Looking for a European summer escape for your entire family? Look no further than Villa Sea Princess Nika, a tranquil and luxurious villa in Croatia tucked away on the pine-fringed Cikat Bay in Losinj, a small and exclusive island. Here, the blue-green water is so clear, so saltily crisp that swimming in the bay, surrounded by the aromas of local sage, lavender and myrtle is like being in one of Europe's finest spas.
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Losinj, renowned as the ‘Island of Vitality’ is said to have the cleanest air on the planet and one of the mildest climates thanks to the Ucka Mountain range which protects the coast from the biting North Winds. Ambroz Haracic, a 19th-century Botanist and local Losinj resident was responsible for highlighting the island's remarkable healing properties, particularly good for respiratory issues and in 1892 the Austro-Hungarian government declared Losinj’s towns of Mali and Veli Losinj “climate spas”. The combination of clean air, humidity and temperature combined with particles of sea salt and essential oils remains the reason that this little-known corner of Croatia attracts a devoted yet discreet clientele.
It is on Cikat Bay that Losinj Hotels and Villas have recently opened Villa Sea Princess Nika. Standing elegantly in a private and secure garden, overlooking the bay which is gloriously untouched, this nine-bedroom villa (with an extra attic bedroom for a nanny) has been meticulously designed.
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Each of the rooms has an en suite bathroom, there is a home cinema, a steam room, sauna and fitness room and of course a personal butler (organised on request). In every room (including the bathrooms) custom-made Murano chandeliers take centre stage, each piece of hand-blown glass in shades of blue, green and apricot have been designed specifically for the villa and artwork is kept to a minimum. The design of this villa in Croatia with its arched facade pays homage to the European aristocrats who once visited the island.
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There is a private wine cellar where wine tastings can be organised for up to fourteen people as well as a dining room and marble kitchen. Sea Princess Nika is a warm and inviting private villa in Croatia that's ideal for multi-generational families to come and swim, to breakfast on the elegant terrace under scalloped parasols and to plan the day.
There are bicycles to rent and a wide promenade runs through the island (it is also almost entirely flat) so a day can happily be spent pedalling from cove to cove, through pine forests, stopping for lunch along the way (Cigale Restaurant serves the best local seafood). Guided dives for underwater enthusiasts can also be organised to see the hidden sights of the Historical Underwater Park which is in Cikat Bay. In fact, one of the most extraordinary underwater discoveries has been beautifully displayed in the Museum of Apoxyomenos in the nearby town of Mali: This Ancient Greek Statue (2nd century BC) was discovered by a diver in 1999 lying on the sea bed heavily encrusted with barnacles but with careful restoration it is now on display at this tiny Museum. For those wishing to explore the coastline, a beautiful wooden sailing boat can be booked for a tour of the island anchoring in some of the smaller bays for lunch and a swim.
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There are of course plenty of other distractions in the Hotel Bellevue and Boutique Hotel Alhambra which are located on the opposite side of Cikat Bay - all part of the Luxury Losinj Hotels Group. The Michelin-starred Alfred Keller restaurant serves locally sourced Croatian food, outstanding homemade bread and the best olive oil in town.
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The Cube Spa Alhambra offers guests an ‘inhalation bar’ where steam filled with essential oils is inhaled from ceramic vases to open the lungs and free them from toxins. In the Bellevue Spa, there are indoor and outdoor seaweed pools and a wide range of treatments including the ‘Under the Sea’ massage. The Japanese restaurant Matsunoki serves some of the best and freshest sushi and sashimi outside of Japan.
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There are only, I suspect, a handful of places left on this planet that are as ‘undiscovered’ as Cikat Bay, where there is such a feeling of absolute calm, clarity (that must be because of the clean air) and rejuvenation. Standing on the terrace of this tranquil villa in Croatia, and listening to the pine trees settling in for the night as the sea waits to bathe you in its salty waters the following day, you will never want to leave.
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