The Best Room at ... Croatia's Grand Hotel Brioni Pula
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American tourism to Croatia has exploded in recent years. For the most part, it's been confined to Dubrovnik and the capital city, Zagreb. But there are other hidden gems in this ancient country that dates back to the continent's earliest days. For instance, in the Southern tip of the Istrian peninsula one can find the sixth largest amphitheater of the Roman empire, still standing (and recently renovated) 20 centuries after its construction. Today it is one of the signature attractions in Pula, a once a major maritime center that was in turn ruled by the Venetians, the Hapsburgs (the royal family vacationed there), Napoleon, Mussolini, and eventually became part of Yugoslavia, until its collapse in 1991.
In modern Croatia, Pula is the seventh largest city, and its aspirations to join the ranks of the country's more well-known destinations for American luxury dollars is now helped by the re-opening of the Grand Hotel Brioni, a Radisson Collection Hotel with some 227 rooms that itself boasts a colorful history—built in 1972, it was popular with celebrities visiting the nearby Venice Film Festival—three elegant restaurants, and a peerless beachfront that invites daily dips in the bracing waters of the Adriatic. On a breezy day in September, before getting hijacked by Milan Fashion Week, one could float in the middle of this quiet archipelago like one if its 14 islets and breathe in nothing but pine trees. Here, Manuela Kraljević, marketing and sales director answers a few questions about the property, its history, the secret pleasures of truffle hunting and why Pula should be on the itinerary of anyone visiting Venice and the greater Croatian peninsula.
Tell me about the signature suite at the Hotel Grand Brioni. What makes it special?
The Grand Brioni Suite is the result of a carefully planned decoration, imbued with refined elegance, gray with blue details, warm wood tones, and artistic and maritime details. It includes a furnished balcony with breathtaking panoramic views over the Adriatic and a spacious living room with lounge area and a bedroom with a king-size bed, walk-in shower and a bathtub, plus a guest bathroom. Artworks by local designers have been selected for the decor, which gives the impression of a small art residence.
What is the starting rate for the suite, and what kind of packages can guests build around it?
Starting rates of the rooms are between 300 euro to 600 euro a night, while the rates for the suites range from 1,500 euro to 3,000 euro a night. Alongside fabulous rooms, the hotel features several restaurants and bars, the wellness spa Gemma di Brioni, an indoor swimming pool and the outdoor infinity pool hanging over a cliff, and a redesigned beach area that perfectly blends with the rocky shoreline. The hotel also has several modular rooms for meetings and events, video and audio equipped, that can be turned into a large conference room with a capacity for 200 guests. Additionally, gastronomic pleasures are high on the priority list here. Exploring the tastes and textures of the Mediterranean in all their incarnations is the focus of the hotel's restaurants and eateries. The premier restaurant Brioni Forum serves international specialties with emphasis on local recipes, always insisting on fresh and local produce, including truffles, of course. Many say the Istrian white truffle is the best in the world. Not to forget, our Guest Relations Manager is here to tailor the individual experience based on the guest's wants, including a yacht tour to Brijuni islands, one of the Croatian National Parks or exploring the rich gastronomical offer of the Istrian coast, like olive oil tasting and truffling hunting.
What is the property's history, and what is one feature first-time visitors will find surprising?
On a beautiful peninsula surrounding the town's centre stands a hotel built in the 1972 by architect Milan Kušan, whose architectural works in Pula fit into the trends of late modernism in Croatian architecture in the 1970s. At the time, the hotel was one of the most prominent tourist meccas in the former Yugoslavia. In its heydays, with direct flights from the United States to Pula in the '70s, it was often a getaway for many celebrities, including artists, film stars and politicians. The hotel's specific design, which remained untouched during the excessive renovation, continues to inspire and amaze even today, 50 years later. The interiors were designed by Studio 92 from Labin, Croatia. Throughout, the hotel features art by renowned Croatian artists, connecting the heritage of this iconic hotel with the modernity of today, and taking in the striking colors of the surrounding area. The interior design is enriched with Mediterranean materials and colors with Italian and Croatian stone. The hotel is surrounded by the thick pine forest and an impeccably designed park emitting the scents of Mediterranean herbs, while the front faces the open sea, catching the glimpse of the national park Brijuni, that inspired the hotel’s name. Unsurprisingly so, because these 14 islets of Brijuni are the epitome of tranquility.
What are some of the hotel's oldest and its newest amenities?
Apart from the architecture of the building itself, which has remained intact, all the facilities and amenities are fully adapted to the luxury of the 21st century. Digital technologies are integral to the Grand Brioni's experience, and guests are encouraged to use their devices to access all the hotel's services. Plus, every level in the hotel features a butler corner—a glassed room with a very extended mini bar offer, from drinks to food, from personal care products to presents. It acts as a shop with cashless payment where one's mobile device is one's wallet. Whatever a guest picks up from the shop is automatically charged to their room.
What sights, shops, and restaurants near the Hotel Grand Brioni and in Pula should visitors check out this year?
Pula is a modern city but we are proud of the rich historical and cultural heritage that goes back to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Venetians and the ancient Romans. It is essential to visit the Pula Arena, the Golden Gate and the Temple of Augustus, together with other remains of Roman and Austro-Hungarian heritage. The Roman Theatre and the Archaeological museum were also recently renovated, but most importantly, the Zero Strasse underground tunnels were also renovated and connected to the castle, the Venetian fortress built on the most important strategic location of the Pula Bay.
Croatia is increasingly a popular destination for Americans, especially New Yorkers. Tell us about the different travel options to Pula.
Pula is home to Istria’s main international airport and serves many travelers each year as the starting point for their holidays. In the last decade, Dubrovnik and southern Dalmatia had a more direct connection with the United States. Still, Istria is a new region that they are beginning to discover. In addition to Pula Airport, which is connected during the summer to to some of the busiest European airports such as London, Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam, the hotel is easily reached by car from Venice airport or the Franjo Tuđman airport in Zagreb.
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