Holiday Home/Apartment - 10 persons - Domovinske zahvalnosti - 21262 - Grubine

Villa Iva Grubine is Comfortable holiday home is located on a large (4500 m2) estate in an idyllic countryside of Central Dalmatia, near to town Imotski which is well-known for the Red and Blue lakes. Smaller house which you can see on pictures near Villa Iva is our additional facility. Nobody live in that house. The house consist two separate resident units (flats) which are modern designed and furnished. One unit is on the ground floor with three rooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet and veranda. Second unit is situated on the top floor with two rooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom and big terrace. Lowest ceiling height of the top floor is 200 cm in the living room. They are connected by an external staircase. You have beautiful view of the city of Imotski from the terraces, who is known for the Red and the Blue Lake. On the southern side of the house is a large swimming pool, a barbecue, a children's playground and billiard/dart room. The Makarska Rieviera can be reached in 15 minutes by car trough the tunnel St. Ilija (mountain of Biokovo), while Imotski is 5 km away. Split, Trogir, Medjugorje, and Mostar are 1 hour driving from Villa. You need two hours drive to Dubrovnik, Sibenik or Zadar. On the southern side of the house is a large swimming pool, a barbecue, a children's playground and billiard/dart room. Grubine can offer you a typical holiday in Dalmatia. This area is near Makarska Riviera coastline which is by far most popular in Dalmatia. Discover something truly magical and unique – the Red and Blue Lakes at Imotski. Imotski is a fascinating hilltop town, about 90km and an hour drive from Split, relatively undiscovered in a region full of surprises. Where else in the world, for example, does a deep lake (Blue Lake) become a football pitch? The Blue Lake (Modro Jezero) on the edge of town is a fascinating natural phenomenon of a lake with a depth of up to 147m (in 1914) which completely disappears in the summer, leaving a base dry enough so that the annual football match between the Elves and the Werewolves can take place on the flat lake basin on a dry, solid pitch. The deep blue of the lake has its own magic, and it is guarded by a large crater which is up to 800 meters long and 500m2 wide. It is the natural swimming destination for the local people, a place to enjoy and respect nature. As the summer wears on the water level reduces and become natural beach (The lake beach) for domestic people and tourists. When eventually becomes bone dry, the lake is transformed into a stunning hiking destination with spectacular views all around. The depth of the lake from the upper rim is some 220m and a helpful hiking trail was built in 1907. To get a flavor of the dry lake, the picture below show “stadium” at the bottom of Blue Lake. The lake remains dry until the snow melting in the Spring, and the underwater springs begin to fill again, raising the level of the lake with its gorgeous blue. In stark contrast to the fluctuating wet and dry spells of the Blue Lake, the Red Lake has an entirely different feel and history. The first recorded description of the Red Lake is attributed to the Venitian military commander, Ivan Zuane Franceschi in a letter to a friend, after the liberation of Imotski from Turks in 1717: "I think I was more terrified and impressed when I saw the second abyss (first, was Blue Lake). On, almost flat top of the hill, in living stone, as if the hand of an artist carved a big circle, with sound of hammer and chisel, and dug it vertically like some very deep well. Crater has more then half a mile in circumference, it is cut downright in volume with no bottom. It is a red stone, with no bush or sprig to give comfort to these dreadful cliffs. When you see these chasms, you ask yourself in fear; how did they become? Were they made like this from their first creation, or is it some underground volcano, now at rest, with its mouth wide-open spewing lava and underground rocks?" (La Dalmazia, 1846, no. 10). According to local legend, Gavan’s estate collapsed into the lake after an angel – dressed as a beggar – warned Gavan’s wife about righteousness and charity, to be met with the reply: “I don’t have need for your God, while I have my Gavan!”, and refused to give him alms. At that moment, the ground shook, and Gavan and his estate fell in the abyss. The abyss filled with water and the howling of evil supernatural beings can still be heard today. A more scientific explanation for the appearance of the lake is attributed to the collapsing of underground water caves in a region which suffers from occasional earthquakes. The first geological research of the lake was conducted in 1937. The lowest part of the lake was discovered in 2017., 4m below sea level. Highest point from water is 232m to 315m, it is one of the deepest speleological caves in the world, of Dinarides karst, and was placed under protection in 1964. Both lakes are stunning natural attractions, and just some of the surprises which await the visitor interesting in exploring inland Dalmatia. There is plenty more to discover in the Imotski region, just a short distance from the coast and a world away from the crowds.