ST VINCENAT
ISTRIA AND KVARNER RIVIERA
LOCAL AREA, BEACHES & THINGS TO DO
Svetvincenat
Svetvincenat, also known as Savicenta, is a charming quiet small town in central Istria. The town is centred around some fine 14th and 16th century churches and the fortified manor house, Palazzo Grimani, dating from 1589. There are several good restaurants and cafes in the town centre.
Pula
Pula is the main regional town in Istria, with a good selection of restaurants and an attractive shopping area. Walk through Pula and experience old town streets and squares some of which were there even in Roman times. The stunning amphitheatre is from the first century AD and ranks the sixth largest in the world. The town centre is about 10 minutes drive from Pula airport.
Pula Amphitheatre
Beaches
There are excellent beaches on the many peninsulas and bays around Pula; notable are Stoja, Veruda , Verudela and Pjesana Uvala. A little further out of town the nature reserve of Rt Karmenjak on the very tip of the Istrian pensinsula provides kilometres of unspoint coastline and many bays or tockky headlands where you can swim in the crystal clear sea.
Bay in Premantura |
Jumping at Rt Kamenjak |
Brioni islands
From the town of Fazana you can take a boat trip to the islands of Brioni, another national park area and formerly the summer residence of Yugolavia's President Tito.
Brioni Islands
Rovinj
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. The harbour is tightly packed with local fishing boats and the cafes on the harbour front are the perfect place to relax.
As you walk up the narrow cobbled roadways between the old stone houses every corner brings another scene that seems perfectly composed for a photograph; a glimpse into an ancient courtyard or the subtle fading paintwork on wooden shutters. Around one corner a lively konoba (bistro); around another a gallery with local craftwork.
Rovinj Harbour |
Rovinj |
Rovinj has classy cocktail bars and smart restaurants overlooking the bay as well as simple pizzerias and bistros down side streets. From the harbour there are excursions and taxi boats to nearby islands, notably Red Island, that are ideal for a day swimming and relaxing. There are also many beaches to choose from on the mainland shore. The "Blue Flag" beaches of Valalta and Villas Rubin and the beach in Lone Bay are amongst the most popular.
Activities
In the vicinity of Rovinj there are opportunities for tennis, paintball and rock climbing. Climbing is organised at Zlatni Rt on the caost and inland near the ruined fortified medieval town of Digrad in the Lim valley. The Lim estuary (Limski Kanal) is another place for a relaxing swim with excellent restaurants beside the beach.
Other coastal towns
Other coastal towns well documented in guide books are Porec, Vrsar and Umag. The charming town of Novigrad is worth visiting; it has an attractive harbour crowded with local fishing boats and an old town surrounded by fortifications and on the outer side (away from the harbour) a lungamare (promenade) providing a pleasant walk along the coast and an ideal place to sunbathe and swim.
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.
Duga Uvala
Duga Uvala is a sheltered bay on the east coast of Istria between the larger towns of Labin and Pula. This area of Istria is generally very undeveloped and provides a long stretch of unspoilt coastline. Inland from the coast are delightful rural villages. Local roads and farm tracks lead down to the coast and its many coves and inlets on the peaceful Rasa estuary and the bay of Duga Uvala. In Duga Uvala bay itself there is a Hotel, beachside cafes and pizzeria. The hotel complex includes a wellness centre, massage, aromatherapy amnd fitness centre. There are sport facilities available as well as night clubs and discos. The principal town of the area is Pula but there are shops and restaurants in several of the villages and small towns in this region.
Duga Uvala bay and hotel |
A quiet beach |
Central Istria
Central Istria is often compared to Tuscany. The undulating landscape with vineyards, olive groves, woodlands and river valleys is studded with numerous hilltop towns and villages, many originating from the medieval period and earlier and almost all offering spectacular vantage points over the surrounding countryside. The guide books pick out the hilltop towns of Motovun and Groznjan but 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. These medieval settlements have charming village houses, squares and alleyways and in towns like Oprtalj and Motuvun more imposing architecture and fortifications.
Oprtalj |
Motovun |
To the east side of Istria the old town of Labin and the hilltop village of Gracisce are worth visiting.
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 best Croatian wines. Notable are the Kozlovic and Markezic wineries.
The Istrian coastal towns
The west coast of Istria is within easy reach. Many of the towns on this coast are communities first established in the Roman era or earlier but the dominant influence that can be seen today is Venetian. Most of the major coastal towns were under the control of the Venetian Republic during the medieval period. At the northern end of the coast the charming town of Novigrad is worth visiting; it has an attractive harbour crowded with local fishing boats and an old town surrounded by fortifications and on the outer side (away from the harbour) a lungamare (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.
Rovinj
Other coastal towns well documented in guide books 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.
Our Villas in St Vincenat
| Villa Stanzia Kabrun | |
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A luxury country estate in acres of garden, comprising of four bedrooms, four bathrooms, air conditioned villa, summer kitchen, wine cellar, wellness house with gym, jacuzzi, sauna and a large heated swimming pool. Wi-Fi. Sleeps 8-10. |
| Villa Benedetti | |
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This wonderful Istrian farmhouse is 250 years old and was a ruin when the present owners started its renovation with a painstaking attention to detail. Now this is a luxury four bedroom, three bathroom air conditioned home, with a magnificent walled garden and pool, surrounded by green countryside and tranquillity. Sleeps 8-9. |
| Villa Allegro | |
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A modern four bedroom, three bathrooms, air-conditioned Istrian villa in the heart of countryside, within easy reach of wonderful towns and beaches. The villa has a large garden, pool, and an indoor sauna, with high speed internet. Pet friendly. Sleeps 8. |
| Villa Brio | |
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A modern four bedroom, three bathrooms, air-conditioned Istrian villa in the heart of countryside, within easy reach of wonderful towns and beaches. The villa has a large garden, pool, and an indoor sauna, with high speed internet. Pet friendly. Sleeps 8. |
| Villa Presto | |
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A modern three bedroom, three bathrooms, air-conditioned, within easy reach of wonderful towns and beaches. The villa has a large garden, pool, and high speed internet. Pet friendly. Sleeps 6 to 8. |
| Villa Scherzo | |
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A modern three bedroom, three bathroom, air-conditioned, within easy reach of wonderful towns and beaches. Garden, pool, internet. Pet friendly. Sleeps 6-8. |
| Villa Rossa | |
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An old stone farmhouse of incredible charm, comfort and privacy, renovated and refurbished in 2009. Four bedrooms, five bathrooms, large garden and pool, underfloor heating and air conditioning. Internet. Gourmet cooking provided on request. Sleeps 8 people. |
| Villa Mariella | |
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Two bedroom, two bathroom air-conditioned small village house of great charm. Walled courtyard with outdoor table and a barbecue terrace. Child swimming pool provided. Sleeps 5-7. |
| Villa Barronie | |
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Modern luxury, air-conditioned six bedroom, six bathroom villa in six acres of land, heated pool with Jacuzzi, games room, fitness room, tennis court, golf practice range, football, beach volley, wine cellar, pet friendly, wheel chair access. Bicycles. WiFi. Daily maid. Meals can be brought in. Gated villa with parking for many cars. Ten minute drive from the coast. BBQ. Sleeps 12-17. |
| Villa Salluna | |
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A luxury, air-conditioned, four bedroom, three bathroom old stone villa in a lovely village on a country bike trail. Walled garden, pool and BBQ. WiFi. Pet friendly. Sea 15 min by car. Sleeps 8. |
