The corridors are spacious with wooden floors, ceilings, and windows. Striking pieces of furniture and art continue to filter throughout the interiors, whilst freshly picked flowers stand daintily in glass vases. Within the monastery walls there are ample spaces for gathering together after days spent exploring the island. You may choose to make pizzas in the Old Kitchen’s open fire or host a dinner party in the grand dining room. The sunset terrace above the fortress is an unforgettable setting for sundowners and stargazing, whilst the cloister creates an atmospheric space to relax or have drinks.
As a group, we fully immersed ourselves in the Lopud experience. Our days were spent kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming in the turquoise waters, before returning to the house to soak in the Croatian rays. With private access to the sea, the surrounding waters feel as though they are only yours, making for a particularly serene experience. We spent a day cruising around the island, exploring natural caves, and snorkelling, before mooring at Sunj Beach, one of few sandy bays in the area where the waters are calm and crystal-clear.
Venturing inland, there are an array of walking trails to discover, each winding its way through verdant nature where lizards bask on rocks and butterflies flit through the greenery. Walking to the ancient Sutvrac fortress offers outstanding panoramas of the Elaphiti islands and the pristine Dalmatian coast. Most notably of all is the utmost peace and tranquillity which radiates through Lopud’s landscape – a silence which is only interrupted by monastery bells and the occasional engine of a boat rumble through the sea.