Waking Dream

To find a villa that’s this extravagant, this spacious and this luxurious is a rarity so close to Dubrovnik’s famed Old Town. You’re just outside the Pile Gate here, the stone-carved entranceway to the shambling alleyways and oranged-roofed splendour of the Old Town. So you can pick your moment, before or after the cruise ship passengers fill the streets of the Old Town and explore when it’s quiet. Waiting out the crowds at this sanctuary of a villa is no chore either. There’s a pristine swimming pool for cooling off in the heat of the day, a full outdoor kitchen with a wood-fired oven for lunches that last the afternoon, and myriad terraces and patios hidden by palm trees and verdant greenery. Pick your own Mediterranean vegetables from the garden and perhaps enjoy a game of bocce on the court in the sunshine. Inside, you can feel the 200-year-old history of this lavish villa, with frescoed ceilings in the bedrooms and white-wash wood keeping things breezy downstairs. As well as several lounges and living rooms for downtime, there’s a dedicated meeting room with a projector if you’re planning a corporate getaway or want to work remotely in style. Though if you want to spend your time here relaxing, there’s a Finnish sauna that’s sure to do the job. Home truths: *There is private parking in the large garage for up to four cars *Split over six levels and with terraced gardens, this home may not be suitable for those with limited mobility though there is a lift to the first two levels *Three of the bedrooms are in separate apartment-style areas with their own kitchens and living rooms *The four bedrooms in the main house can be set up as doubles or twins, just let your host know what you prefer *A maid service and daily cleaning is included