Luxury is its own escape, whether it is the simple luxury of being in a tranquil place or the five-star kind that soothes senses and indulges pleasures. A recent visit to a luxury heritage villa in Sinj, Croatia was an experience in both kinds of luxury.
Sinj is a pretty and tranquil place of escape from the larger, more crowded, and more commercialized tourist centers of wonderful Croatia (See our article about Sinj here). It is a town of history, traditional food, and friendly people. The people treat tourists very well, with a sincere hospitality that is often lacking in large tourist centers of many countries. Most visitors to Sinj come from other European countries or from within Croatia. Most find accommodation at local bed-and-breakfast places or at Hotel Alkar, a very pleasant property located next to the city park. We stayed a few nights at the hotel and took full advantage of its location in town center. The staff at Hotel Alkar was a prime example of the sincere and friendly service that made our visit to Sinj so memorable.
A few nights before, we stayed at Villa Tripalo for a sweet taste of five-star luxury with an historic flavor. The home is referred to as a ‘luxury heritage villa’ by Orvas Hotels, which manages an impressive portfolio of heritage villas and hotels across Croatia. Like Italy, Croatia is known for beautiful, centuries-old homes made of stone and timber – the kind that evoke old-world romanticism. Villa Tripalo is more stately than romantic - its luxury and history trump all. Situated on a large, green lot not far from the main square (Pijaca) in Sinj, Villa Tripalo is a Secessionist building dating back to the 1920’s. The recent restoration of the villa aimed to reproduce the original appearance of the villa both externally and internally. With the help of builders and restorers licensed by the Ministry of Culture, the villa has been restored and transformed into a proud representation of refined taste in the Dalmatian heartland. More than a rental home, the villa is a memorial to the Croatian politician Ante Miko Tripalo, the leader of the “Croatian Spring” movement. A bust of Tripalo stands at the villa’s entrance.
“More than 1.2 million Euros was invested in the restoration,” says Mirjana Labetic, Director at Orvas Hotels. “They are very interested in our old architecture,” she says of foreigners who visit Croatia or buy property here. Most of the foreign attention in Croatia is on its coast, including popular spots on the islands, which number more than 1,000. Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and other celebrities have been attracted by the old-world chic of Croatia’s hot spots, which may make more modest places like Sinj more attractive to some people!
Labetic points out that Sinj and the villa are of great interest to many families and business people – the property is marketed for family vacations and corporate retreats or meetings. Priced at 1,000 Euros per day, the villa and its four bedrooms is clearly meant for groups of a certain budget. Luxury travel agencies in the U.S. and elsewhere are now offering the villa for weekly stays.
For all of Orvas’ heritage properties, visitors from Germany are the biggest customer group, followed by Russians, Spanish, and Italians. In addition to Croatia’s architecture and natural beauty, it is the country’s cultural heritage that also attracts visitors from around the world.
“Our history and cultural heritage is very rich,” says Labetic. “It’s because of all the different influences – the Romans, Italians, the Greek and others.”
That history and culture is certainly in abundance in charming Sinj. Located 25 km from the popular city of Split, Sinj is popular for many reasons, not the least being its location in an area of great active tourism – river rafting, canoeing, horseback riding and expeditions, fly fishing, paragliding, and more.
Back at Villa Tripalo, we toured the grand house, which is right next to the newly-renovated five-star cottage in which we stayed for two nights - the villa would have been excessive for only two guests.
The villa is luxurious and its early 20th century look is captivating. The wood, brass, and wrought iron features of the house are either original or faithful reproductions of the ninety year-old features. The villa is furnished with period pieces and top quality Baroque and Empire style furniture, finished with carefully chosen textiles. Works of art by eminent Croatian painters and sculptors add to the sense of the rich life of a century ago.
Fitting of a high-rent property, the villa also offers all modern amenities, such as air-conditioning, satellite TV, a home cinema, and modern kitchen equipment. A sauna, gym, massage room and billiard room are located in the basement, along with the all-important wine cellar, which was once a secret room in the house.
Our tour was a fascinating glimpse of a luxurious country house from another time. Not surprising, Villa Tripalo is a protected cultural monument - it has the status of a cultural good, which is something highly treasured in Croatia.