Clio earned its name as a cottage with roots stemming from the distant history of the hamlet of Vrbanj. In its lovely court, within its stone walls, some brave Hvar plebeians might have rested in between battles against the nobles of Venice. Today you take their place, while Clio tells her story.
Cottage Features
We love to talk about history since we know it to be the best teacher one can encounter in life.
Clio found its place in Vrbanj, the native village of Matija Ivanić. Matija was the leader of the great Hvar Rebellion, during which the plebeians of Hvar rightfully rose against the haughty Venice nobles. Matija’s spirit still lives in this village, particularly among the villagers. A short historical introduction was necessary since you’ll be spending your summer holidays in a place that is in many ways typical of Hvar. Google can tell you more about the Hvar Rebellion, and we’ll tell you more about the villagers of Vrbanj. Feel free to ask if you notice anything interesting or specific while there. And believe us, you will.
It’s great to know the historical background you’re coming to since it allows you to experience the place and the time of your holidays. It becomes personal. Villas Hvar supports a holiday as a part of a specific historical context considering the location you’ve chosen for your vacation. A vacation is always a good choice, but it can be much more interesting if it’s part of an interesting story.
Now that we’ve made a short introduction of the context of Clio, let’s meet her in person.
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Located in the heart of the village of Vrbanj, a five-minute drive from the sea and several hundred meters from the gorgeous forest paths – the cottage of Clio was made to immerse you into the very essence of Hvar. Since it’s not the easiest place to find, we’ll make sure you’re welcomed at the main village square, the so-called Vrbanjska Pjaca. A place with two cafes and a store is proudly called the Center of the World by the villagers. Oh yes, capitalized. You’ll know exactly why if you happen to find yourselves at the Pjaca during the so-called village concourses. Try it if you like the country lifestyle. If not – Clio offers privacy so you don’t have to see anyone if you don’t want to.
When you get to cottage Clio and open the main gate, you’ve come in medias res. You’ll see the central and the most important part of the house – a lovely, large stone courtyard with enough sunlight and enough shade to suit everyone. We particularly like it during summer evenings. The sounds and the colors while you sit at the garden table and sip on, let’s say, plavac mali can be compared to the best massage – but the feeling and the pleasure are much greater. Villas Hvar uses the term true luxury for things like this.
Part of the main courtyard is a simple summer kitchenette. You can choose which direction to go from there. Is there anything better than the ability to choose? There truly isn’t. Right across the entry to the courtyard is a large door that leads to the main house we call Big Clio – its living room / kitchen / dining room on the ground floor. On the right of the courtyard is a smaller door of the Big Clio that leads to an anteroom – which further leads to the already mentioned living room with kitchen. The anteroom is convenient to leave your bags, shoes or any other necessities you don’t want in your living space, but need to have nearby. The kitchen has a small storage where you’ll find the fridge, for instance.
Between the smaller entry to Big Clio and the entry to the small house – our Little Clio – there are about 15 outdoor stone steps that lead you to the first floor of Big Clio. You can also reach it from the inside – also using about 15 indoor steps that lead from the open plan kitchen/dining/living room to the first-floor hallway. On the right you’ll find a bathroom with a shower tray, and then a small bedroom with a smaller bed known as a French bed suitable for 2 kids or 1 adult.
Ahead of you, you’ll see the entry to a master bedroom with a matrimonial bed. Clio is a very cozy, warm, and charming cottage; no pricy details so even the wardrobes adapted to the relaxed form of the house.
To the left of the hallway of Big Clio there’s a door that leads to a small terrace (you’ll see glimpses of the sea somewhere in the distance), and a staircase that takes you back to the courtyard, from where we’ll enter to Little Clio on the left. On the ground floor, you’ll immediately find an open plan kitchen/dining/living room; to the left there is a door of a bathroom with a shower tray, and (again) about 15 stairs on the right take us to the first floor, that is, a gallery with a bedroom and a matrimonial bed.
And here we’ve come to the end of Cottage Clio. Let’s go back to the courtyard and take one last look of the property before we leave. It covers about 110 m2 of interior and about 35 m2 of exterior in total. Big Clio spreads over 30 m2 in the ground floor and 30 m2 upstairs; Little Clio has about 25 m2 of ground floor and 15 m2 of gallery space. The stone-walled courtyard that connects Big and Little Clio has about 35 m2.
The remaining square meters were spent on the stairs. Just as it suits Clio the teacher; life without stairs would be a straight and boring line.
As the muse of history herself, the playful and unpredictable Clio is anything but boring. And that’s why we like her.
*The photos were taken during winter so the foliage that the courtyard of Cottage Clio boasts in spring, summer, and fall will be a pleasant surprise.
