Most luxury hotels are open to anyone who wishes to stay. So will The Nautica, set in the cusp of a natural bay, in Novigrad, Istria (north west Croatia). However, this hotel was built specifically with sailors and their boats in mind.
Parking is at the back of the building. I must admit that, at first, I was not that keen (because I thought I was looking at the front). It was when I went to the actual front, facing the marina, that my view changed!
Keeping the car park to the back of the building means that the views to the sea are unimpaired. The idea of putting parking somewhere that does not spoil views, is part of the new Istrian Ten Year Tourism Plan.
From the car park, you enter through a tall space like an atrium, that goes all the way from front to back. Off to one side of the atrium, half-way down, is the entrance to the hotel. The concierge is lavishly adorned with leather, brass and luxury fittings.
The interior of the hotel is designed to resemble the interior of a large masted sailing ship, complete with port-holes and rich, crafted wood walls, floors and ceilings. Rooms are luxuriously fitted-out; furniture, furnishings and rooms are opulent, and space abounds.
Rooms with balconies have excellent views over the marina, the sea, and towards Novigrad town and its working fishing harbour. There is an extensive exterior area with seating, tables and umbrellas. The architecture is almost colonial in style, with a rich plum wall colour broken up by white columns and veranda railings. Inside is all top-class wood and brass, with countless expensive sea pictures, some original, and low lighting.
The Nautica can rightly refer to itself as “one of the most luxurious hotels on the Adriatic.” Its 38 designer rooms and 4 lavish extra-luxury apartments, all on one floor of the two-storey building, are lavish and sophisticated, and yet no-one would bat an eyelid if clients strolled around in sea-going apparel.
The hotel is literally right on the marina. It has an amazing 365 sea berths and 50 dry berths, thus far-exceeding the yacht provision of other similar resorts by over ten-times. It is quite possible that the hotel will be enlarged in the future, given such excellent facilities and capacity.
As the hotel claims, it can accommodate “mega yachts” in the very sheltered cove that forms Novigrad harbour. Full boat services are available plus petrol, and the Nautica has services not found elsewhere. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. The Nautica is mainly a highly-personalised marina establishment.
Facilities indoors include a restaurant offering local ingredients and, of course, an a la carte menu, to both guests and locals. If you wish you can watch the master-chef prepare your food in the open kitchen.
There is a lounge bar for relaxation, informal business chats, and cocktails. There are two conference rooms. The larger has the usual facilities for about 100 people. Next to it is the far more intimate boardroom-style room for 8 - 12, with a large luxury table and plush leather chairs. A beauty salon and wellness centre (a feature in almost all Istrian hotels) complete the list of offerings. There is even a dental practice.
Istria is the first Croatian region to develop as a fully-touristic area and is well worth a visit… it must be a good place to live – the Head of Tourism lives there! Istria has amazingly unspoilt countryside, mountains and hilltop villages, some of them abandoned. There are ancient forts, incredibly verdant forests, ancient seaside towns with colourful old buildings piled one on top of the other, hidden gems in hard to find villages… the list of reasons to visit are too many to count! From Novigrad you can sail opposite to Venice, or go north to Umag, or farther still to the western end of Slovenia. South is Porec, Rovinj, and Pula, with its second most striking Roman amphitheatre in the world.
For more information, visit: www.nauticahotels.com
© Barry Napier. Photos: Barry Napier - barry.napier@ntlworld.com
Barry Napier:
Hotel/Travel Journalist &
Tourism Consultant
Contacts
The Nautica: info@NauticaHotels.com
Marina Nautica, Sv. Antona 15, HR-52466, Novigrad, Istria, Croatia
Tel: +385 52 600 480
Fax: +385 52 600 450
Boating Information:
45º19,0'N - 13º34, 0'E
Draft at Entrance: 3m
Berths: 365 from 12 – 35m
Harbourmaster: +385 52 757 035
Chandlers: Amadeus Yachting d.o.o., Sv Antona 15, 52466 Novigrad (others available)
Boat repairs: Marservis d.o.o.
For Adriatic nautical maps, regulations, prohibited zones. Go to: www.adriaboat.com/hrvatska/nautica/nautic.htm
Note that marine police frequently check for the correct sailing permit vignettes