In this area Lovely Istria offers holiday villas in Livade, Karojba, Sterna near Oprtalj and the village of Dol near Buzet. All have a private pool, and most stand among olive groves and fields, far from the crowds. Livade is known for its truffles and lies on the Parenzana cycling trail, Karojba is a quiet village not far from Motovun, and Oprtalj is a small Istrian hill town above the valley. The sea is around fifteen kilometres away, so a peaceful stay inland is easy to combine with a day at the beach.
Holiday life here has its own rhythm: morning coffee on the terrace, lunch with local ham, cheese and olive oil, wine and truffles from nearby konobas, and in the evening the view of lights across the hills. That makes villas around Motovun a good choice for families, couples and groups who want peace, stone houses and the real Istrian countryside.
Motovun and the hill towns
Motovun can be seen from far away: a stone town on top of a hill, reached by a road with views over the Mirna valley. The best part of a visit is a walk along the town walls, from which on a clear day you can see hills in all four directions. Inside the walls is a small square with stone houses, and below the town the forest where truffles are hunted.
Other hill towns are easy to add to a day out. Grožnjan, not far away, is known for the artists working in its old houses. Oprtalj is quieter, with stone streets and a view across the valley, and from Buzet you can go on to Hum, a place that calls itself the smallest town in the world.
Truffles and wine
Truffles are the reason many people come to this area. In autumn, when white truffle season arrives, the konobas in Livade and around Motovun serve dishes with truffles, and some offer truffle hunts with dogs. Malvazija and Teran go with the truffles, and the local winemakers often welcome guests for tastings.
Where the villas are
Lovely Istria has seven villas in this area: three in Livade, two in Karojba, and one each in Sterna and near Buzet. The sea is far from here, about 15 km, and the beaches are not close either, so this is an area for a holiday by the pool, with the sea as a day trip. The village centre is 590 m to 5.2 km away, mostly around 2 km, and a restaurant is 730 m to 2.6 km away. These distances are measured on the map, as the crow flies, so the actual drive is usually longer.
Food and drink
The cooking here is at the heart of Istrian cuisine: fuži and pljukanci pasta with truffles, maneštra soup, cured ham, homemade cheeses and olive oil. Lunch in a konoba on a hill, with a view of the valley and a glass of wine, is the best way to get to know the area.