Palmizana

A bohemian retreat nestled amid lush botanical gardens on a tiny island in the Adriatic Sea, a 10-minute boat ride from Hvar

This is art and nature in perfect harmony, an Arcadian idyll on a Dalmatian island. Professor Eugenio Meneghello bought a 300-hectare wilderness in 1906, complete with two pebble beaches, and planted it with pines, palms, exotic shrubs and aromatic herbs like rosemary and lavender. One century and three generations later, his family are the pioneers of eco-tourism in Croatia. His granddaughter-in-law Dagmar and her three children still tend their forefather’s ‘Garden of Eden’, but have turned it into an exclusive hideaway, a cluster of villas and bungalows, and 2 restaurants, all built of local stone.

Dagmar, a former journalist and keen art collector from Zagreb, has painted the interiors in deep vibrant colours, and decorated them with unusual driftwood sculptures and contemporary artwork. The result is a discreet yet spiritual escape from the modern world. Popular among the jet-set yachting crowd, it's a great place to relax on an isolated beach, windsurf, dive or snorkel.

Highs

• The place is an incredible find - surrounded by fragrant plants, a beautiful crystal clear ocean and almost constant sunshine
• Splendid isolation from urban life - there are no cars on the island
• Carefully designed buildings, which blend harmoniously with the environment, yet have boho interiors and terraces over the ocean
• Proximity to Hvar Town, packed with cultural monuments and hip eateries
• Two excellent restaurants on site
• Laid-back and friendly - children and pets are very welcome

Lows

• Minimum stay is 1 week in high season
• Hvar Town is now outrageously trendy and absolutely heaving with tourists in summer, with prices to match
• In July and August, this secluded resort can get mobbed with day trippers from Hvar and from passing yachts (but you can hire kayaks from Palmižana to head to the quieter bays and beaches)
• Bars across the bay during the high summer season sometimes play loud-ish beach music into early evening