CROATIAN LIGHTHOUSES

Surrounded (usually) by the big blue.

During the period when Croatia was part of the Austro Hungarian empire, over 40 lighthouses were built in the sea and on rocks along this famous Adriatic coast. Advances in technology mean that today, many lighthouses (or parts of them) are no longer needed and some are now open for visitors to enjoy quite a different holiday experience. Where a lighthouse is still manned, the lighthouse keeper lives in a separate part of the building. All lighthouses have a freshwater supply and some form of power for cooking and heating if required. Bed linen and towels are supplied and kitchens have basic equipment (some kitchens are better equipped than others). 

Lack of space does not allow us to include details of all lighthouses but for novices, we would suggest the Lighthouse Grebeni, managed by and just five minutes away from the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel with all the services of a five star hotel just a phone call away.

A lighthouse can be great fun and provide something truly different for lovers of the sea, tranquility and privacy: they are best for adults who are reasonably fit since there can be steps or clambering over rocks.

You can add on a few days in a hotel after a stay at any lighthouse.

LIGHTHOUSE VILLA ZUB

NEAR POREC - THE CHEATING ONE!

This is for cheats because it isn’t even at sea (!) and is located on the tip of the Lanterna peninsula surrounded by its own gardens. The lighthouse Zub was renovated just last year in the style of a Mediterranean country villa as the name suggests. This is a unique spot with the blue Adriatic below and ahead and a rocky beach just steps away. The lighthouse-villa is located just 15 minutes from the buzzing resort of Porec and is owned and managed by the Valamar hotel group. So, in addition to enjoying complete privacy and a feeling of being at one with the sea, within a five minute stroll you could be enjoying a massage in the spa at the Valamar Club Tamaris - all facilities of the Club resort are available to guests. We said this one is for cheats and it really is!

ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING

There is a spacious open plan living area with parquet floor incorporating a dining room and fully equipped kitchen (including dishwasher), three double bedrooms (two with king-size beds) and one is a family room which is a double bedroom with inter-connecting doors to a children’s room with bunk beds. All bedrooms except the children’s room have direct seaviews. There is a flat screen satellite TV, wireless internet and telephone. Bed linen and towels are included.

Three spacious modern bathrooms, two with bath, one with shower and hairdryer. Outside, there is a terrace and pergola and outdoor furniture plus private access to the sea. Club Tamaris is close by and there is a regular bus or taxi boat into Porec with its bars, restaurants and shops.

Transfer time from Pula airport is approximately two hours.

Prices are available on request dependent on month of travel and length of stay. We will be happy to provide a quotation. Sample price: 7 nights in late May from £782 per person inclusive of return flights Gatwick to Pula and shared transfers.

LIGHTHOUSE GREBENI

DUBROVNIK – THE STYLISH ONE

Lighthouse Grebeni stands on the Grebeni reef just half a mile from the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace and operated as a working lighthouse since 1872. The reef is a natural habitat of the yellow-legged gull, a protected species of seagull in Croatia. On a tiny island-reef out at sea, yet not remote, with one free return transfer to Dubrovnik included per day between 08:00 and 20:00, no keeper, you are on your own.

ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING

Under the management of the five-star Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, the lighthouse has been well renovated and furnished in a style in keeping with the environment with use of white and blue. The residential area has three double bedrooms and one single bedroom and there are two bathrooms with shower and L’Occitane toiletries. A fully equipped kitchen and a living room with satellite TV. Breakfast is served at the lighthouse and needs to be ordered the day before. A corridor houses a traditional “gustijerna” water tank, the building is powered by 220V electricity derived from solar modules. The lighthouse is fully automated and connected to a remote control system. A mobile phone has connections to all hotel departments.

An outstanding feature of Grebeni is the outdoor area. There are two spacious terraces (totalling 324 square metres) with comfortable deck chairs, sunbeds and parasols.

Butler and chef are available on request at a cost of €100 each per day payable direct to the hotel. Daily maid service with cleaning, change of sheets and towels is included. All the services of the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace are available to guests.

For experienced divers, an underwater excursion to the Italian ship Taranto sunk in 1943 is just 20 metres from the lighthouse and available from the hotel.

Transfer time from Dubrovnik airport – approx. one hour 30 minutes dependent on tides.

7 night prices from £1039 per person based on 6 people sharing on B&B, including shared transfers and British Airways flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik.

Please contact us to enquire about prices etc for a lighthouse experience.

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