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Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat

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Pool
Exterior
Exterior
Terrace/patio
Exterior
4 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Swimming pool
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

5 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat

Wake to the scent of rosemary, step onto a sun-warmed terrace, and slip into a heated pool framed by olive groves. Villa Ballena is a 350 m² designer residence in the green heart of Istria — built in 2021 for travellers who want both serious style and serious calm.

Inside, dark, sophisticated interiors meet natural materials and soft Mediterranean light, with glass that blurs the line between living space and garden. This isn't a rental that feels like a rental — it's an architect-designed home that's yours for the week.

🏊 Heated pool, sauna & wellness
A heated 8 × 4 m biological pool with hydromassage stays swim-warm from spring through autumn — chemical-free and entirely your own. After a day out, unwind in the private Finnish sauna, then cool down under the stars.

🛏️ Sleeps 8 (+1) in four en-suite bedrooms
Every bedroom has its own bathroom — no queuing, no compromise.
- 2 double rooms (180 × 210 cm)
- 2 twin rooms (single beds)
4 full bathrooms + 3 guest WCs, so a full house never feels crowded.

🍽️ Kitchen & outdoor living
A fully equipped modern kitchen — induction hob, ice maker, capsule coffee machine — opens onto a sheltered terrace built for long Istrian dinners: outdoor dining, barbecue, and a majestic hundred-year-old olive tree at its centre. There's also a clay tennis court on the grounds.

📍 The location
Villa Ballena sits on a quiet country lane in Svetvinčenat, a medieval village at the green centre of Istria — the region's celebrated truffle country.
- 300 m stroll to the village square, a traditional konoba and the 13th-century Morosini-Grimani castle
- 19 km to the nearest Adriatic beach (Bale)
- 23 km to Rovinj
- 33 km to Pula Airport
The Limski kanal, the Brijuni islands and the truffle forests around Buzet are all within easy reach.

🐾 Good to know
- Two pets welcome — at no extra charge
- 24/7 host support in English, German, Italian & Croatian
- On request: Pula airport transfer, private chef, daily cleaning, baby cot & high chair
- Bed linen, towels, pool towels and final cleaning all included

🎯 Perfect for
Couples after a wellness reset, families who want a pool and space to themselves, or friends celebrating something. Travelling as a bigger group? Villa Ballena connects with its sister Villa Beluga to sleep up to 18 — two pools, two kitchens, one private estate — ideal for weddings, milestone birthdays and retreats.

Summer 2026 dates are limited. Send us your dates and we'll hold them for you.

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 1 total)

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number HR77401050769
Property # 11537768
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Svetvincenat

Located in Svetvincenat, this villa is in a rural area. Grimani Castle and Cistern are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Posebni ornitološki rezervat Palud and Festinsko kraljevstvo Cave. Višnjan Observatory and Paleo Park are also worth visiting. Explore all the area has to offer with cycling, mountain biking and hiking/biking trails.
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Map
Svetvincenat

What's nearby

  • Cistern - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Loggia - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Grimani Castle - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Church of Annunciation - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Church of St. Catherine - 11 min walk - 1.0 km

Getting around

  • Pula Station - 26 min drive
  • Pula (PUY) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pizzeria Orhideja - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Caffe Bar Erman - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Klarici - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Restoran kod Kancelira - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Stancija 1904., Smoljanci - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

How much does it cost to stay at Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat?

As of 2 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat on 25 Sept 2026 start from AU$968, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

How much is parking at Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Villa Ballena · Heated Pool, Sauna & Tennis · Designer Istria Retreat located?

Situated in a rural location, this villa is within a 10-minute walk of Grimani Castle, Cistern and Church of Annunciation. Loggia and Church of St. Catherine are also within 15 minutes.

About the host

Hosted by Ana Pojatina

Host profile image

Hello, I'm Ana.

What I love most about hosting is the moment guests arrive, set down their bags, take a breath on the terrace — and you can almost watch their shoulders drop. That's exactly the feeling we designed these spaces for. I also genuinely enjoy helping people plan their stay, whether you want a quiet do-nothing week or a packed itinerary of truffle hunts, wineries and beaches; I'm always happy to share where we'd send our own friends.

We host directly and personally. You won't be dealing with a faceless agency — you'll be talking to us. We speak Croatian, English and we're reachable whenever you need us. Our goal is simple: that you leave already planning your next visit.

Why they chose this property

We chose Svetvinčenat because it's the Istria most visitors drive straight past — and really shouldn't.

While the coast fills up in summer, here in the green interior life keeps its slower rhythm. Our village is built around a beautifully preserved medieval square and a 13th-century castle, with a handful of family-run konobas where the truffle pasta is made by hand and the owner has probably pressed the olive oil himself. Step outside in the morning and the air smells of pine, wild herbs and warm stone.

What I love most is how much sits within easy reach without anything ever feeling crowded. In under 40 minutes you can be swimming off the rocks near Rovinj, walking the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, kayaking the Limski kanal, or hunting truffles in the forests around Motovun and Buzet. Then you come home to complete quiet — olive groves, birdsong and a sky full of stars with no city glow.

For us it's the best of both worlds: the authentic food-and-wine heart of Istria right on your doorstep, and the Adriatic coast just a short drive away. It's the kind of place that surprises people — they come for the villa and fall in love with the region.

What makes this property unique

Villa Ballena was designed as a genuine wellness retreat, not just a house with a pool. We built it in 2021 with one idea in mind: everything should help you slow down.

A few things truly set it apart:

- A private Finnish sauna and a heated biological pool with hydromassage — chemical-free and swim-warm from spring to autumn, surrounded by nothing but olive trees and open sky.

- Four en-suite bedrooms, so every couple or family member has their own bathroom — no queues, no compromises, even with a full house.

- Architect-designed interiors where dark, calm tones meet natural materials and soft Mediterranean light, all built around a hundred-year-old olive tree at the heart of the home.

- A sheltered terrace made for long dinners, with a barbecue and outdoor dining, plus a clay tennis court on the grounds.

But what I think really makes us different is how we host. Pets are welcome at no extra charge, because they're family too. Linen, towels and final cleaning are all included, with no surprises. And on request we'll arrange a Pula airport transfer, a private chef or daily cleaning — so your only job is to relax.

Travelling as a larger group? Villa Ballena connects with our sister villa, Beluga, to host up to 18 guests — two pools, two kitchens, one private estate — made for celebrations.

Languages:

English, Croatian

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