Villa Astra Hotel

Hotel Overview

In the second half of 19th century when Austro-Hungarian Aristocracy discovered the beauty and climate of the Kvarner Bay, they began building luxurious villas and hotels. Soon the area of Lovran and Opatija became known as a winter health resort of the royalty. Completed in 1905 in Venetian Floral Gothic style, the Villa was designed by the well-known architect and master-builder, Atilio Maguolo, for the Guerra family. The exterior surface and windows of the villa are richly ornamented and well preserved.

In 2002 the Villa Astra (originally Villa Guerra) was carefully renovated with loving attention to every detail, from harmonious colours, rich fabrics and handsome eclectic blend of charming old elegance and contemporary comfort. It is surrounded by palms, laurels, oaks and beautiful garden.

Location

An elegant, spacious villa represents a perfect example of Venetian Gothic built by master-builder Attilio Maguolo at the beginning of the 20-th century. The exterior and the windows of the villa are richly ornamented and well preserved. The first in an array of summer-houses situated at the beautiful location, opening to the magnificent view of the Kvarner bay, lying by the very sea, the villa is distant from the main road leading from Opatija to Lovran, and can be reached by 5 minutes walk from center of Lovran.

It is surrounded with attractive, green garden and has a direct access to the beautiful seaside promenade „Lungomare“. Villa features 6 guest rooms, an intimate, gourmet restaurant, the reception and the adjoining aperitif bar, a heated outdoor swimming pool, open-bar by the swimming pool, wellness area and parking spaces for its guests.

Rooms

Elegance and good taste are the hallmarks of the villa, that reflects from three guest rooms in the first floor with a high ceiling, that are spacious and full of light, overlooking the sea and garden, balcony (or terrace), a heating/cooling system, direct telephone line, SAT TV and Internet connection. Special impression of old elegance is achieved with original ceramic stoves. Colors of the walls, curtains and other used fabrics are carefully selected, to be in harmony. To combine the beauty of the old times with the comfort of the new era, each suite has an elegant bathroom with modern conveniences.

Three guest rooms in the second floor are decorated with softer colors and provide a more intimate atmosphere, overlooking the sea and garden, with beautiful loggia, cooling/heating system, direct telephone line, SAT TV and Internet connection. Each suite has an elegant bathroom with modern conveniences.

Breakfast is included in the service offered at the villa, and if guests would like to dine in the villa – a restaurant in the ground floor of the villa is there for them.

Guests may choose among six spacious, individually decorated rooms, each with an expansive view of the lovely grounds and the sea. room colours harmonize softly to create a peaceful ambiance.

Clement: warm and romantic room in the first floor of the villa (32,58m²), decorated with bright red tonalities with particular, intimate charm and romantic atmosphere. Room has been decorated with fabrics and materials of best quality, and has a balcony (1,02 m²).

Nicolo: spacious room in the first floor of the villa (44,73m²), full of light, with large windows, decorated with carefully chosen blue tonalities, with a front balcony overlooking the garden, outdoor swimming pool and the sea.

Josip: room in the first floor of the villa (36,33m²), decorated with fabrics in pastel tonalities of green, inspired by the rich green of the garden and the environment, opening to the sea with a terrace (20,00m²).

Ema: room in the second floor of the villa (31,71m²), that, due to it’s position, is one of the most peaceful, with big windows expanding to the view at the beautiful, rich trees and seafront. The room with its soft colors reminds of lavender.

Isidora: room in the second floor of the villa (26,80m²), decorated in the tonalities of the magnolia and cyclamen flowers, with a loggia (7,20m²). Though the smallest room in the villa, due to the loggia, and its position and a wonderful sea-view, the room is particularly cozy and reflects a sense of comfort.

Tilla: room in the second floor of the villa (39,08m²), with an exit to the loggia (8,78m²) inspired with the sea and sandy beach, decorated in gentle beige colors, spacious and full of light, spreading the feeling of lightness and peace.

Services

Wellness Area Enjoy the wellness area, which fratures Ayurvedic massages, Steam Bath, Silence Room and Inspiring Library. Enjoy the heated swimming pool from spring to autumn.

Food & Beverages

Restaurant 'Villa Astra', was restored in the spirit of the golden era of Austrian-Hungarian monarchy. Warm and refined friendliness is the “credo” of the owner, the Martinko family: «Serve friends with love and respect». Restaurant offers creative cooking adjusted to the new culinary criteria, and combines many continental and Mediterranean spices creating an inviting, fresh, regional, seasonal and healthy food offer. Rich selection of Croatian and foreign wine brands will complete your pleasure. Decoration of the three restaurant rooms was enriched with 3 «humorous» portraits of Emperor Franz Joseph *.

Small groups will enjoy the privacy of the Library area called “the Austrian room”, while the “the Croatian room” represents the elegant central parlor, with beautiful view of the garden and the sea, particularly attractive at sunlight. Comforting sounds of piano coming from “the Austrian room” will cheer up your soul during your dinner. Gentle, soft, romantic tonalities of the green “Hungarian room”, are offering you the possibility of seeing the actual preparation of the meals, making you a part of the cooking procedures, that you can witness with your eyes in the transparent “visible kitchen”.

With several open terraces, restaurant "Astra" is also a pleasant place for meetings as well as the vital part of the modern style of life. We are inviting you to meet our Chef de cuisine, which will gladly recommend some of the inviting courses according to your taste and introduce you to the small secrets of his culinary art. The friendly personnel will be glad to help you with suggestions and selection of various specialties of the house. The musicians will warm up the atmosphere.

With prior notice, we can prepare a special “gourmet excursion” for you, bringing cooks outside the restaurant, and introducing to you the taste of home-made traditional meals at our farmhouse Oraj.

The restaurant is open: Sundays from 12:00 till 17:00h, other days from 17:00 till 23:00h. Closed on Mondays.

Open bar at the swimming-pool serves drinks and snacks to the guests at the swimming pool and is also used in special events. Garden and swimming pool are available for swimming, sun-bathing and relaxation.