Vertigo Palace

Accommodation at Vertigo Palace, a restored, historic townhouse, is arranged over two floors. In every room, the furnishings and decor are an eclectic mix of classical, antique, and contemporary, as are the numerous works of art on show.

The green main wooden doors of the palace open into a welcoming internal courtyard with an elegant lap pool. The sense of heritage and romanticism already hints at what’s to come inside the property. Taking a left down a few steps, French doors lead to the palace’s voluminous living area with large sofas at each end, and an impressive fireplace. Another set of glass doors immediately in front allows access to the indoor pool and sauna area. This beguiling 24m² circular pool is refreshing during the summer months when the outdoor pool may be warmer, and perfect for post-sauna cold plunges. This entire ground level will make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world with the expansive, exposed stone barrel-vaulted ceilings enveloping you in the cavernous ambiance.

The space flows from the living area through an arched entrance to a dining room furnished with a grand antique wooden table large enough for 12, and adorned with huge paintings from Croatian modern artists. Two entranceways at the far end of the dining room open into the well-equipped kitchen, with its own dining island, and which exits onto the al fresco dining area of the pool terrace. You will certainly not run out of outdoor lounging and dining choices at Vertigo Palace!

To continue our tour, we must return to the central dining room, from which a rustic iron staircase extends to the first floor, which sits within the same confines of the high vaulted ceiling shared with the dining room below. The open-concept first floor mezzanine hallway wraps around the perimeter and leads to a succession of four sumptuously styled double bedrooms, each of which has an ensuite shower room. Think modern light fixtures, original stone walls, light airiness, and beguiling finishes.

The hub of al fresco life at Vertigo Palace is the walled courtyard garden, which can be accessed from the living room, the kitchen, and down a stone staircase from two of the bedrooms. Next to the long, elegant pool is a refreshing outdoor shower, and a separate WC. At the back of the garden is the shaded outdoor dining area, while on the other side of the pool is another al fresco area complete with sofa and barbecue.

Three of the four bedrooms have direct terrace access: one to a private terrace, and two share access to the hidden sun lounging terrace completes with four loungers.

Since Vertigo Palace is surrounded by its high stone walls of the courtyard, complete privacy is guaranteed, which is a rarity for a villa just a stone’s throw from the centre of town.