Villa Nina pool and stone house

Jesenovik ยท Istria ยท Croatia

Villa Nina

A hand-restored stone house in the quiet green heart of Istria โ€” four bedrooms, a private pool, and a garden on three levels.

8 guests 4 bedrooms 4 baths Private pool

01 โ€” The house

A rustic soul, thoughtfully renewed.

Lovingly restored in 2022, Villa Nina keeps the soul of old Istria โ€” thick stone walls, timber beams, terracotta floors โ€” and weaves in everything a modern traveller could want: four ensuite bedrooms, a sun-lit kitchen, air conditioning throughout, and a garden that climbs the hillside in three green tiers.

Fifteen minutes from the Adriatic. Twenty from the medieval streets of Labin and the sea terraces of Rabac. An hour from Opatija or Rovinj, if the spirit calls.

5.021 reviews
2022Renovated
8+2Guests
Stone facade
Living and dining room with stone archway
Guest Favorite on Airbnb

03 โ€” Explore the villa

Room by room, floor by floor.

Step inside. Every space, from the stone-walled kitchen to the attic bedroom, waits in its own quiet corner.

A hand-drawn floor plan is coming soon โ€” soon you'll be able to click each room directly on the plan.

04 โ€” The villa

Everything you need, nothing you don't.

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Private pool

Fenced pool with sun loungers and a stone terrace โ€” long Istrian afternoons, made for it.

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4 ensuite bedrooms

Each with its own bathroom, air conditioning, wardrobe, desk and TV. Sleeps 8+2.

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Full kitchen

A generous, well-stocked kitchen โ€” enough tools and space for six cooks at once.

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Three-level garden

Lawns, shade, a canopied dining terrace, and far views across the Istrian hills.

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BBQ & outdoor dining

Grill nights under the stars โ€” plus a trampoline and ping-pong for the restless.

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Hot tub

A private hot tub tucked into the garden for cooler evenings.

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Free parking

Park on the property. No hunting for spaces, no village squeezes.

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Fast Wi-Fi

Reliable internet with a dedicated workspace โ€” for the rare working holiday.

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Pets welcome

Bring the four-legged ones. There is plenty of garden to explore.

05 โ€” Discover Istria

A region to wander slowly.

Villa Nina sits in central Istria, a short drive from the coast, the hilltop towns and the region's most loved attractions.

    06 โ€” Local knowledge

    A quiet guide to the Istrian week.

    What to eat, where the village keeps its bread, and a story or two to tell by the pool.

    At the Istrian table

    A short list worth seeking out โ€” all within a half-hour drive.

    • Fuลพi with trufflesHandmade diamond pasta with shaved black truffle โ€” the region's signature dish.
    • PljukanciRolled pencil-shaped pasta, usually served with game ragรน or wild asparagus in spring.
    • Istrian prลกut & cheeseAir-cured ham aged in the bura wind, paired with sheep's cheese and an olive oil from Vodnjan.
    • FrituleSmall rum-scented doughnuts with raisins โ€” a festive sweet, easy to fall for.

    From the villa

    A few quiet tips from Nina to make the week feel easier.

    • Morning breadThe bakery in Krลกan opens at 06:30. Ask for kruh s tikvinim sjemenkama if they have it.
    • The butcherSmall village butcher 10 min away โ€” best prลกut, homemade sausages, and lamb for the grill.
    • Market daysLabin's market runs Tuesday and Friday mornings โ€” figs, tomatoes, olive oil, honey.
    • A bottle of MalvazijaThe local white wine. Ask at any small shop โ€” a good one runs about โ‚ฌ8โ€“12.

    Old stories

    Two tales that still drift through these hills.

    The ลกtrige

    Istrian folk tradition tells of ลกtrige โ€” witches who gathered on summer nights under great walnut trees to dance and scheme. Villagers avoided those trees after dark; children were told to stay close to the house.

    The krsnik

    And against them, the krsnik โ€” a good-hearted wizard, born with a caul over his head, who would fly out at night to protect the village from harm. A kind of guardian of fields, flocks and children.

    07 โ€” Getting here

    How you arrive.

    01

    Fly in

    Pula Airport (PUY) is 45 min away. Trieste (TRS), Rijeka (RJK) and Zagreb (ZAG) are all reachable in under 2 hours.

    02

    Drive in

    From Zagreb via the A1/A8 motorways โ€” about 2h 30min. From Trieste or Ljubljana, around 2 hours. Free parking at the villa.

    03

    Check in

    Between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Nina or Leonora will be waiting with the keys โ€” and, often, a welcome platter.

    04

    Settle in

    Pour yourself something cold, step onto the terrace, and breathe. You've arrived.

    Nina, host of Villa Nina

    08 โ€” Your host

    Hosted by Nina.

    An opera singer by trade and a Superhost by heart โ€” Nina has spent two years welcoming guests to the home her family restored stone by stone. She answers within an hour, helps with everything, and quietly leaves a little something waiting when you arrive.

    100%Response rate
    < 1 hrReply time
    2 yrsSuperhost

    09 โ€” What guests say

    Five stars, every time.

    21 reviews on Airbnb. A 5.0 rating. Here are a few favourites, in the guests' own words.

    โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
    Nina's accommodation is a dream for anyone looking for a quiet getaway. Everything was as described and in great condition. Lots of super nice furnishing details, a great garden on 3 levels, the pool super clean. There was nothing missing. Nina was always available and quickly helped with questions.
    Jenny September 2025 ยท Stayed over a week
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    We had a very enjoyable stay. As a welcome, there were even two sausage platters with fresh bread, and in the fridge there was a 6-pack of beer ready โ€” a really great gesture! The place was clean and cozy, and the host was very nice and attentive.
    Johannes August 2025 ยท Stayed about a week
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    The house is completely newly renovated and not in a cheap way โ€” everything seems very solid and expensive. Every room has its own bathroom, air conditioning and TV. The kitchen has everything one can ask for. There is tabletennis, pool and trampoline, and enough space in the garden. Really perfect.
    Sarah July 2024 ยท Stayed about a week
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    We had a wonderful week at Nina's place. We were very warmly welcomed by Leonora. Communication was excellent. The property offers everything your heart desires and has its own charm. Absolutely charming and highly recommended. They are warm hosts who have created a small oasis for a perfect vacation, with a lot of love.
    Susann July 2025 ยท Stayed about a week
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    If you want to find peace and quiet on your vacation, escape the noise and bustle of the city, this is the perfect place to recharge and slow down. Perfect for families. In the evening, you can listen to the silence of the surrounding nature. Restaurants, beaches, shops โ€” whatever you need is a short drive away.
    Michal July 2025 ยท Stayed about a week
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    We were very pleased with our 2-week stay. The house and property are super nice, great amenities, everything as described and even beyond that โ€” all amenities were thought of. The photos are not nearly as beautiful as the property looks in the original. A big thank you to Nina and Stefano.
    Dana August 2025 ยท Stayed over two weeks
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    5.0 from 21 reviews on Airbnb
    Read all reviews โ†’

    Your Istrian summer

    Come and stay a while.

    โ‚ฌ1,800 per week ยท Saturday to Saturday ยท sleeps 8.
    Nina usually replies within the hour.

    Book on Airbnb โ†’