Luxurious Villa Nai 3.3 in the Heart of Amazing Dalmatian Olive Grove

Villa Nai 3.3, designed by renowned Croatian architect Nikola Bašić, is situated amongst a 500-year-old olive grove that has produced organically certified, globally award-winning Dalmatian olive oil with every stage of the production conducted by hand – from olive picking to oil extraction. Read on to discover more about this luxurious hotel accommodation on the island of Dugi Otok in Croatia.

Born in Nature and Made in Nature – Villa Nai 3.3

Born in nature and made in nature – Villa Nai 3.3 on the island of Dugi Otok, Croatia, equidistant from Dubrovnik and Venice. A member of Leading Hotels of the World®, the ultra-luxurious Villa Nai 3.3 has just eight exquisitely designed rooms and suites, created by renowned Croatian architect Nikola Bašić, who gained worldwide recognition for his innovative Sea Organ in the city of Zadar.

By respecting the terrain, Villa Nai 3.3 is a building of unusual geometry, which combines the historic and respected olive oil extraction process with elegant and luxurious hotel accommodations. The walls are made from excavated stone and by using the excavated materials, this stylish Croatian hotel has significantly reduced its carbon dioxide emissions. Passionate and respectful of the environment and landscape, Villa Nai 3.3 has an A+ energy rating.

Snowfall lends itself to the unusual name of the property. Dugi Otok receives on average 3.3 days of snowfall annually and this is the perfect amount of snowfall required to produce a bountiful olive harvest and to produce the globally award-winning liquid gold, olive oil, Nai 3.3.  

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Contemporary Architecture in a Naturally Beautiful Location

Villa Nai 3.3 is situated amongst the beautiful Kornati National Park. The island of Dugi Otok with its deep bay Telašćica is located in the immediate vicinity, northwest of the Kornati Archipelago, and forms together with the Kornati Islands, a unique and cultural entity. Established in 1980, the Kornati Islands Archipelago comprises 140 islands and islets covering 114sq miles with 89 of the islands forming part of the Kornati National Park – the natural beauty is outstanding.

A wild destination with eagle owls, 353 different types of algae, and over 850 various species of animals, the Kornati National Park is also protected, and as well as the wildlife, the marine life is simply stunning and is perfect for diving and snorkeling. The hot and dry summers combined with the autumn rainfall provide the perfect climate for cultivating olives.

Drawing inspiration from the world’s most magnificent yachts, Nikola Bašić constructed the unique Villa Nai 3.3 to fit seamlessly into the outstanding natural beauty of Croatia’s Kornati National Park. Hidden from sight, the natural design is not obtrusive to the landscape and effortlessly combines the raw beauty of the destination with luxury, comfort, and privacy, bringing a new hospitality and design dimension to northern Dalmatia. Villa’s excellent location offers guests the opportunity to sail the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea and discover the 140 perfectly interlocked islets of the Kornati Islands.

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Luxurious Yacht Inspired Hotel Accommodation

Celebrated architect, Nikola Bašić believes that when you are on a boat, you are in constant touch with nature and he has captured the feeling of being on an elegant yacht, within the design of the rooms and suites at Villa Nai 3.3.

Villa is located on 40,000 sqm of private ecological land, giving guests an ecological luxury of 5,000 sqm, meaning they have far more space than is categorized per room.

The creation of the five Deluxe Rooms starting at 40sqm + terraces 30sqm and three spacious Deluxe Suites measuring 60sqm and 30sqm terraces, resembling the bows and sundecks of yachts, enabling guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Zadar Archipelago and take in the sweeping vistas of the Adriatic Sea.

Nikola Bašić’s concept for Villa Nai 3.3 was born from nature; the rooms and suites are built from stone excavated from the surrounding 40,000sqm, five-hundred-year-old organic olive grove and they contain chic, designer furniture that soothes guests with calming natural colors. Just as every boat has its own sail, every room has its distinctive style.

