Ivica and Marica – all the food on the menu is homegrown
The Karanac-based homestead “Ivica and Marica” is a holiday site that can receive up to 100 people, but requires all visitors to book their stay in advance. In addition to food grown on the farm, the popular spot offers horseback riding, cycling, and idyllic landscapes.
Karanac, an ethno-village in Baranja, is home to “Ivica and Marica” (Croatian for Hansel and Gretel), a homestand operated by the hard-working Piljić family – Nada, Marko, and their son Luka. Some ten years ago, they together made the decision to leave the bustling city behind, and seek the peace and quiet of rural life.
Settling in Karanac, they built a true foodie and hedonist paradise. Nada Piljić told us all about the hard work, love and enthusiasm that went into their dream.
Food and things to do
The Ivica and Marica homestead is registered as a holiday site, accommodating up to 100 people. It is not open to general public, and accepts only visitors who have booked their stay in advance. They receive many tourist groups. “Our guests usually come from Zagreb or Varaždin, but we get some from the Adriatic Coast as well”, Nada explains.
Ivica and Marica
In addition to accommodations, the homestead offers homemade food. “Our menu depends on the season. All the food we serve was grown locally on the farm, and is in season. We work our own garden, our grandma works the greenhouses, and we breed our own chickens, ducks and pigs”, Nada explains.
Piljić family’s chickens eat fresh clover leaves
The homestead offers bicycle rentals, horseback riding and rides in a horse-drawn carriage, and has a playground for kids. The Bansko Brdo hill, a popular local hiking, running, sightseeing and photographing spot, is close by. Nada affectionately refers to it as “the Tuscany of Baranja”.
She also shares an interesting story about their horses: two out of their three foals are twins! It happens only once in a century.
Ivica and Marica
Simple people and healthy competition
Nada takes pride in the fact that healthy competition is the only kind of competition that exists in Baranja.
“We are all partners here, often referring our guests to try the rooster, the duck, or “tačke” (potato pastry pillows filled with jam) at someone else’s place, or telling them where to find good wines of this or that variety”, says Nada. In conclusion, she tells us that Baranja offers so many interesting things to see and do.
"Kneževi Vinogradi swimming pools are only a 10-minute drive away, and so is the gorgeous beach at an armlet of the Danube in Draž. There are new swimming pools in Beli Manastir, and the Zlatna Greda adrenaline park is nearby. Plus, the area is packed with wine cellars and restaurants... There are so many attractions to see here! Active tourism fans will be as pleased with the offer as the tourists who are primarily interested in sampling local food and drinks”, Nada Piljić concludes.
Ivica and Marica
