Villa Castello
Brsecine near Dubrovnik

A wonderful and historic 16th century Dubrovnik summer villa on the water’s edge in a secluded and quiet bay on the coast to the north west of Dubrovnik. 4 bedrooms, sleeps 7- 10. Beach and boat mooring within a few metres.

Villa Castello (click to enlarge)

This beautiful, ancient Dubrovnik summer residence was built in the 16th century and stands directly on a sheltered beach with crystal clear sea. A stone quay provides mooring for small boats and larger yachts. The villa sleeps 7 - 10 people in four bed rooms (three double and one single) plus accommodation for up to three additional persons on a sofa bed and extra beds).

This truly unique villa has a great sense of history. It was the home of the famous poetess Cvijeta Zuzoric (1558 -1644) and on the exterior, the original renaissance features have been preserved or faithfully restored including the high walls surrounding the courtyard. These walls provided security for the house which, in a secluded position, would have been vulnerable to attack from pirates in the 16th century when it was built. The internal furnishings are lively and modern, interspersed with antique items. There is an indoor kitchen, and a professional chef’s outdoor kitchen. Meals can be taken in the courtyard outside the summer kitchen, on the covered terrace on the first floor.

All the medieval features of the villa are preserved. It is built in stone, with magnificent stone portals. The windows of most bedrooms look directly out to the sea, which is a few steps away. On the ground floor a magnificent living room with a vaulted ceiling is equipped as a games room and home cinema.

The whole atmosphere of Villa Castello is unique; a great house, fabulous seaside position, summer light and a luxurious feel of the warm outdoors – only 20min away from the sights of ancient Dubrovnik.

The villa is a paradise for the lovers of outdoor living, and a rare property with a wonderful swimming beach just a few paces from the front door and the possibility of having a boat moored less than 50 metres away and in view from the villa.

The house is one of only a handful of buildings situated in the secluded Brsecine Bay which is reached by leaving the coastal road shortly after Tresteno when travelling from Dubrovnik.

ACCOMMODATION

All rooms are air-conditioned with the exception of the ground floor living room which with thick stone walls is naturally cool.

Outside Area

View of the Beach from the Courtyard

A large stone floored courtyard enclosed by high walls contains a professionally equipped summer kitchen, with ovens, refrigerators, grill, dishwasher and all cooking equipment. Within the courtyard there is a large table and benches for dining, and sun loungers for relaxation. The courtyard entrance faces the sea and is just a few metres from the beach. Sun loungers and umbrellas as well as beach towels are provided for sunbathing on the beach.

Ground floor toilet and showers can also be accessed directly from the courtyard.

There is ample car parking space on the road immediately outside the villa walls.

Kayaks are provided for use by guests.

Covered Terrace with Dining Table (click to enlarge)
Courtyard and Summer Kitchen (click to enlarge)	Hammock (click to enlarge)

First Floor

The front door opens into a hallway with a staircase to the second floor.

Master bedroom. Spacious room with double bed and sea view. Ensuite bathroom with shower, basin, and WC.

Master Bedroom (click to enlarge)

Small living room and indoor kitchen. This living room has a flat screen TV and seating for 6 people. It open directly onto a very large covered terrace with a beautiful stone table seating up to 10 persons. The terrace is open on two sides and has views to the sea and to the courtyard below. There is also a shower room on this floor.

First Floor Living Room (click to enlarge)

Second Floor

Large bedroom with double bed plus a sofa bed suitable for one adult or two children. Additional Double bedroom. Single bedroom with space for an additional bed if required. Shower room with shower, basin and wc.

Double Bedroom with Sofa Bed (click to enlarge)	Double Bedroom (click to enlarge)
Single Bedroom (click to enlarge)	Bathroom (click to enlarge)

Ground Floor

Vaulted living room with home cinema and games area; French windows opening onto a terrace and the beach just a few metres beyond.

This room has a cinema screen and a music centre, a table tennis table and a seating area for 10 -12 people. The room has a vaulted ceiling and the thick stone walls keep it naturally cool even in the summer. There is a direct access from this room onto the beach.

At ground floor level there is also an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

An external stone staircase leads to the main entrance on the first floor.

Living Room and Home Cinema (click to enlarge)

Living Room and Table Tennis (click to enlarge)

EATING OUT

There is ample opportunity to eat out. The nearest simple taverna is in the nearby a small village of Trsteno (5 min drive) serving fresh seafood and local hams and cheese, and where you will find a local grocery and bakery shop.

There are also excellent restaurants in Zaton (15 minutes drive). The Radisson hotel 10 minutes away towards Dubrovnik has a choice of 12 restaurants, a spa, tennis courts and various sports activities.

Just 20min away to the west, there is a range of excellent restaurants in Ston and Mali Ston. Mali Ston is famous for it seafood, particularly oysters harvested from the oysterbeds tended by local fishermen.

Notable is Kapetanova Kuca on the harbour front in Mali Ston. The restaurant run by Croatia’s celebrity chef, Lydia Kralj, who has a regular cooking programme on Croatian TV, is renowned for its seafood and ranks amongst the very best restaurants in Croatia. Another restaurant worth a visit is Bota Sare, situated on the waterfront and occupying and old salt warehouse where the interior walls are still seeping salt. They serve great fresh seafood dishes.

