Bolara 60 is a culinary guesthouse in the Croatian region of Istria, opened in July 2017. It suits guests seeking a rural base, within easy reach of beaches, restaurants and many fantastic sights, but feeling remote and a million miles away from the tourist bustle of the coastline. The house is surrounded by meadows, forest, olive groves and vineyards. The village of Bolara contains a handful of h
ouses, only one of which is in sight - our fantastic neighbours who produce wine, olive oil and vegetables (and hunt truffles in season with their dogs), and are a constant source of advice, support and friendship. Bolara 60 had been in a very bad state after over 30 years uninhabited. Some of Istria's very best masons, carpenters and other craftsmen have carefully restored the thick stone walls, rebuilt the roof and rooms using natural materials (mostly local stone, lime, iron and wood), laid stone floors and terraces and uncovered enormous boulders in the land around to build garden steps. The house is heated with solar power and log burners, minimising the use of electricity and gas. Instead of air-conditioning units we have thick stone walls and heavy shutters for the summer, and open fireplaces, log-burning stoves and hot-water bottles for winter. We have also rebuilt the vegetable garden walls and created terraces to grow a wide array of vegetables, and planted a small orchard of quince, medlar, apple, persimmon, pomegranate and more. Several olive trees form a small grove, to supply olives for curing and eating. (Our neighbours make more than enough excellent olive oil to go around.) Next to the house there is now a summer kitchen for cooking activities, and a courtyard with resurrected stone table, wood-fired oven for pizza, and large grill. Bolara 60 comprises the Kućica ('small house') and Kuća ('house'):
The Kućica ('small house') is available for rent year-round. It is self-catering, although guests may also be able to arrange some dinners and breakfasts with us if they wish, in summer. The house includes:
Covered terrace with seating, grill, sink and lovely view across the valley;
Ground floor konoba (stone cellar) with dining area, log-burning stove, fully equipped kitchen and WC;
First floor bedroom ('Mirna') with both natural lime plaster and exposed stone walls, terracotta tile floor, original oak ceiling beams, hand-made wooden twin beds (which come together as a comfortable large double), log-burning stove and basin;
First floor bathroom with shower;
Very spacious second floor master bedroom ('Altini') with stone walls, waxed pine floor, original oak roof 'horse' beam, antique iron double bed, free-standing antique 'slipper' bath, basin, en suite WC and windows on three sides. The Kuća is our home and also functions as a guesthouse during the main season (usually May-October). Guests can book individual bedrooms, have breakfast communally on the terrace and can also enjoy our home-cooking for dinner by arrangement. We can offer, or point you in the direction of, a range of culinary activities including our own cooking classes, helping out in the veg garden, preserving orchard produce, meeting local producers, wine-tasting and joining in with seasonal activities such as the grape harvest, olive harvest and truffle hunting. Possibilities for these activities depends on the season, weather and our availability. Guests will be allocated rooms based on their needs and preferences:
Nocciole: Cute small lime-plastered light-filled room with solid oak floor, antique wooden double bed, stone sink set into the window and log-burning stove. Orah: Slightly larger room with both lime plaster and exposed stone walls, solid oak floor, original oak ceiling beams, hand-made wooden double bed, basin and log-burning stove. Nocciole and Orah share a bathroom on the first floor, with free-standing cast iron bath with shower. Perini: Spacious loft room with both lime plaster and stone walls, waxed pine floor, original oak roof 'horse' beam, hand-made wooden double bed, small antique pine single 'cot' bed and stone sink. Jadrini: Spacious loft room with both lime plaster and stone walls, waxed pine floor, original oak roof 'horse' beam, wooden double bed and small double bed, basin, and space for an additional zed-bed if needed. Perini and Jadrini share a spacious bathroom with separate shower and free-standing bath, with WC next door. Guests can enjoy the large vine-covered terrace at the front of the house, looking out across the green valley. Also the summer kitchen's covered terrace and the courtyard area behind the house by the olive grove and vegetable garden. More information on our website:
www.bolara60.com
