Pretty place to stay between Zagreb, Croatia and Vicenza, Italy?
 

After two weeks in Croatia, we plan to drive from Zagreb to Vicenza. Please suggest a good place to stay at about the half-way point. We would like a small inn or B&B with nearby restaurants. We love driving through the countryside so a place a bit out of the way would be fine. Thanks for your expert help!

It depends on how much driving you want to do. The whole drive depending on border crossings etc is 4-5 by main roads.

I have no personal experience, but friends all love Ljubljana in Slovenia, though it is a city rather than a village. It would split the trip pretty much in half.

You could go on to Trieste, just over the Italian border, again no village but a very attractive and interesting city, somewhat -- somewhat -- undiscovered still.

The autostrada from the Italian border to Vicenza (A4, I think) is hideously unattractive -- think Jersey Turnpike near Elizabeth if you know that area) but if you go toward the mountains on lesser roads , I think Conegliano is attractive, and I know Bassano del Grappa is, though by that time, you might as well drive on into Vicenza.

How about Asolo? Bassano del Grappa also is pleasant and bigger. Trieste is interesting in a not very Italian feeling way. Or, if you like mosaics, Aquileia has wonderful early ones, and Grado is on the coast nearby.

Here are some suggestions:
1)The goriska brdo - stay at the Belica winery, do a wine tasting
2)Kobarid in the Soca River Valley, and stay at Hisa Franka -- fab restaurant, gorgeous scenery and area
3)Asolo is lovely
4)Ljbuljana and/or Lake Bled.
5) Zemono in the Vipava valley and dine at gostilna pri lojzetu http://www.prilojzetu.com/en/kje_nas_najdete.php

As usual, you guys are great! We don't mind driving a few hours through scenic countryside so avoiding the A4 and taking the "blue highways" affording us more of the beautiful countryside will be our plan. Thanks SloJan2 for those very specific recommendations--we'll check them out. The Belica Winery sounds intriguing. We will be in Croatia with a wine club from No Calif so adding a winery will be fun.