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VILLA MAGRAN · THE ISLAND OF PAG

Novalja and the island of Pag

Few people know Pag. Those who do tend to come back. An island of white stone, ancient olive groves and quiet coves, about an hour and a quarter from Zadar Airport.

Location: near Novalja, island of Pag

Bare white stone coast of Pag above deep blue sea, with the Velebit mountains behind

THE ISLAND

Stone on one side, woods on the other.

Pag is a long, narrow island off the northern Dalmatian coast. Its eastern shore faces the Velebit mountains and the bora, the cold north wind that keeps the hills bare and white. Toward the north, the island softens into woods and olive groves that reach down to the sea. Villa Magran sits here, in its own woods above a private bay.

Bare stone landscape of the island at dusk — Bare stone in the south

Aerial view of the wooded coastline and turquoise bays — Woods and coves in the north

GETTING HERE

Farther from the crowds than from the airport.

Pag feels remote. It isn't. From Zadar Airport, the drive takes about an hour and a quarter, crossing onto the island by the Pag bridge. From Rijeka Airport, a 15-minute ferry from Prizna brings you over from the mainland. Tell us your flight and we'll arrange the transfer.

approx. 1 h 15Zadar Airport

15 minferry from Prizna

approx. 8 km (5 mi)Novalja town

Airport transfers from Zadar, Rijeka, Split or Zagreb on request.

Times are approximate and depend on traffic and ferry schedules.

The Pag bridge spanning the channel between white stone cliffs — The Pag bridge

Sounds of Pag

CHAPTER I

Sounds of Pag

Sheep bells across the stone walls. The bora moving through dry sage. Water running over rocks in a cove you have to yourself. Pag is quiet in a way few places still are.

Sheep graze freely between the walls, on wild herbs that the wind dusts with salt from the sea. You will taste that later, in the cheese.

Sheep grazing among olive trees and dry-stone walls on Pag — Sheep among the olive trees

A flock of Pag sheep close together in the winter sun — The flock in the winter sun

The twisted trunk of an ancient olive tree in Lun — An old trunk in Lun

Colors of Pag

CHAPTER II

Colors of Pag

White stone, almost lunar in the midday light. The deep blue of the channel below the Velebit. Turquoise water over pebbles in the coves of the north, and in the evening, the whole island turning to gold.

The estate's own bay lies at the end of a path through the trees: clear water, smooth rock, and no one else.

White rocks and clear turquoise water in a quiet cove on Pag — A quiet cove

Sunset over the sea and the island coastline, from the air — Evening over the coast

Aerial view of the estate in the woods above its private turquoise bay — The estate above its bay

Taste of Pag

CHAPTER III

Taste of Pag

Paški sir, the island's sheep's cheese, has carried EU protected designation of origin since 2019. Its flavor comes from the island itself, from the salt-dusted herbs the sheep graze on. At the Gligora dairy in Kolan you can walk through the aging rooms and taste the cheese with local wine.

A short drive from the villa, Boškinac pairs a restaurant with one MICHELIN star with its own winery, among vines and olive trees outside Novalja. Pag lamb, Adriatic fish, olive oil from Lun: the island keeps its table simple, and very good.

Wheels of Pag cheese on wooden shelves at the Gligora dairy in Kolan — Pag cheese at Gligora, Kolan

Ancient olive trees in the olive gardens of Lun at the northern tip of Pag — Olive trees in Lun

Table set for dinner beside a wood fire in the stone outdoor fireplace — Dinner by the fire at the villa

DAYS ON PAG

How you might spend a day.

A few of the days our guests come back to. Tell us what you like, and we arrange the rest before you arrive.

A visitor beside a giant olive tree among dry-stone walls in Lun

The olive gardens of Lun

At the northern tip of the island, about 1,500 wild olive trees grow among dry-stone walls, protected as a botanical reserve since 1963. Some of them are centuries old.

Wheels of Pag cheese on wooden shelves at the Gligora dairy in Kolan

Cheese at Gligora, Kolan

A guided visit through the aging rooms, then a tasting of Paški sir with local wine, looking out over the Kolan field.

Handmade white lace on a stone table above the sea

Pag town and its lace

A small stone town on its bay, and the home of Pag needle lace, part of Croatia's lacemaking tradition on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2009.

Boats in the harbor of Pag town, with the old stone bridge and waterfront houses

A day on the water

Paddleboards from the estate's bay in the morning, or a boat to the coves and nearby islands with a local skipper.

Cyclist on a trail along a white stone coast above clear turquoise water

Photo: Terra Park

On foot and by bike

Trails across the stone plateaus and along the coast, best early or late in the day.

The northern Adriatic

Find your bearings.

Northern Pag · Near Novalja

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Sunset over the sea, seen from the pool terrace and lawn of Villa Magran

Tell us how you like to spend your days. We'll plan them before you arrive.

We reply personally within 24 hours.