Casa Ceppi, a vacation home rental in Istria, Croatia

An Elegantly Restored Farm Compound on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula

This generous ensemble of farm buildings has been rebuilt and restored to be a stunningly sizeable getaway made up of a main building, an independent cottage for two, a pool and pool house, two old stables, and several pergolas. The stately property dominates a hilltop outside the traditional village of Čepić, its exterior space accented by gardens, prettily planted terraces, and an alfresco-living-focused courtyard, plus a boccia court and pool.

With its main building housing the estate’s principal gathering, cooking and dining spaces, it also offers seven double bedrooms, five of which feature ensuite bathrooms, and there are two additional bathrooms in the corridor. The small house, called a kuci, accommodates two, with its own living area and kitchenette.

The AD100-listed Wietersheim Architects of Berlin restored the property from near ruin, rebuilding original buildings and retaining historical features such as arched entries and vaulted ceilings. The farm’s original oak beam ceilings were rebuilt, and new terrazzo floors were added to match the historical ambiance. Outdoor spaces include a large balcony with views of the surrounding countryside, a lavender- and rosemary-scented courtyard, and a pool with a poolhouse and pergolas nearby.

Around

The Istrian peninsula juts into the northern Adriatic Sea and is a landscape of rugged, Mediterranean vegetation, picturesque hilltop villages, and fertile countryside lined with vineyards, truffle-pocked forests, verdant valleys and craggy coastline. Culturally, the land has been influenced by Venetian, Austrian and Slavic settlement, and the peninsula offers outdoor recreation activities as well as historical and cultural visits. Nearby villages to discover include Motovun, Groznjan and Oprtalj, with historical stone buildings, cobbled streets and open produce and seafood markets. Gastronomes should try their luck at truffle hunting in the fertile valley, and outdoor recreation options range from cycling the Parenzana trail, rock climbing and exploring the countryside’s many rural trails to making a trek to the beach, where sailing and swimming can be found on little-known beaches and waterfronts.