MALI STON
DUBROVNIK REGION
LOCAL AREA, BEACHES & THINGS TO DO
Ston and Mali Ston
The picturesque town of Ston with its small sister town of Mali Ston are picturesque fortified medieval towns standing either end of the narrow isthmus that joins the Peljesac peninsula to the mainland. They are places of culinary excellence and several renowned seafood restaurants are there, notably Bota Sare and Kapetanova Kuca (Captain's House) on the seafront of Mali Ston, and Bacchus in Ston. You can sample the excellent local white wine, Posip, and two great reds : Dingac and Postup. These towns are less than 30 minute drive from the villa and are on the Peljesac peninsula which is the land you see from the villa across the stretch of Adriatic. More lovely towns follow on Peljesac - Orebic and Trpanj. They have their own beaches. Prapratno Cove, close to Ston, provides one of the finest sandy beaches in Croatia.
Ston town and salt pans
Nearby Prapratno beach |
Cafes in Ston |
Ston |
Fishing boat at Broce |
The Dubrovnik Republic acquired control over Peljesac in 1333 and proceeded to construct massive fortifications in the form of a 5.5 kilometre wall spanning the isthmus and circling the towns of Ston and Mali Ston that stood on the coast at either end of the wall. The wall was built between 1336 and 1358 and is considered to be the longest defensive wall in Europe. Above Mali Ston and forming part of the town's fortification stands the impressive five-towered castle, Koruna. Mali Ston itself is laid out in terraces rising up the hillside and overlooking the sheltered harbour with its landmark circular Toljevac Tower built in 1478. Just across the isthmus lies Ston, laid out to a grid plan in the 14th century, the town is reminiscent of Dubrovnik and contains some fine public buildings dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The ancient wall has been restored and is open to the public. The walk from Ston to Mali Ston provides wonderful views of the coastline and towns below. The saltpans at ston, still operating today are estimated to have generated two thirds of the Dubrovnik Republic's revenue in the 14th century. Nearby the small community of Broce, reached by a causeway running beside the Ston channel, was established in 1349 and has historic buildings and a delightful beach.
Mali Ston harbour
Mali Ston Beach |
Mali Ston and castle |
Eating out
Ston and Mali ston are places of culinary excellence. There are renowned seafood restaurants, notably Bota Sare (occupying and old salt warehouse) and Kapetanova Kuca (Captain's House), on the seafront of Mali Ston. The town is famous for its oysters harvested from the local oyster beds. You can sample the excellent local white wine, Posip, and two great reds: Dingac and Postup.
Beaches
There are beaches at Mali Ston and Broce and Prapratno Cove, close to Ston, provides one of the finest sandy beaches in Croatia.. The Peljesac peninsula contains some of the very best beaches that can be found on the Adriatic. A 30 minute drive up the peninsula will take you to the delightful village of Zuljana. The village houses front a small harbour and sandy beach which offers excellent swimming against a spectacular backdrop of woodland and mountains.
Dubrovnik
Described as the pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik will not fail to impress with great City walls rising out of the brilliant Adriatic against a backdrop of steep mountainsides. Within the walls of the old town are some fine architecture and lively streets crammed with shops, cafes and restaurants. Walk the City walls to enjoy the beautiful roofscape of the old town and the seascape beyond. Visit the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries and stroll down the cobbled streets and alleyways or relax in the cafes. During the summer months the Dubrovnik festival hosts concerts on most nights providing music of all types.
Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik and Lokrum Island |
Castle wall |
Beach near Dubrovnik |
Stadun, Dubrovnik |
Gruz
Gruz is the port area of Dubrovnik where the cruise ships dock and where mega-yaghts tie up at the quayside around this large and sheltered natural harbour. The gentle banks of Gruz harbour was where the Dubrovnik noblemen chose to build their fine summer palaces to escape the heat and bustle of the ancient city. Many of these stunning Rennaisance buildings are still standing and some have been renovated as luxury hotels or spectacular private houses. Today Gruz is a shopping and commercial centre for Dubrovnik as well as a living museum of Rennaisance architecture.
