Heritage Hotel Life Palace

Tucked away in a pretty square in the heart of the old town of Sibenik, the hotel started life as the 15th century Marenci Palace, home of a noble family. The change to a charming, four-star boutique heritage hotel has been tastefully completed by preserving the original soul of the property, carved in stone.

The “Life Palace” as some locals call it, is really well located in the heart of the historic core, just minutes from the sea and with important cultural monuments within a short walk. Most notable is the UNESCO listed Cathedral of St Jakov with the monastery of St Lovro and Rector’s Palace also close by. Seemingly at every turn there is a carved stone monument here, an exquisite fountain there and numerous little piazzas where tiny cafés offer local goodies.

It is worth remembering that the old town centre of Sibenik is traffic free with a number of access routes for pedestrians and if coming from the waterfront, there are steps. Steps made of stone.

Heritage Hotel Life Palace may officially be four stars but guests comment that so many aspects feel five star, they talk about the personal touch from staff who consider the hotel their “home”. It is a stunning property with many returning guests and with just 17 rooms, early booking is essential.

This is a hotel not about swimming pools or cocktail bars but a place steeped in history in the centre of a historic town – a place with a very special feeling.

Due to conservation and preservation issues as a former place, there are serious restrictions about changes that can be made to the hotel – so there are very few! Guests get the real feeling of the place as it has been forever.

There is a delightful breakfast room – café which serves a rich buffet breakfast until it becomes a cage-lounge-bar later in the day. Guests can choose from inside or the lovely outside terrace on the square. Immediately beyond the hotel’s own terrace area there is one of Sibenik’s oldest restaurants, open for lunch and dinner. Plenty of other small local restaurants nearby with Michelin star Peligrini around 10 minutes stroll away (bookings essential May-October).

The hotel is usually open all year and most guests choose a stay here for a few nights as part of a longer itinerary of discovery.

For beach lovers, there are a number of pebble beaches just some 10 minutes’ walk away.

Accommodation

• There are 17 stylish and well-appointed rooms and suites, all except two with bathroom with walk in shower. Those two rooms are actually suites which have a bath with shower.
• Most rooms have at least one original, retained architectural feature, possibly a part of an original stone wall dating back hundreds of years
• Wide choice of rooms from classic rooms to deluxe and executive rooms, many with traditional or antique furniture.
• Decoration in rooms involves pale colours and light wood reflecting the style used during the hotel’s stay as a palace
• Due to the listed-heritage nature of the building, only two rooms (suites) have balconies

Amenities/features

• Lounge bar café which works all day once breakfast is finished here
• Lift (unusual in a historic building)
• Rich buffet breakfast
• Small wellness area with hydromassage bath and some treatments available (pre-booking advised)
• Hotel porter will come to assist with luggage from a place where your transfer driver can drop you – about a 10-minute walk. Transfer driver needs to call reception 10 minutes prior to arrival
• Free WiFi throughout the hotel

Classic Room

Classic double room with queen size double bed, air conditioning, bathroom (shower and hairdryer), telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar, safe, Stylish room with high quality fabrics and antique items, often with traditional stone feature.

Superior Room

Superior double room, a little larger than classic room with queen size double bed, air conditioning, bathroom (shower and hairdryer), telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar, safe, Stylish room with high quality fabrics and antique items, often with traditional stone feature.

Deluxe Room

Deluxe double room, the most spacious of the rooms with queen size double bed, air conditioning, bathroom (shower and hairdryer), telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar, safe. Seating area. Stylish room with high quality fabrics and antique items, often with traditional stone feature.

Executive Suite with balcony

Executive suite, very spacious with queen size double bed, air conditioning, bathroom (bath with shower over and hairdryer), telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar, safe, Luxurious accommodation with seating area, high quality fabrics and antique items, often with traditional stone feature. There are just two suites in the hotel and they are booked fast. Each has balcony and bathroom with bath and shower over rather than a walk-in shower.