterranean vegetation.

Casa della Vigna has one double and one twin bedroom. It can sleep two further people on sofa beds in the sitting room. From the cobbled road the house is reached through a pedestrian private arched alleyway. It is an extremely quiet and peaceful location very reminiscent of Tuscany. The region is renowned for its food and wine and there are many excellent restaurants within easy driving distance whilst the interior of Istria with hilltop towns and beautiful landscape is ideal for touring, cycling and walking.

First Floor, reached by an external staircase; hallway, bathroom with shower, WC, handbasin and washing machine.

Kitchen with dining area. The kitchen is fitted with electric hob and oven, dishwasher, fridge freezer, microwave.

Kitchen

Dining Area

Sitting room with views across open countryside. Sofa bed to sleep two people. Widescreen TV and DVD player. Terrace with table and chairs.

Sitting Room

Second Floor. Two bedrooms furnished with antique beds, wardrobes and chests/bedside tables. Bedroom 1 has a double bed and single bed and can sleep three people. Bedroom two has two single beds.

All rooms are air-conditioned with warm air heating for the wintertime.
Bedlinen and towels are provided

On the Ground floor there is a large basement for storage.

Outside
Private garden with outside seating and dining area, barbecue, areas for relaxing in sun or shade. Below the house and forming part of the garden are two terraces of vines where in September/October guests can pick their own grapes.

Oprtalj (known as Portole in Italian) is located on the crest of a hill at 378m (1240 feet) and from this high vantage point offers stunning views across the Istrian peninsula stretching coast to coast from Mount Ucka (above Rijeka ) in the east to the Adriatic coast in the west.

Oprtalj Church and Square

The site was occupied in prehistoric times and was a Roman military post. The present town was established during the medieval period and part of the original fortifications are now incorporated into houses built into the town walls. From 1420 to 1797 the town was controlled by the Venetian Republic. The parish church, set on the town square was built in the early 16th century with baroque features added in the 17th century. Oprtalj has kept its town walls and its medieval lay-out of narrow streets, tiny squares and arched passages. On visiting Oprtalj the overwhelming sensation is one of quiet and tranquillity coupled with a direct association with its medieval past. Local facilities include a bistro, a restaurant, a local shop/general store and a post office. There are a number of excellent restaurants within a short drive.

Food and Wine The area around Oprtalj is one of the principal areas in Europe for finding truffles. The largest ever truffle (as recorded in the Guinness book of records ) was found in the Motuvun forest just a few kilometres from Oprtalj. The local restaurants specialise in providing dishes incorporating truffles and a grilled steak covered with a thick layer of fresh truffle shavings will cost less than a regular steak in London. On of the most highly regarded restaurants in Istria, Zigante, is just 10 minutes drive down the hill to Livade. In the autumn there are annual truffle festivals centred on Livade and Buzet. Within a 15 minute drive from Oprtalj there is a wide selection of first class restaurants. We provide details and recommendations.

Excellent wines are produced in the area and well marked wine routes lead you through charming countryside to wineries where you can sample some of the very best Croatian wines. Local olive oil is another feature of the cuisine.

Hilltop towns in central Istria Central Istria is studded with hilltop towns many of which offer breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Close to Oprtalj and of particular note is Motovun, at 277 metres and perched on a conical hilltop, the town has well preserved fortifications and elegant 16th and 17th century architecture. Motovun is a popular tourist destination and features an annual film festival. Also of interest is Groznjan, an ancient medieval settlement now restored as a centre for arts and music and featuring art galleries, bars and restaurants. There are many others worth exploring and we will provide you with our own suggestions of places off the usual tourist routes that should not be missed.

Seaside Oprtalj is 30km (35 minutes drive) from the western Adriatic coast. Easily reached from Casa della Vigna is the charming town of Novigrad with an attractive harbour crowded with local fishing boats and an old town surrounded by fortifications. On the outer side of the town walls a lungomare (promenade) providing a pleasant walk along the coast and an ideal place to sunbathe and swim. Further down the coast Rovinj is unquestionably the most picturesque of the medieval Venetian towns on the Adriatic. Every guide book features the colourful facades of the tightly packed houses that encircle this tiny peninsula with the cathedral of St Euphemia and its dominating 60 metre bell tower standing over the town. Other coastal towns well documented in guide books and easily reached are Porec, Umag, Vrsar and Piran in Slovenia. On the east coast of Istria, Opatija provides a contrast with its grand villas built in the 19th century for the Austro Hungarian aristocracy, a delightful lungamare (promenade) and some fine restaurants.

Rovinj

Novigrad

Waterfalls and rivers Central Istria is dissected by deep river valleys and with good directions you can find spectacular waterfalls and rivers to swim in.
The web site Istria Waterfalls has photos and directions to many of them:

Sopot waterfall, near Gracisce

Cycle routes
There are some excellent marked cycle routes in Istria. Cycle route maps are also available.

Caves
Istria has a number of caves that are open to the public. For example Pazin, Baredine and Mramornica caves. For details go to the website: Mramornica Cave
The spectacular caves at Postojna in Slovenia are a possible day trip. This 20 kilometres long network of passages, massive galleries and spectacular chambers is the most visited cave in Europe.

Baths and spas – wellness centres
Istarske toplice
This thermal resort less than 15 minutes drive from Oprtalj is located in beautiful and dramatic countryside. It has a hot mineral spring that is beneficial for the treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases, dermatological and other diseases. The resort offers a variety of beauty treatments and massages and can also provide simple relaxation and swimming in the outdoor or indoor pools.

Day trips
Venice is a feasible daytrip (about 3 hour drive). A days outing to go skiing is possible during the winter months. The closest ski resort is Platak (less than one and a half hours) in the mountains above Rijeka where the ski runs provide spectacular views over the Adriatic and Gulf of Kvarner (www.platak.hr). A little further inland is the Bjelolasica resort (www.bjelolasica.hr).

GETTING THERE

Fly Ryanair to Trieste in Italy (1 hours 30 minutes drive) or to Pula in Croatia (1 hour 15 minutes drive. Another option is to fly to Rijeka airport on the island of Krk (1 hour 15 drive time). Croatia Airlines flies direct Heathrow to Rijeka on Wednesdays and direct Gatwick to Pula on Saturdays. Slightly further away but still within reach (2 hours 30 minutes) are Treviso (Ryanair) and Venice Marco Polo (British Airways and EasyJet). Another option is to fly EasyJet to Ljubljana in Slovenia (2 hours). This route opens up the option of a day or two in the beautiful Slovenian lakes of Bled and Bohinj.

Thomsonfly fly to Pula from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham on Tuesdays. From Scandinavia, Scandjet fly directly to Pula from Stockholm and Gothenburg. Germanwings fly direct to Pula from Cologne and Berlin.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
All rates are for the whole villa per week Saturday to Saturday and are in Pounds Sterling GBP. Payment can be made in GBP or Euros at the prevailing exchange rate. There are no extras. Tourist tax and cleaning are included. Prices are shown on the chart in the left hand (grey) column.

TO BOOK
Please email or telephone us to make a provisional reservation. Then download and complete the appropriate booking form.