Located in the area of Brtonigla, 5 km from the sea, is the agro tourism estate Sterle, located on Stancija Drušković (Drušković estate). This is a pleasant, comfortable and hospitable destination where visitors can expect a typical Istrian welcome, an exquisite gastronomic offer and the beautiful untouched natural surroundings. But Sterle is unique by one more thing, not only in Croatia but also in the world. Located in their ‘back yard’ is a real cave. It is called Mramornica and it is one of the biggest and the most beautiful Istrian caves which represents a real jewel of the underwater world with stalagmites in various colours and up to thirteen meters in height.

The surface which can be toured is as big as a football field. The cave was mentioned in documents dating back to 1770. The entrance to the cave is extremely steep and has almost vertical steps. A view onto the unreachable parts of the pit, which are mysterious and attractive, stretches from the renovated cave paths.

Visitors of the cave can drink and dine at Sterle where the hosts offer domestic products exclusively: smoked ham, sausages, salami, ombola (dried pork fillet) gnocchi and fuži (Istrian pasta). The wine offer includes muškat, malvazija, teran, cabernet sauvignon and melot.

The hosts use the bottom of the cave to store barrels with all five types of wine, so the wine can ripen in barrique for a year at a constant temperature of 14 degrees. The wines from this line were named ‘vino della grotta’(wine from the grotto) by the hosts.

Adding to the uniqueness of Sterle is the 50 year old mulberry tree, which is believed to be one of the oldest in Istria. With its huge crown it provides a shade to one of the big terraces of Stancija Drušković.


The Tourist Board of the Istria County
www.istra.hr

The Tourist Board of the Borough of Brtonigla
www.istria-brtonigla.com

Agroturizam Sterle
www.agroturizamsterle.hr