Eating Out
Dubrovnik offers everything from sophisticated restaurants in spectacular waterside locations to simple bistros in alleyways and side streets of the old town. The choice is endless. We can provide you with our recommendations
Beaches
In Dubrovnik there are popular beaches all around the Lapad Peninsula. From the old town harbour ferries go regularly to the small island of Lokrum just a few minutes away, where Dubrovnik people traditionally like to go for a swim. A short distance down the coast there are sandy and shingle beaches at Kupari and Mlini.
Islands
The nearby islands of Lopud, Sipan and Kolocep are easily reached by ferry from Dubrovnik. Much quieter but still historically interesting. Lopud has one of the best sandy beaches in the region whjoch can be reaced by walking across the narrow neck of thre island from the town of Lopud. The charming harbour front village of Suderad on Sipanhas a well preserved fortified palace from the 15th century.
Trsteno
About 10km from Dubrovnik is the famous landscaped garden and arboretum of Trsteno a Mediterranean garden with a fine array of trees and breathtaking views. The gardens were created by the nobleman Ivan Gucetic in the grounds of his summer villa built between 1494 and 1502 .
Tresteno Arboretum |
Suderad harbour, Sipan |
The Peljesace peninsula
The Peljesace peninsula, some 65km long is only 6km across at its widest point. It joins the main land at Ston and run parallel to the main Dalmatian coast. The peninsula is characterised by a rugged natural beauty. Mountains of over 900 metres height run down the spine of the peninsula and the coastline is indented with many natural bays and harbours. The principal town on the Peninsula is Orebic. The peninsula has some of the nicest beached in Croatia, both sand and shingle and many that are in quiet and picturesque bays. Trpanj is a pretty harbour town with a delightful beach, linked by ferry to the mainland at Ploce. Trstenik and Zuljana are amongst the prettiest beach front villages that you will find in Croatia.
The historic towns of Ston and Mali Ston, with their massive fortifications, have guarded the entrance to the Peninsula since the 14th century. Today they are also famed for their excellent restaurants and locally harvested oysters.
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 wineries located in the village of Potomje on the road running up the centre of the peninsular. It is possible to taste wine and buy directly from the wineries.
View to Trestenik
Peljesac Wines |
Zuljana Beach |
Mljet
A 40 minute ferry journey transports you from Prapratno Cove on the Peljesac peninsula to the nature reserve island of Mljet. 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 and by taking the boat service out to the monastery.. There are entry points to the park area at Pomena and Polace. The villages of Prozura and Okulje to the south of Sobra are both on sheltered bays and have delightful water front restaurants/konobas.
Salt water lake, Mljet
Mljet |
Village of Okuklje |
More information on the Mljet website.
The Neretva Delta, Mostar and Medugorje
The Neretva Delta, about one hour drive north west of Dubrovnik and 45 minutes south east from Makarska, with its fertile groves of oranges and lemons and networks of lakes, rivers, and canals provides an unusual and contrasting landscape. Over the border in Bosnia, the historic town of Mostar, with its iconic bridge provides a vivid cultural contract with it Mosques, local cuisine and busy narrow shopping streets and market stalls. Mostar is around 45km from the Croatian border at Metkovic. The town of Medugorje, the famous place of religious pilgrimage, is as similar distance from the border.
The Neretva Delta
Mostar, Old Town and Bridge
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Our Villas in Mali Ston
| Villa Mimosa | |
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Exclusive luxury villa with pool. 3 bedrooms. Sleeps 6 to 8. Elegantly furnished. Garden and terraces. 100 metres from beach. |
| Villa Katarina | |
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1-2 bedrooms, sleeps 2-4. Renovated stone house of great charm. Wonderful sea views and 1 minute walk to beach and restaurants. Terrace. Rent in conjunction with Villa Mimosa to sleep 8-12 in total. |
| Villa Studio | |
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A two hundred year old luxury studio villa at the edge of a historic small town, comprising of a large, air-conditioned sitting room/bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Terrace, garden and lovely sea views. 3 minute walk from the beach. Sleeps 2-4. |
| Villa Vanya | |
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An old cottage, full of charm and old world character, recently refurbished into an air-conditioned small luxury villa. Two minute walk from the beach. Sleeps 2-6. |
| Villas Mimosa and Katarina | |
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Two luxury villas less than one minute apart in the delightful harbour front village of Mali Ston. The villas can provide accommodation for 8-12 persons if booked together. The larger villa, Mimosa (pictured), sleeps 6-8 persons, has a pool and large garden. |
