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Choose accommodation that suits you in a pleasant rural idyll not far from the most famous Istrian beaches!
Hi, we are the Cvitić family
Hi, I’m Ana, the owner of Apartments Arbalovija. This estate originally belonged to my great-aunt and her only son. He and his wife unfortunately couldn’t have children of their own…but were blessed with a long and happy life. My great-aunt lived to be 106 years old and her son and his wife were both 96 before passing away.
Maybe it was this house, a real traditional Istrian home, that played a role in living so happily and for so long…
Renovations started in 2004 and were finished two years later, where the main objective was to preserve the traditional way of building, along with the original house elements. It is just one of the examples where old things get a completely new “modern” life.
Other examples would include the old window which now serves as a front part of the kitchen cabinet and the old door which became lovely kitchen table. Main focus is put on natural materials and we are putting all of our effort in using what nature gives and provides. Additional electronic devices that every apartment needs (such as microwave, electric kettle, TV) are newly installed.
House walls are pointed with lime mortar, which was handmade in a traditional way by my father. My father also made the colour pigments used on house walls and these originate from natural materials (such as our red Istrian soil).
The floors in our apartments are paved with so called Istrian tavelica, a type of terracotta which is polished and cleaned by hand, while the ceiling is covered with a hundred-year-old oak beams. These beams proudly stand and are a great depiction of the influence of time and sometimes you can even hear a small warm or two happily nibbling on the wood J, which most people experience as an additional charm of our apartments.
Apartments Arbalovija are part of the family estate where we all come together to take care of cleaning and maintaining the property, along with the pool and tourist reservations… looking after the overall appearance.
We will proudly accommodate you in one of our apartments and remain your hosts for years to come.
We are looking forward to your arrival!
Ana & Sandi
What makes Arbalovija so special?
We adore and cherish our native land, nature, people and animals, which can be seen from the way we take care of our apartments.
Not only are they traditionally and rustically built, with plenty of natural materials (stone, wood, lime) and repurposed old objects… We also maintain this lifestyle in our day to day routine and take care of our nature by sorting waste, recycling and composting at every step.
We’re keeping a close eye on water consumption along with other energy sources.
A few years ago our pool’s water filtration system was completely renovated and changed from freshwater to saltwater pool, making it more natural with less chemicals.
We’re looking forward to all the families visiting our apartments and for this reason we made a special children’s corner in the forest, with swings and a treehouse.
Pets are also more than welcome – our spacious garden is perfect for running and playing around.
Another place that you can visit is our olive grove just outside Pula. Each year our olives are harvested and transformed in premium quality olive oil. Everyone likes to try it and you can also buy some, but the quantities are sadly limited and usually don’t last us the whole season.
Are there any nearby places worth visiting?
Selo Dončići u kojima se apartmani nalaze je veoma malo i sastoji se od svega nekoliko kuća i puno prirode J. U neposrednoj blizini, svega 3-4 km udaljenosti, nalaze se tipična, mala, pitoreskna mjestašca Žminj, Kanfanar i Svetvinčenat sa svim potrebnim uslugama (trgovina, mesnica, pekara, pošta, banka, ambulanta, apoteka).
Provedite nezaboravne trenutke seoskog turizma na posebnim destinacijama
koje se nalaze unutar 10 km od apartmana.
Latus family dairy
Taste local cheeses at Latus family dairy:
Restaurant Puli Pineta
Enjoy traditional Istrian delicacies at a nice family owned restaurant “Puli Pineta”
Winery „In Sylvis“
Explore local “In Sylvis” winery and taste quality Istrian wine
Distillery and tasting room “Frane destilerija”
Try excellent homemade rakija at family owned distillery and tasting room “Frane destilerija”:
What does “Arabalovija” actually mean?
Arbalovija is Istrian name for a plant best known as Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), which is native to South America. In Istria it has been planted and used since ancient times, mainly as an addition to our rakija and sometimes even for tea or for various meat and fish dishes. It has a pleasant and refreshing scent which reminds of lemongrass and lemon balm plants.
You can find it in our garden next to the apartments or in the refrigerator ready for tasting J
This plant’s name might not be the easiest to remember in connection to our apartments, but we’re sure Arbalovija’s taste and smell will remain in your memory for a long time.
CHECK OUT OUR APARTMENTSWhich well-known sights can be found nearby and how to get to them?
Our apartments are geographically located in the central part of Istria, so no matter in which direction you decide to go, all of the most important sights are situated at approximately same distance:
- Rovinj, famous romantic centre of Istria, is 20 km away.
- Istrian west coast (Poreč, Vrsar, Novigrad), is approximately 30 km away by car.
- Fažana, starting point for a boat ride to Brijuni National Park, is 25 km away.
- Pula, with its famous Amphitheatre and protected natural area Kamenjak, is about 30 km away.
- Lim Bay, famous Istrian fiord, is only 15 km away.
- Istrian east coast (Rabac, Rakalj, Labin) is approximately 35 km away.