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Organic Farm, Award-Winning Olive Oil, and Gourmet Restaurant

Villa Nai 3.3 is situated amongst a 500-year-old olive grove that has produced organically certified, globally award-winning Dalmatian olive oil with every stage of the production conducted by hand – from olive picking to oil extraction. The Nai 3.3 industrial facility is an integral part of the hotel’s lifestyle, where the guest experience intertwines with the arable olive-growing climate. Likewise, guests are encouraged to participate in the autumn olive harvest, tastings, and olive-themed dinners.

Homemade olive paste is a highlight of the spa, while the olive is given prominence in Villa Nai’s kitchens, with two culinary gems offering guests authentic edible experiences that fuse the famous fruit into sophisticated Dalmatian cuisine.

This level of perfectionism is evident in Villa Nai 3.3’s incredible menus, created using only the best locally sourced and organic ingredients from the island’s agriculture. The fruit and vegetables used in these tasty dishes have been grown in the sunny Mediterranean in organically clean soil.

The alluring scents and flavors of the fresh, organic ingredients, simply cooked and prepared over the rustic fire at Villa Nai’s Grotta 11000 restaurant will tempt tastebuds and transport guests to a gourmet world of simple pleasures connected with the surrounding nature.

The 3.3 Restaurant offers a refined dining style and elegant ambiance, with amazing views of the olive grove and the sea beyond. Every dish has been meticulously paired with delicious wines from Croatia and beyond, together with the award-winning Nai 3.3 olive oil to enhance the flavors of the local produce.

Villa Nai’s culinary story is completed by an exquisite wine list boasting 203 labels, 33 champagne labels, and 17 sparkling wines. The wine list highlights Dalmatian wines and indigenous varieties with admirable international wines. Guests can even taste seven Croatian wines bottled exclusively for Villa Nai’s restaurants.

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Spa and Wellness Experiences at Villa Nai 3.3

Reconnecting with nature means reinvigorating your mind and soul. Villa Nai 3.3’s phenomenal wellness experiences and facilities draw upon Croatia’s natural healing environment to nourish the body and put the mind at ease. Indulgent spa products contain award-winning olive oil, which contains an abundance of Vitamin E and antioxidants to organically nourish the skin.

The Spa itself features globally renowned traditional treatments such as a Finnish sauna and Balinese and Thai body massages. The combination of new Croatian and classic, globally inspired treatments creates an extensive menu of unique therapies.

Two swimming pools allow guests to immerse themselves in nature. The 23m infinity pool, creates the feeling of being part of the land and sea at the same time. Take in the spectacular views of the surrounding islands as the gentle breeze wafts the sweet fragrance of Mediterranean herbs. A small and intimate grotto houses the indoor pool, where guests can float in the Adriatic seawater and the quiet intimacy of this pool will have a meditative and soothing effect on the soul and improve overall well-being.

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Local Culture and Authentic Experiences Inspired by Nature

The natural and stunning landscape surrounding Villa Nai 3.3 can be explored. The Kornati National Park has the most populated group of islands in the Mediterranean (140 islands compactly strewn within 300 km2 of the sea) and is rich in historic architecture with beautiful small churches, preserved hillforts, and fortresses.

Krka National Park has seven magnificent travertine waterfalls, located along the Krka River. The diverse array of plant species attracts a wide range of wildlife, and this national park is a paradise for fish and bird lovers. Paklenica National Park is home to the majestic Velebit Mountain and is surrounded by beech forests and canyons with creeks, and is perfect for long walks and hikes.

Liquid Gold – Olive Oil Harvest

A seasonal and celebrated experience is the olive harvest which takes place between late September and early October. Participants can join in this annual event alongside local olive oil producers and immerse themselves in this ancient tradition.

The multi-award-winning Nai 3.3 olive oil attributes its success to the early harvest of 100-year-old olives and young olives processed on the same day, which is just one of the off-season events you can experience at Villa Nai. Visitors can also take part in Olive Oil Days in the Nai 3.3 olive grove, olive oil tastings, themed dinners, olive growers’ gatherings, various lectures, and many pleasant get-togethers, all of which take place during the autumn months.

A 60-minute guided tour of the olive grove, for example, is a highlight of the offseason, as visitors can learn about the stories of organic olive growing from one of Nai 3.3’s pioneers. Participants will also learn about the history of the UNESCO-protected dry stone walling tradition, 5 km of which you can see firsthand at the Villa Nai property.

