After five years in design and construction, my vacation villa, Nine Olives Hvar, on the edge of beautiful Stari Grad, on the magical island of Hvar, was complete in June 2024. Many visitors have now stayed in it and they have all, without exception, praised both the house and the location. It is a truly special place.
I live in England. I was joint owner of a house in Stari Grad for 12 years. I liked the town so much that, when we sold that house, I started looking for the best site to build a perfect holiday home. Nine Olives Hvar is the result.
I have, working with architects Morpharos, carefully designed Nine Olives to be a perfect holiday house for extended families and groups of friends. It has been built by an excellent local construction company with great attention to detail. We have combined ultra-modern design with respect for local tradition.
It has five bedrooms, all on the ground floor. They each open onto the spacious loggia (a veranda inside the body of a house).
There are four large main bedrooms, each of the same size. They each have a direct view of the sea through large French windows. One has a second large window looking into the garden. Each has two beds which can either be a king size double or divided to be two single beds. They face the window so that guests look out at the view from bed.
Each room has an ensuite shower room with shower, toilet and two purpose- designed basins.
One of the four main bedrooms is a suite with an additional room with two single beds. It is designed with families with young kids in mind. The second bedroom in the suite can be entered without passing through the main bedroom so it can also be used as a comfortable fifth bedroom by adult parties.
Each room has a large fitted wardrobe, a headboard that has a shelf with electic sockets and light switches that are easy to reach, a shelf along the wall for putting things, and hooks for hanging things.
A separate bathroom (i.e. with bathtub rather than shower, plus toilet) is shared by all rooms. There are five inside bathrooms altogether.
There is also a secluded al fresco shower, with hot and cold water, in the garden.
There is a laundry room.
The loggia, overlooking the swimming pool, has easy chairs. It is in the shade for much of the day. There are recliners and umbrellas around the pool.
The living areas are in the chapel-style structure above the bedrooms. It is a beautiful space, double height for about a third of the area. The sea-facing side is entirely glazed. It is accessed through both an inside and outside stair.
The lower section of the upper area has an open plan kitchen and dining area, with a round table seating 10 that looks out over the sea. Guests are able to watch the many yachts and other boats that come in and out of Stari Grad harbour.
The kitchen has a large oven, fridge, dishwasher, microwave and island preparation table, which is great for gathering around. It is fully equipped.
A spiral staircase leads up to a large mezzanine lounge with chairs facing the sea. The views are fantastic. It has a TV with Netflix and board games.
There are floor to ceiling sliding windows at both levels of the upper area. The house faces directly west towards the sunset. The sun sets over the sea from late May to late July. Sunset views are tremendous at all times of the year.
With the sun rising from the opposite side of the house, the blues and greens in the morning view towards the sea are, typically, deep and sharp.
The large windows capture a cool breeze which blows from the sea from late morning to evening most days during the warmer months.
There are French doors from the kitchen to the roof terraces on either side. Both terraces offer great views. The smaller roof terrace is often be in shade. The larger terrace has a gazebo providing shade, with a table seating 10. It has a gas barbecue.
The outside stair leads from there to the swimming pool.
The smaller terrace has 10 chairs for watching the sunset. It has a table for computer work or playing board games in the open air.
The swimming pool is directly in front of the loggia, with the neighbouring olive grove in the background. The water is treated by hydrolysis, with no chemicals. It has shelves designed for comfortable sitting in the water to read or chat. It is heated, although that is only needed before May and after October.
The garden has been designed by a local landscape designer in Mediterranean style. There are 12 olive trees dotted around the plot. There is an outdoor dining table in the garden seating 10 and a barbeque.
The house is designed to be naturally cool. It has been well insulated and most of the windows are not exposed to the sun except in the late afternoon. The French windows along the front of the house open to the sea breeze, which normally blows in the afternoon. The bedroom windows have insect nets so that they can be open overnight without disturbance from bugs.
All rooms have ceiling fans, if a little assistance with cooling is needed. The whole house is fully air conditioning if the fans do not suffice.
Solar panels on the roof provide off-grid energy.
The house is short walk from Lanterna beach, a beautiful pine tree-surrounded cove with a pebble beach, sunbathing platform, lovely swimming and a beautiful beach bar (open seasonally).
Sandy Maslinica beach is less than 2km away via a beautiful coastal path.
Nine Olives Hvar holiday house is on the edge of Stari Grad, which is one of the oldest towns in all of Europe, founded in 384BC. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is strung out along the side of its harbour, with traffic free quays on both sides. The car-free walk along the harbourside from the house to the town centre is beautiful. It is about 600m from Nine Olives to the main square.
Cycling is a delight for all ages and abilities, whether simply along the quayside or further afield into the stunning countryside. There is an excellent selection of waymarked routes.
There are innumerable boats of different shapes and sizes moored in Stari Grad harbour and there is always activity on the water. Small boats and sailing dinghies can be hired.
The stone-built old town has winding narrow alleys and hidden squares, with numerous ancient churches. It is car-free and children love playing in it. The main square is overlooked by the Renaissance-era summer home of poet Petar Hektorović, Croatia’s Shakespeare. It has a fish pond that is iconic in Croatia. There are many restaurants, bars, coffee shops and ice cream shops to choose from. A small but pleasant park has a children’s play area and outdoor gym. There a new "mist piazza" is great for play also. Kids can also do things like dinghy sailing, kickabouts in the main square with (or without) the locals and visiting the small but fun aqua park.
All of Hvar's outstanding attractions are within easy reach. There are great day trips to be had to places like Hvar Town and the Pakleni Islands, many lovely beaches, and the spectacular wineries on the south side of the island.
It is easy to get to Nine Olives Hvar. Most people fly to Split and take a ferry, which goes 5 times a day for most of the year, taking about 2 hours. There is also a daily catamaran that takes about 1 hour. The ferry port is 800m from the house. You can. alternatively, take a taxi boat direct from Split Airport (which is by the sea). It is easy to have a look around Split old town, a fascinating World Heritage site, en route.
We have an arrangement with a very helpful taxi company that can take you on day trips.
I can promise you a great time. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions. I am normally able to reply quickly and I'm happy to do so.
David Geddes
