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Svetvinčenat, Istria
Villa Ballena & Villa Beluga — Luxury Villas in Istria, Croatia
Two Villas. One Unforgettable Istria.
Svetvinčenat, Istria
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(ABOUT)
Nestled in Istria's truffle country, just steps from a medieval village, Villa Ballena and Villa Beluga offer a private luxury experience where contemporary design meets authentic Mediterranean living.
Relaxed Mediterranean Elegance
Read our storyTimeless
Design.
Wellness-
Focused
Living.
- living space
- green spaces
- exclusive bedrooms
- concierge services
- 24/7
(OUR BELIEFS)
A Vision of
Inspired Living
To inspire and nurture an enriched lifestyle that harmonizes beauty, wellness, and cultural connection, creating a sanctuary that feels like home.
Book a Visit(LOCATION & LIFESTYLE)
Villa Ballena & Villa Beluga — relaxed Mediterranean elegance in Svetvinčenat, Istria
Villa Ballena and Villa Beluga sit on a quiet country road in Svetvinčenat, the medieval village at the green heart of Istria, Croatia. From the front gate it is a 300-metre walk to the village square, the konoba, and the 13th-century Kaštel Morosini-Grimani — and only 33 km to Pula Airport, 23 km to Rovinj, and 19 km to the nearest Adriatic beach at Bale.
Each villa is a 350 m² private luxury retreat: four en-suite bedrooms, a heated 8 × 4 m biological pool, a Finnish sauna or full game room, and a kitchen built around an induction hob, ice maker, and capsule coffee machine. Both villas were built in 2021, share a clay tennis court, and accept up to two pets at no extra charge.
Booked together as Complex BeBa, Villa Ballena and Villa Beluga sleep up to 18 guests with two pools, two kitchens, and one combined property — the format Croatian families and international groups choose for weddings, milestone birthdays, and corporate retreats.
Ballena & Beluga is the rare Istria address that combines designer interiors with small-village authenticity. From the heated pool you can see olive groves; ten minutes by car gets you to the Limski kanal, the Brijuni archipelago, and the truffle forests around Buzet. The result is relaxed Mediterranean elegance — quiet enough for a sabbatical, lively enough for a celebration.
We host directly. Bookings made through ballenaandbeluga.com skip the platform fee and unlock concierge planning: airport transfer from Pula, private chef on request, daily cleaning on request, wedding and event coordination, baby cot and high chair, and 24/7 guest support in English, German, Italian and Croatian.
If you have a question that isn't covered on the site, our FAQ answers the 13 most common ones in detail — from heated-pool season dates and pet policy to airport transfer and cancellation. For anything else, write to us and we usually reply within a few hours.
(JOURNAL)
View AllDestination
Why Istria for a Luxury Villa Holiday
Discover why Istria — Croatia's green peninsula — is the ultimate destination for a private luxury villa escape.
Food & Wine
A Food Lover's Guide to Istria
Explore Istria's extraordinary food scene — from world-class truffles and award-winning olive oils to family-run konobas.
Experiences
10 Unforgettable Experiences in Istria
From truffle hunting to Roman amphitheaters — the best things to do near Svetvincenat, all within an hour.
(GUIDES)
View All
Planning
Istria with your dog — a pet-friendly villa holiday
Both Villa Ballena and Villa Beluga welcome dogs, free of charge, on fully fenced grounds — pool and garden enclosed, so your dog can be off the lead the moment you arrive. Here is the honest, first-hand guide to a holiday in central Istria with your dog: getting here with the EU pet papers, the dog-friendly beaches and walks within reach, eating out, summer-heat safety, and the nearest vets.
Planning
Best time to visit Istria — a month-by-month guide
There is no single best month to visit Istria — it depends whether you want a warm sea, empty roads, truffle season, or the lowest price. Here is an honest season-by-season and month-by-month breakdown from our villas in central Istria: weather, sea temperature, crowds, prices, and what is on, so you can match your trip to what you actually want.
Events
Truffle hunting near Svetvinčenat — joining a real hunt in the Motovun forest
The Motovun-Buzet truffle country is 45–55 minutes from Villa Ballena & Beluga. Here are the three family operators we send guests to for an authentic hunt with Lagotto dogs, which season catches which truffle, and how to time your visit around the Subotina festival in early September.
Planning
Beaches near Svetvinčenat — the best of the Istrian coast within 45 minutes
Svetvinčenat sits inland, but three stretches of coast are 25–45 minutes from Villa Ballena & Beluga. Here are our favourite beaches — Rovinj's Golden Cape, the family bays of Vrsar and Funtana, the quiet pebbles at Polidor, the naturist coast around Koversada, and wild Cape Kamenjak — with what each is best for and how to plan the day.
Events
Olive oil tasting near Svetvinčenat — the three Vodnjan producers we send guests to
Istria has been the Flos Olei guide's "best olive oil region in the world" every year since 2016. Three of the producers behind that ranking — Chiavalon, Mate and Brist — sit twenty to twenty-five minutes from Villa Ballena & Beluga in Vodnjan. Here is what to taste at each, how a proper olive oil flight actually works, and why the late-October harvest is the visit to time.
Planning
Restaurants in central Istria — konobas, agroturizam and truffle tables near Svetvinčenat
Where to eat in green inland Istria — six restaurants within an hour of Villa Ballena & Beluga, from a family agroturizam 30 minutes away to the Slow Food legend of Konoba Toklarija, with what to order, how to book, and which sight to build the day around.
Privacy & Seclusion
Spaces designed to nurture the mind, body, and soul.
(1)
Design Excellence
Privacy and personal growth at the forefront.
(2)
At Villa Ballena & Beluga, we believe that a home is more than a physical space — it is a reflection of your aspirations, well-being, and values.
Our mission is to immerse you in a lifestyle that balances refined aesthetics, architectural excellence, and a profound sense of community.
Istrian Authenticity
Celebrate local artistry, history, and traditions.
(3)
Warm Hospitality
A welcoming environment that fosters relationships.
(4)
Nature & Wellness
Luxury that respects our environment.
(5)
Wellness-
Centered
Amenities
From private saunas to heated biological pools, our amenities are designed to enhance your well-being and foster a sense of harmony.
Discover Villa Ballena
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An absolutely stunning property. The attention to detail, the pool, the views — everything exceeded our expectations.