{"id":15296,"date":"2025-07-23T18:40:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T18:57:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:57:39","slug":"izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju","status":"publish","type":"vidi-i-dozivi","link":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/","title":{"rendered":"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106’S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Primitivo<\/a> is not just a place to relax, it’s a true paradise where tradition, gastronomy, and ecological awareness merge into a unique experience. Life and cooking here follow the rhythm of nature \u2014 from field to table \u2014 using recycled materials, wild herbs, and old-fashioned methods of food preparation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The softest shades of green were painting the still-bare trees after a long and cold Baranja winter when we visited the \u010cudesna \u0160uma<\/a><\/em> (Enchanted Forest) eco-estate on one of the last winter days. This fairy-tale-like spot is located in Bilje, just a ten-minute drive from the center of Osijek and near the Kopa\u010dki Rit Nature Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say that winter either bites with its teeth or lashes with its tail, and that Sunday morning it did just that. Days before, spring-like temperatures had warmed us, though spring hadn\u2019t officially begun, only for winter to return with its frost and rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yet, the Romuli\u0107 family estate stood defiantly green. True, the trees in the yard and forest were just beginning to bud, but the wild herbs were already showing their strength, having survived the winter. So too was the perennial collard, springing proudly from raised beds, as green as a forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mario Romuli\u0107, the owner of this family farm, greeted us \u2014 as expected \u2014 while working. He was painting a fence, as his days are too short to fit all his plans and goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A holistic approach to food production<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This unique character and Osijek native, a renowned and award-winning photographer, decided a few years ago to drop anchor in the Baranja wetlands. \u201cI have everything I need here. I hate going to the city,\u201d he says with a smile when asked if he misses his old life \u2014 traveling, the adrenaline, the bustle. Now, his focus is on nurturing tomato and pepper seedlings in the greenhouse he built with his sons. There\u2019s planting to be done, multiple types of pumpkins to be sown, as well as culinary and medicinal herbs to be grown in H\u00fcgelkultur<\/em> beds. The 250-meter-long labyrinth with a variety of plants could use some maintenance as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there\u2019s hemp to care for, with its seeds used to make oils, creams, and other products. Luckily, the forest of food<\/em> he started some four years ago mostly takes care of itself. Even though the wild herbs reseed naturally, the forest with its fruit trees that feed bees, birds, and other animals still needs some tender loving care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mario practices biodynamic farming, meaning he treats the entire estate as a living organism where plants, animals, and soil are interconnected. Nothing and no one is considered an enemy or pest. The production is fully organic, with soil fertility maintained through compost, manure, and biodynamic preparations, aiming for a self-sustaining, harmonious system free of synthetic chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, this could have remained a local story about a passionate man wanting to know what he\u2019s eating or a Baranja \u201cwizard\u201d who harvests wild herbs because to him, there\u2019s no such thing as a weed. But it has evolved into something much greater \u2014 an estate open to visitors and a true paradise for nature lovers and foodies alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exhibition space, lab, and gastro oasis<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Primitivo<\/em> estate<\/em> created by Mario Romuli\u0107 is not just a place to rest and enjoy nature. It\u2019s also an exhibition space, a workshop, and a gastronomic oasis. Everything you can see, touch, and taste here was made by Mario, with the help of his sons Ivor and Svebor, and craftsman Viktor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe built it all ourselves, from the foundations to the roof, furniture and fencing,\u201d he says as we sit at a massive oak table, sipping homemade herbal brandy. The beams, he explains, were once poplars in a nearby forest. \u201cWe dragged them out, cut them, dried, charred, and installed them. Everything is made from recycled materials, discarded wood, and old furniture. Doors, shelves, benches \u2014 they were once someone\u2019s trash. We find fruit trees, walnut trunks, or logs left to rot and turn them into something useful and beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-sufficiency is the cornerstone of the entire estate. Mario grows vegetables, fruits, hemp, and other foods, guided by the farm to table<\/em> philosophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to serve food we’ve grown ourselves to groups of up to 25 guests. Everything is homemade and organic. We make our own spices, teas, remedies; we preserve and ferment food, make jams and pickles, and bake sourdough bread only.All cooking is done the traditional way \u2014 over open flame, in clay or cast-iron pots\u201d, Mario showcases many, which line the shelves not as decoration but as working tools. The name Primitivo,<\/em> he says, reflects a return to how people lived 50 or 100 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alongside culinary pleasures, the estate offers educational experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe also organise workshops on environment protection, natural materials, making cosmetics and remedies \u2014 things long forgotten but worth preserving,\u201d he says passionately before returning to preparing the food which he approaches with immense care. With a chef like him, this experience is truly special for every visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wild herbs enrich every dish<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow cooking is central \u2014 some dishes take six hours, others up to 24. They use Danube