After a very intense few weeks and lots of recent travel with work, a lovely family day yesterday to two of my favourite places in Croatia. First up was a visit to Teta Dagmar on Palmizana, who treated us to a wonderful lunch and absorbing conversation, before the girls went to swim, leaving me to interview Dagmar about a very significant anniversary – her 50 years on Palmizana.
It was hard to pull ourselves away, but we had promised to pop in and see the lovely Fio siblings, Mare and Sime on what to me is one of the true hidden gems of Croatia, Kordovon Beach on Jerolim.
I am not quite sure how it is still an undiscovered hidden gem, however. CNN named it the world’s number 1 naturist beach in the world in 2011, and having read one of our blogs, Huffington Post placed in in their top 7 secret nudist beaches in Europe.
And of course, if you have a top model using the beach for a fashion shoot for Vogue magazine – someone like Eva Downey for example (click here for a video of her shoot), then the secret really should be out…
But the secret is still not out, and we found the beach delightfully uncrowded yesterday, with a great mix of relaxed people enjoying the gorgeous beach on the other side of Jerolim, away from Hvar Town, less than 100 metres through the woods from the main arrival point at Amo Beach.
There is something unique about Kordovon, something encompassed in the relaxed approach of siblings Mare and Sime Fio, whose welcome is as warm as the view is perfect. Mare has been running the places for years, and finally Sime, after 10 years in the hotel industry in Milan and 12 years running Hotel Podstine, has realised that the best tourism jobs are on Jerolim, and the two now provide a wonderful partnership.
It is the only beach I have ever been to which is gay-friendly, FKK optional and a family destination, all in one. Think all these cannot work side by side? Then check out the magical atmosphere of Kordovon, it really is unique. Taxi boats to Jerolim leave regularly from the Hvar waterfront.
And of course, Jerolim is the only naturist island in the world with its own public toilet as a piece of art. But that is another story…
I will be returning to Kordovon this week with a journalist from Huffington Post. It will be interesting what she makes of it in the flesh, rather than reporting on someone’s blog. I have a feeling that we will be reading more about Kordovon soon, so get there and experience the magic before it gets too busy.