And if you’d prefer to get your hands into the olive oil process? Join and observe the olive harvest at the end of September and October, followed by a communal lunch in the restaurant and visits to the production facility and olive processing plant. The tour ends with a young olive oil tasting, which is the only way to top off the day.

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Sailing the Seas

Equidistant between Venice and Dubrovnik, the Zadar Archipelago surrounding Villa Nai 3.3 is one of the most stunningly beautiful archipelagos in the world. Exploring the tiny islands and inlets by sailboat is a truly magnificent way to spend a day.

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The Owners of Villa Nai 3.3 – Goran and Nives Morović

Goran and Nives Morović are much more than the owners of Croatia’s most luxurious hotel, Villa Nai 3.3. The well-known Split couple gained media attention long before, all due to their award-winning olive oil Nai 3.3.

The Morović family history runs deep on the island of Dugi Otok, where the first family records trace back to 1607 in the village of Žman. This is essentially where the Morović olive oil story begins.

Goran and Nives carried on that tradition and restored an old olive grove with 1,000 olive trees on the northern slopes of Dugi Otok Island. OPG Morović (Morović Family Farm) was thus born, which they have operated since 2009.

Since then, Goran and Nives have created one of Dalmatia’s most celebrated olive oil brands – Nai 3.3. The proof is seen in numerous international awards, gold medals, and acknowledgments.

“Olive growers on Dugi Otok have known that when it snows, which is an average of 3.3 days a year, there is a better harvest,” said Morović, hinting at how the name came to life – a play on the old Dalmatian language, with ‘nai’ translating to ‘snow’. Today, their top-quality olive oil is accompanied by award-winning packaging by Croatian designers Bruketa, Žinić, & Grey, even in the years when snow no longer falls.

Contemporary Hotel Adorned by Family History

Though they have not been involved in tourism until now, Goran and Nives decided to crown their story by building Villa Nai 3.3 on Dugi Otok Island, in Žman, where it all began. The Morović family history adorns the hotel – the 500-year-old olive grove, exterior, and part of Villa Nai’s interior are terraced in 5 kilometers of unique dry stone walls, a UNESCO-protected tradition that stacks stones without using a bonding material, 2.5 kilometers built by Morović’s ancestors, and 2.5 kilometers added by Goran and Nives.

“The guests live and experience the best that nature offers. From the interior materials to the gastronomy, surrounded by the Morović family’s olive groves and centuries-old dry stone walls, Villa Nai 3.3 connects all of the finest elements.”

“It all started when my father gave me part of the family land in the village of Žman on Dugi Otok Island. I removed everything but the olive trees. I proceeded to buy another two pieces of land to build the hotel,” Goran Morović begins about how Villa Nai 3.3 came to life. In the fertile fields of Žman, this Mediterranean fruit paved the way for Goran and Nives Morović’s most exciting venture yet, entrenched in the land of their ancestors.

Goran and Nives thus aspired to complete their celebrated olive oil with Villa Nai 3.3, a luxurious hotel in Žman, where their story was born. “The idea for Villa Nai was born without too much thinking. We gave the task to esteemed Croatian architect Nikola Bašić. We envisioned it all under one roof, with an olive mill, tasting area, and accommodation at the Leading Hotels of the World level. The hotel architecture was conceived without using corners, but contour lines. The hotel was to fit into the environment already in place, with carefully constructed details, which can be seen in using the best materials in their categories.”

Villa Nai 3.3 is sculpted into the stone hillside, with the excavated stone repurposed into the hotel’s interior and exterior walls to substantially reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.

“The guests live and experience all that this pristine coast offers, like the Kornati archipelago, the most indented island group in the entire Mediterranean. From the interior materials to the gastronomy, surrounded by the Morović family’s olive groves and centuries-old dry stone walls, Villa Nai connects the best elements of nature with the finest materials and products,” conclude owners Goran and Nives Morović, who crowned their olive oil story with Villa Nai 3.3 in Žman, on Dugi Otok Island, where it all began.

Villa Nai 3.3 Press / Photos by Tom Dubravec, Damir Fabijanić, Zoran Pejović

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