fish, wild game meat, and other ingredients exclusively from local farms that grow food without pesticides or chemicals. \u201cGuests love our oxtail perkelt<\/em>, smoked carp, pulled pork, and ribs. We use kamado smokers and offset methods, combining low-temperature cooking with smoking, which gives the food its distinctive flavour,\u201d explains Mario, who enhances every dish with wild herbs from his garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to show guests how much delicious and nutritious food grows all around without us even realizing. Purslane, nettle, dandelions \u2014 these used to be common at markets, now they\u2019re labeled as weeds,\u201d Mario says, emphasizing their nutritional value and gourmet potential. He allows guests to pick their own vegetables like peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and teaches them all about wild edible plants and their medicinal uses. When it comes to fats, Mario only cooks with black pig lard and organic biodynamic olive oil sourced from the Croatian islands of Hvar, Vis, Kor\u010dula, and \u0160ibenik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having travelled the world thanks to his photography skills, Mario lists the cuisines he loves, highlighting Moroccan, Argentine, and Thai. \u201cI love to cook and explore different cuisines, but I always choose what suits our lifestyle and diet,\u201d he says with conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to serve food we’ve grown ourselves to groups of up to 25 guests. It is all homemade and organic. We make our own spices, teas, remedies; we preserve and ferment food, make jams and pickles, and bake sourdough bread only.\u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is Mario Romuli\u0107?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most recognised photographers in Croatia. He has travelled the world with a camera in his hand, including many war zones. He is also known for his wildlife photographs, especially those from Kopa\u010dki rit Nature Park, which is near his Utopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eco-estate \u010cudesna \u0161uma (Enchanted Forest): www.cudesna-suma.hr<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by: Maja Celing Celi\u0107<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Primitivo is not just a place to relax, it’s a true paradise where tradition, gastronomy, and ecological awareness merge into a unique experience. Life and cooking here follow the rhythm of nature \u2014 from field to table \u2014 using recycled materials, wild herbs, and old-fashioned methods of food preparation. The softest shades of green were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":15265,"template":"","categories":[243,240],"tags":[297,586,587],"class_list":["post-15296","vidi-i-dozivi","type-vidi-i-dozivi","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nature","category-see-and-feel","tag-baranja-en","tag-cudesna-suma-en","tag-enchanted-forest"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106'S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition - Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106'S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition - Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Primitivo is not just a place to relax, it’s a true paradise where tradition, gastronomy, and ecological awareness merge into a unique experience. Life and cooking here follow the rhythm of nature \u2014 from field to table \u2014 using recycled materials, wild herbs, and old-fashioned methods of food preparation. The softest shades of green were […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-23T16:57:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/\",\"name\":\"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106'S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition - Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-23T16:40:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-23T16:57:39+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1920,\"caption\":\"default\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Po\u010detna stranica\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106’S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/\",\"name\":\"Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106'S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition - Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106'S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition - Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije","og_description":"Primitivo is not just a place to relax, it’s a true paradise where tradition, gastronomy, and ecological awareness merge into a unique experience. Life and cooking here follow the rhythm of nature \u2014 from field to table \u2014 using recycled materials, wild herbs, and old-fashioned methods of food preparation. The softest shades of green were […]","og_url":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/","og_site_name":"Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije","article_modified_time":"2025-07-23T16:57:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1920,"url":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/","url":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/","name":"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106'S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition - Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-23T16:40:46+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-23T16:57:39+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Primitivo-labirint-by-M-Romulic-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1920,"caption":"default"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/vidi-i-dozivi\/izletiste-primitivo-odrzivi-raj-marija-romulica-povratak-prirodi-kroz-hranu-i-tradiciju\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Po\u010detna stranica","item":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"PRIMITIVO ESTATE \u2013 MARIO ROMULI\u0106’S SUSTAINABLE PARADISE A return to nature through food and tradition"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/","name":"Turisti\u010dka zajednica Osje\u010dko-baranjske \u017eupanije","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vidi-i-dozivi\/15296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vidi-i-dozivi"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/vidi-i-dozivi"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitslavoniabaranja.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}