DEVELOPING A 400 YEAR OLD VILLA ON RIJEKE DUBROVACKA

by PAUL SAMPSON
(UK)

We first saw 11 Donje Obuljeno in November 2004 and decided we had to restore it and spent time there. We bought in April 2005, or our d o o (Croatian company) did, as it was virtually impossible to buy as an individual then.

Good job I am an accountant, so I asked some of the right questions, but not all! Details of the villa are at www.dubrovnikhouse.com. Own chapel, own boat moorings, own renaissance garden and own list of challenges.

We were very unlucky in our 1st choice of architect who came well recommended by the great and the good of Dubrovnik - c'est la vie! He did nothing for 4 years.

In 2008 our luck changed and we read an article about an Aussie called Brett, who was running a project management team specialising in solving planning problems. He introduced us to a great team of managers and builders and we moved into the villa in February 2010 - at least to visit. We had to moderate our plans to get permission, but we got it.

In the intervening 5 years we have made many friends during our visits to Dubrovnik. Hospitality is legendary and very enjoyable. Much home brew and own caught calamari.

The picture through the bedroom window of a boat moored at the villa waiting to take us to Sunj beach for a day's boat picnic is why we bought the villa.

Apart from the fact it is steeped in history. Surviving the 1667 earthquake. We meet our neighbours families who come from Sarajevo and holidayed at the house as children. They all remember the Dubrovnik to Sarajevo narrow gauge railway - which if still standing would have been Croatia's number one attraction.

More on our blog which is being added to as we write.