BEACHES

You can swim in the most beautiful crystal clear water from the wide pebble beach just outside the house. This is a unique treat even in a country like Croatia, with 1000 miles of coastline, since most houses are situated some distance away from the seashore.

If you wish to try other beaches, the Great Beach (Veliki Zali) is just a few minutes drive. The nearby town of Slano has an excellent beach running the full length of the bay. Or, if visiting the Ston/Mali Ston restaurants, you could go to the nearby sandy beach at sheltered Prapratno Bay. Visit the Beaches of Croatia web site for pictures and a description of Prapratno Bay.

PLACES TO VISIT

Dubrovnik It is just 20-25 minutes drive down the spectacular coast road to Dubrovnik Old Town. A day in Dubrovnik is a must. You can walk the city walls to view the beautiful roofscape of the old town and the seascape beyond and visit the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries. Or simply enjoy strolling the streets and alleyways and relaxing in the numerous cafes and restaurants.

Illustration of Trsteno Arboretum (click to enlarge)

The summer villa at Tresteno was built by Ivan Gucetic between 1494 and 1502 and at the same he laid out the structure of the gardens which can be seen today; a Mediterranean garden with a fine array of trees and breathtaking views.

Ston and Mali Ston are historic and picturesque fortified towns that were laid to a grid plan similar to Dubrovnik in the 14th and 15th centuries. The massive fortifications surrounding the towns and the wall spanning the narrow isthmus that joins the Peljesac peninsula to the mainland, provide a spectacular back drop and parts of the wall are open to the public

Mljet
The ferry service running from Prapratno (near Ston) to Mljet provides convenient access to the island (www.np-mljet.hr). The most wooded of Croatia’s 1100 islands Mljet is 30km long and only 3km wide. One third of the island is a national park that contains two lakes that are linked to each other and to the sea. In the centre of the large lake is an island with a Benedictine monastery first established in the 12th century and rebuilt in the Renaissance period.

Mljet is best appreciated by walking or cycling through the national park area. There is a bus service that takes you into the park and which links with a boat to take you out to the monastery. There are several excellent seafood restaurants in the village of Polace.

Korcula
Both car and passenger ferries run from Orebic on the Peljesac Peninsula to the Town of Korcula on the island of the same name. Korcula Town, considered to be the birth place of Marco Polo, is a beautifully preserved mediaeval town dating from the 13th Century. The town is fortified and positioned on a small elevated peninsula providing a commanding position over the straight between the island and the mainland. Today Korcula’s narrow alleyways and town squares provide the setting for bars, restaurants, shops and galleries.

Neretva Deta and Mostar
The Neretva Delta, a short drive up the coast, provides a landscape quite different to the rest of the Dalmatian coast with numerous waterways crossing the lush and fertile delta. Inland to Bosnia the historic town of Mostar, with its iconic bridge, provides a completely contrasting culture. The original 14th century bridge was destroyed in the recent conflict but has been faithfully rebuilt. The narrow alleys around the bridge are packed with restaurants, art galleries, cafes and souvenir shops.

Wine
Local wines from the Peljesac peninsular are considered to be amongst Croatia’s finest. Notable are the red wines. Dingac is most highly regarded but we would also recommend trying Postup and Plavac. There are several well signposted wineries located on the road running up the centre of the peninsular. It is possible to taste the wines and buy directly from the wineries.

VILLA LOCATION

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GETTING THERE

Dubrovnik airport (located near the town of Cavtat to the south of Dubrovnik) is less than one hour drive from Mali Ston. Travelling from the UK, British Airways flies daily to Dubrovnik during the summer months and three days a week during the winter season. EasyJet flies from Gatwick to Dubrovnik 6 days a week during summer months and from Liverpool 3 days a week. Easyjet also flies direct to Dubrovnik from Geneva, Berlin, Milan and Paris. Flybe flies to Dubrovnik on Sundays from Birmingham, Exeter and Southampton. Both Monarch Airlines and Thomsonfly fly to Dubrovnik on Sundays from Gatwick and Manchester. Globespan flies direct from Edinburgh to Dubrovnik on Wednesdays. Croatia Airlines also provides direct flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays as well as daily flights from Heathrow to Zagreb with connecting flights to Dubrovnik. An alternative, and usually cheaper, route to Zagreb is by Wizzair from London Luton. From Scandanavia, Scandjet fly to Dubrovnik from Stockholm and Malmo.

An alternative is to fly to Split and drive the 3 hours down the spectacular coast road from Split to Mali Ston. EasyJet fly daily directly from London Gatwick to Split and three days a week from Bristol. Croatia Airlines flies daily to Split via Zagreb and direct on Saturdays from Heathrow and on Mondays from Gatwick. Flybe fly direct to Split from Birmingham and Southampton. Scandjet flies directly to Split from Stockholm and Gotenborg. German Wings flies to Split from Cologne and Berlin. Easyjet fly direct from Geneva to Split.

RATES & AVAILABILITY

All rates are per week Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday and are in British pounds. Payment can be made in pounds or Euros at the prevailing exchange rate. There are no extras. Tourist tax is included. A refundable damage deposit of 300 euros is payable on arrival. Dogs are accepted at an additional cost of 35 euros a week.

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

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