I traded shoes for camera lenses and found my dream base on the Istrian coast – RM Luxury Villa in Rovinj. Think infinity pool sunrises, truffle pasta on the terrace, island-hopping afternoons, and Old Town sunsets. Here’s my insider look at living the dolce vita, villa-style, in one of Croatia’s most photogenic towns.
Hi, I’m Silvia – the kind of traveller who packs more camera lenses than shoes and judges a holiday by its sunsets. Let me take you inside the most lavish base camp I’ve ever found on the Istrian coast.
Table of Contents
Why Rovinj Caught My Heart (and Filled My SD Card)
The very first morning I tip-toed through Rovinj’s maze of cobbled lanes, the air tasted like a fresh espresso spiked with pine resin and sea spray. Fishing boats thumped softly against the quay, gulls heckled the sunrise, and every pastel façade – sherbet orange, pistachio green, rose-petal pink – seemed to compete for best Instagram pose. I passed laundry lines strung between second-floor shutters where striped towels fluttered like nautical flags, and I swear two silver-haired nonnas were arguing about whose cat claimed the sunniest windowsill.
By noon, I’d already shot a hundred photos of doorknobs alone – bronze lions, chipped cherubs, a cheeky dolphin. Then sunset arrived like a grand finale: the Adriatic turned molten gold, St. Euphemia’s bell tower rang vespers, and café lights twinkled on cue. In that moment, Rovinj felt less like a destination and more like a perfectly staged movie set – one screaming for a luxury villa backdrop worthy of its cinematic charm.
In Rovinj: Introducing RM Luxury Villa with Pool – A Private Oasis
Quick-Look Highlights
- Mini-gym & sauna – so I can earn my gelato guilt-free
- 6 bedrooms & 8.5 baths – zero queue time for post-beach showers
- 50 m² infinity-style pool – mirror-flat at sunrise, party-ready by sunset
- Private lift – I call it “lazy-bones mode” after big seafood dinners
- Free e-scooters – the coolest way to roll to the old town
A Day in the Villa, Silvia-Style
- Wake-up on a cloud-soft king bed; swipe the curtains open to a horizon that blushes pink.
- Espresso & emails on the balcony (yes, the Wi-Fi is fibre-fast).
- Cannon-ball into the pool – camera poised for the slow-motion splash.
- Cycle to Lone Beach in seven breezy minutes; snorkel with starfish.
- Truffle pasta cooked by our hired chef while I sip Malvazija on the BBQ terrace.
- Sauna + stargazing – because contrast is everything.
Life here hits that sweet spot between Dolce Vita and James Bond location scout.
Location, Location, Aperitivo
| Walk / Ride | Minutes from the Villa | Why I Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Beach | 10 | Pebble-soft entry, emerald water, natural shade. |
| Rovinj Old Town | 10 | Labyrinthine alleys, art studios, gelato every 20 m. |
| Supermarket | 3 | Midnight cheese emergencies: sorted. |
| St. Euphemia’s Church | 14 | Climb the bell tower for a 360° drone-level panorama. |
I timed these with an e-scooter and a grin; your mileage may vary by photo-stop frequency.
Experience Rovinj Like a (Well-Pampered) Local
Old-Town Flâneuring
I lace up comfy sneakers, slip past the Baroque Balbi Arch, and let instinct steer me through a living postcard. One minute I’m gawking at a crumbling lion-of-St-Mark relief, the next I’m bargaining – badly – for antique lace at a stall near Grisia Street. When hunger hums, I grab a briny oyster trio at La Puntulina’s seafront hatch and chase it with an espresso so potent it could power a Vespa. Tip: keep coins handy; those hole-in-the-wall galleries that sell one-of-a-kind ceramics often operate on cash and charm.
Island-Hopping
Sixteen islets twinkle just offshore, each begging for its own Instagram carousel. I hire Captain Boris, who knows every secret cove, and motor to St Andrew’s Island first – smooth white stone, a Benedictine abbey, and Adriatic water so lucid I can read my pedicure. Next stop: Crveni Otok (Red Island) for a picnic in pine-scented shade and a lazy snorkel over medieval quarry ruins. Feeling fancy? Request a sunset sail back – the town ignites in copper light while you toast prosecco on deck. Chef can keep dinner warm.
Wine & Truffles
Istria’s terroir is the Beyoncé of under-appreciated greatness: all talent, not enough hype. I book a half-day with Matosevic Winery, swirl their oak-kissed Malvazija, then head inland to Motovun’s truffle forests. Armed with a snub-nosed Lagotto Romagnolo, I unearth a fist-sized tuber, later shaved theatrically over hand-rolled fuzhi pasta at a farmhouse konoba. Pair it with Teran red – think Pinot meets blackberry jam – and I promise your taste buds will compose sonnets.
Adrenaline on Water
Sunrise paints the coastline violet; I push off on a glass-bottom kayak that makes every sea urchin look like IMAX. Paddle south past Golden Cape Forest Park, stash the kayak, and power-hike to a 15-metre limestone ledge locals call “The Telegram” – because one leap sends a message. Heart pounding, I cannonball into gin-clear water and surface to claps from beach yogis. Too intense? Rent a stand-up paddleboard at Borik Beach by twilight; bioluminescent plankton sometimes spark like paparazzi beneath your board.
With these extra adventures in my back pocket – and now yours – Rovinj stops being a postcard and starts feeling like a playground built just for well-spoiled wanderers. Trust me, your camera roll and your soul will thank you.
Practical Bits (Because Luxury Still Likes Logistics)
| Need-to-Know | Details |
|---|---|
| Check-in / out | 16:00 / 10:00 – flexible if gaps allow. |
| Parking | Secure, gated, fits four cars. |
| Pets | Small dogs welcome (my cat stays home jealous). |
| Security | CCTV + smart locks; I slept like a well-fed kitten. |
| Concierge Extras | Private chef, yacht charter, in-house massage – just ask. |
Ready to Book?
Trust me, photos barely scratch the surface of how indulgent this villa feels when you’re drying off on a sun-lounger with cicadas singing backup. Dates fill fast from May to September, so if your wanderlust is tingling, hit that “Reserve” button before someone else claims your sunset.
See you in Rovinj – save me a seat at the pool bar!
Some of the stunning photography featured in this article is sourced from the talented contributors on Unsplash – a platform for freely usable visuals that capture Croatia’s magic perfectly.
