Aerial view of Motovun — truffle town on a hilltop in inland Istria, 27 km from Villa Kasandra

Istria between
hilltop villages and the Adriatic.

Pictured: Motovun — 27 km from the villa

Where the villa is

Kaštel near Buje —
a hillside village above the Adriatic.

Villa Kasandra lies in Kaštel, a small hilltop village above Buje in the northwest of Istria — high enough for sweeping views over the gentle hills all the way to the Adriatic, close enough for easy access to boutique Istria. A place of stillness, not of hustle.

In thirty minutes you can reach the truffle town of Motovun (pictured above), the artists' village of Grožnjan, and the UNESCO Basilica in Poreč. In ten, the beaches near Umag. We recommend arriving by car — it gives you the freedom to explore Istria at your own pace.

The surroundings

What you will find.

Close by

  • Umag
    Beaches · Marina
    10 min
  • Buje
    Old town · weekly market
    4 km
  • Grožnjan
    Artists' village
    12 km
  • Motovun
    Truffle town
    27 km
  • Poreč
    UNESCO Basilica
    30 km
  • Pula
    Amphitheatre
    60 km
  • Brijuni
    National Park
    60 km

Beaches & swimming

  • Katoro Beach
    Pebble beach · restaurants
    Umag
  • Stella Maris
    Quiet bay
    Lagoon
  • Savudrija
    Natural beaches
    Lighthouse

We are happy to share our favourite secret coves.

Experiences & excursions

  • Wine tastings
    Local wineries
    Region
  • Olive oil tours
    With tasting
    Region
  • Truffle hunting
    With dogs · year-round
    Motovun
  • Parenzana cycle route
    Former railway line
    Olive groves
  • Boat excursions
    Half- and full-day tours
    From Umag
  • Day trip to Venice
    By boat
    From Poreč/Rovinj
Getting here

Three airports.
One hour.

Istria sits at the heart of Central Europe — three international airports are all within an hour's drive. We recommend hiring a car at the airport so you can explore the region entirely at your own rhythm.

Pula Airport
60 km
approx. 50 min
Trieste Airport
60 km
Italy · approx. 50 min
Ljubljana Airport
130 km
Slovenia · approx. 1h 30

Ready for your journey
to Istria?

Check availability, ask about our favourite secret coves — or write to us directly. We love introducing guests to Istria.