Villa Contessa

Villa Details

OVERVIEW

Villa Contessa was built at the turn of the 19th century and represents a well preserved example of "art nouveau" or "belle époque" architecture. All its Venetian style neo-gothic architectural elements have been preserved, although the villa was renovated to provide modern standards of luxury inside. The villa is located in an exclusive part of a beautiful old small town of Lovran on the North Adriatic Riviera. The area consists of other similar grand villas built at the same time and situated in their own large Mediterranean gardens. The most exclusive villas have gardens opening directly onto their own beach, and Villa Contessa is in that category. A swimming pool was added in 2016.

Accommodation

The main entrance of the villa is at the back of the house, facing the street.

Ground Floor

Open plan kitchen, dining room, sitting room and wine store. This is a large open living/dining space which contains the kitchen and dining room, with a dining table that sits ten persons. A solid wood kitchen is fully equipped with a large oven, gas hob, fridge freezer, coffee maker, kettle, toaster, microwave and plenty of cooking utensils, plates, cutlery and glassware. The kitchen opens out onto a large dining room with a lovely stone fireplace and a beautiful wooden dining table where ten persons can sit comfortably. A doorway leads off the dining room into a well stocked wine store. A large comfortable sofa and armchairs complete the living room, and it is a splendid space for the whole group to sit in the summer time with open French doors onto the garden. In cooler seasons, and in winter time this space is also very cosy and relaxing with the roaring fire, and thus can be enjoyed all year around. From the dining room a hand made wooden staircase links this area with the upper floors. A large French door opens out onto the garden terrace covered by a roof supported with elegant architectural pillars and arches, with an outdoor sitting area with a sea view. The parkland garden stretches all the way to the sea.

First Floor

Hallway, small kitchen, sitting room with a bay window to sea and with a sea-view balcony, master bedroom with an en-suite marble shower room. A wooden staircase to the ground floor and a marble staircase to the second floor. Original glass doorway opens out from the entrance staircase into the first floor hallway. To the right is a small kitchen, fully equipped. The rest of this whole floor is occupied by a large sitting room, a large balcony and a master bedroom suite. The sitting room contains a TV/DVD and is furnished with an antique sofa, chairs and a table, and has a magnificent sea view from the large bay window. An air conditioning unit in the sitting room area serves the whole floor. This is a very peaceful place to sit and enjoy the large expanse of the Kvarner bay and islands in the distance. A special feature of this sitting room is a beautiful balcony which you step out on through large French doors. It is magical to sit there in the day, but in particular in the cool morning air or in the evening with the lights of the whole coastline stretching as one shimmering ribbon. From the sitting room a doorway leads to the master bedroom with the original marble floor. This bedroom has a large double bed, some antique pieces of furniture and a large wardrobe, with access to its own very spacious en-suite shower room.

Second Floor

Hallway, a covered balcony to the right, a walk-in shower room, a single bedroom with sea view, a store cupboard, a large sitting room with a bay window and a doorway to the second master bedroom, adjoining a single bedroom. Coming out of the hallway you can immediately step out onto a charming covered balcony. Next to this is a single bedroom, equipped with light and bright modern furniture, plenty of storage space, a desk and a lovely view of the sea and gardens. The main part of the floor is occupied by the sitting area with table and armchairs with a TV in the large bay window, with a feeling of being in a lighthouse. Off the sitting area is the second floor double bedroom, with original marble floors, large double bed, lovely antique chests and art work. The second single bedroom, also with sea views, is reached through this double bedroom. Also off the sitting area is a second marble shower room. An air conditioning unit in the sitting room area serves the whole floor.

Outside

Large Mediterranean garden, garden cottage with a summer kitchen and dining area, direct sea access, private beach, own mooring and the recent addition of a 4 x 8 metre swimming pool. The villa is on an elevated position and has an uninterrupted view of a large expanse of the sea, known as The Bay of Kvarner. It is surrounded by a large Mediterranean garden. A stone paved path leads from the villa, down a few steps into the main part of the garden and a wrought iron gate which opens up directly onto the seashore, where you can swim and sunbathe in great privacy on sun loungers, with parasols provided for shade. The garden is planted with mature palm trees, agaves, roses, lavender and other Mediterranean plants. Its lawns are cut neatly and bordered with clipped yew hedges, just in the style of grand resorts of the bygone era. Garden cottage with a kitchen and a hammock by the sea This is a lovely corner of the villa garden, a little oasis of calm and shade, where you can spend the whole day preparing light meals and drinks, rocking in the hammock and stepping a few metres to dip in the sea. A well equipped summer kitchen, a large covered dining area and a TV set is there for the enjoyment of guests who usually like to spend all day there. A private and secure area of the beach is entered from the garden below the villa.

Additional Information

• Parking for one car within the grounds of the villa, and more parking spaces outside the villa on the road.
• All bed linen and plenty of towels and beach towels are provided
• Pool toys are provided
• Once a week house cleaning and change of bed linen and towels is included
• Pets are allowed subject to the owner’s approval.
• The villa has its own mooring for tying up a boat

Sailing

For those wanting to combine a week in the villa with a week sailing we can make recommendations for yacht charter, either bare boat or skippered.

About the area

Lovran Travel Guide

Getting there

Flight and Travel information