This gorgeous old villa in the small, picturesque village of Svinsce near Split is an excellent choice to enjoy a memorable vacation and immerse yourself in the Mediterranean culture and locality. The villa is one of the gems of the Dalmatian hinterland, being in relative isolation regarding the hustle of tourist destinations, along with being excellently preserved for over a century (more precisely, over 150 years). Here you can enjoy glorious views of the hillsides, the mountain of Biokovo and the rich vegetation including pine forests, cypress trees, citrus trees, olives, figs and plenty spices like rosemary, most of which emit enchanting fragrances.
The villa, being old as it is, is a typical Mediterranean structure made of white, high quality stone, with a twin sloped roof covered with red tiles. It has, however, been renovated and thus improved to meet the standards of modern day living. Most of it still has the original outlook, so let’s further describe its exterior. Apart from stone and red tiles, one more fundamental element of Mediterranean aesthetics is the use of green wooden window shades and wooden doors with a curved upper line, also painted green. The courtyard of the villa is quite spacious and it has a lot of interesting, enjoyable content. You will come across old trees, which provide shade for the specially arranged areas of the terrace, a number of lovely plants in vases and crawling up the villa’s walls, along with a lovely garden. The terrace is paved in stone, and the property is enclosed with stone walls, which are especially lovely when illuminated by the evening lights. Those mentioned arranged areas are furnished with coffee tables, chairs with canvass seats, wooden benches, parasols, all to make your stay as comfortable as possible. You should definitely try walking around the paved paths of the property and enjoying the surrounding nature, breathing in all the serenity. Near the villa there is a fireplace, so feel free to enjoy outdoor meals at the table set up for that purpose (on the upper terrace of the house). The interior of Villa Duje is just fantastic – you will notice how the traditional elements were kept to some measure, and how the recently added elements do not impede with the old spirit of the villa. Most of the floors are wooden, the walls stone-made and ceiling have exposed wooden beams, all of them elements of rustic style. The villa has three floors – on the ground floor there is a separate room with a large double bed, a sofa bed, spacious bathroom, storage room for personal belongings, a safe and a LED TV. One particularly interesting room in the villa is the authentic Dalmatian tavern, with an old school fireplace where you can prepare meals and enjoy them at the long wooden table with a set of benches. The tavern is filled with elements of the past, mostly with tools people used at the beginning of the last century. On the second floor of the villa is a lovely veranda with a mountain view (with a dining table, mentioned above), a living room and a dining room with a fully equipped kitchen, a small toilet, indoor stone fireplace and TV. The third floor has a spacious bedroom with a double bed, LED TV, a bathroom and a small balcony. The house is air conditioned and internet is available (Wi-Fi).
You can find most of the supplies like groceries in the village, even though you should have a lot more choice in Split, which is 30km away, and Omis, which is 11km away. The whole area is a must in terms of exploration, but our suggestions are definitely Omis, a town famous for its Corsairs of Almissa, whose ships brought them fame for their unique pirating tactics, attacking and retreating into the narrow mouth of the Cetina River, protecting the town from foreign invaders. There is a number of historical monuments in town, but many more can be found in Split as well. You should enjoy both of these historic places, whether you’re a history geek or not! Alongside that, you have an opportunity to enjoy gorgeous nature, like Biokovo nature park and the lovely islands of Brac and Hvar. For more information, feel free to ask. We wish you a pleasant stay!
