In the heart of a tame valley of Ravni Kotari and just a few minutes’ drive from the highway exit of Benkovac located is the small village of Lisicici and Villa Asseria. The name of the villa derives from the ancient Roman and Liburnian citadel archeological site. The villa is built from traditional building materials and stone used over centuries. The stone excavated in this area is well known all around Croatia and widely used for construction, and for the locals often the only means of income aside from farming and agriculture.
The villa is a part of a small walled estate surrounded by an olive grove and consists of a children’s playground, a pool and the owner’s quarters. The charming stone stairs leading to the house give it a unique appearance along with a south oriented garden. The house is slightly elevated from the street and has an outer wall protecting the pool area which is perfect for relaxing in a deckchair, cooling down by the pool, or just sipping a drink and absorbing the tranquility of rural living in complete privacy.
There are plenty of activities to enjoy on the villa grounds to get your pulse beating such as table tennis, billiards, darts, or bocce, which is a Mediterranean version of bowling. Younger children will surely enjoy playing in the sandbox, on the seesaw, slide, and swings all located near the house.
High ceilings supported by wooden beams, a spacious and well lit living room with a distinctive fireplace and a covered patio above the pool area give Villa Asseria a real homelike atmosphere. The house also has two open fireplaces locally referred to as ‘komin’ which are mainly used for food preparation and heating. Local people from these parts traditionally gathered around the fireplace in conversation and song, in a similar room as the one offered by this villa. The past is always present in the pleasant atmosphere of this room. Savor the tradition by sitting around a rustic table surrounded by antiques such as carriage wheels and ox yokes.
If your plan is to explore other Dalmatian destinations Villa Asseria is very conveniently located: the sea is a 20 minute drive (Donji Karin), the Zadar airport is only 40 minutes away, the National Parks Krka and Kornati are just a 50 minute drive and the Paklenica National Park only 10 minutes more. If your stay in the Villa Asseria would happen to coincide with the famous Benkovac fair, held every month on the 10th, be sure not to miss it.
This is the biggest fair of its kind in the region and offers a wide variety of items – from authentic crafts to antiques, to local delicacies and livestock. For anyone looking to escape from the everyday urban lifestyle and experience something different, Villa Asseria is an ideal getaway and provides plenty of content to make your experience a pleasant and memorable one.
