One of the ancient cities of Montenegro - Kotor is a real fairy-tale city, where medieval spiers rise above the dreamy orange roofs against the backdrop of a wonderful mountain landscape. It is best to see the sights of Kotor from its historical center, the so-called Old Town, surrounded by ancient walls, cliffs and moats.
Montenegro - the pearl of the Mediterranean
Montenegro is a small but very beautiful state in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea. This country is rightly called the pearl of the Mediterranean due to its exquisite natural beauty, glorious beaches, crystal lakes and magnificent mountains. It is a land of contrasts where you can relax and swim in the blue sea or go skiing on the slopes of the magnificent Durmitor mountain.
Rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage, a huge variety of landscapes and attractions make this country a very attractive place fortravel and unforgettable holidays. The coast of Montenegro offers a lot of interesting routes. 72 km of sandy beaches lined with well-preserved old towns. This is one of the most beautiful countries, once visiting which, you want to come back here again. The cities of Montenegro will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated tourists.
Old City: priceless cultural heritage
The Old Town is the most famous part of Kotor, where you can fully enjoy the historical and cultural heritage of Montenegro, where traditions and customs are revered. There are many monuments of medieval architecture: churches, cathedrals, palaces and museums. The beauty of this part of the city is complemented by many narrow streets, squares and markets. The old city is also distinguished by a large number of gates made in original styles, palaces of we althy families and a huge number of all kinds of stairs.
There are three entrances to the Old City, but you should keep in mind that you can only get there on foot, as cars are not allowed. In the Old Town there are numerous palaces (Bizanti, Buji, Pima), music halls, a cultural center, galleries. This part of the city is also famous for its many boutiques and shopping centers. Since 1979, this area has been officially included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Medieval ramparts
The city of Kotor today is one of the best preserved medieval settlements on the Mediterranean coast. The largest and rather impressive are the bastions surrounding the city. They are about 5 km long and 10 m wide. Some of them have been completely preserved and can rightfully be called unique examples of fortification architecture in Europe.
The construction began in the 9th century. The bastions have 3 doors through which people entered and left the city for many centuries. Whichever path is chosen, it will lead to the most famous building in the city - the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, built in the 12th century in honor of the patron saint of the city.
Perast is one of the most beautiful and strange places in the Bay of Kotor
Perast is considered the quietest city in Kotor. Its narrow streets and numerous, but mostly abandoned, palaces testify to the former we alth of its inhabitants, who once led luxurious lives here. Perast used to be a city of sailors and was known even outside of Montenegro. There are 16 surviving palaces representing 12 brotherhoods (clans).
Before, you could see ladies walking along the streets, rich sailors, girls in love, hundreds of sailing boats huddled in the bays. Currently, Perast is a semi-abandoned place with a population of about 360 citizens. However, this does not mean that it is completely boring here, various holidays are held in the summer, among them the traditional Facinada - a ritual procession of barges. Due to the lack of a beach area, the coast of Perast is not suitable forbeach tourism.
Island of the Virgin on the reef
The Virgin Island is considered one of the two beautiful islands in the Bay of Kotor. It is also called the island of dead captains. According to legend, one French soldier, firing from a cannon in the direction of Perast, got into the house of his beloved and killed her. This story inspired the creation of the artistic masterpiece "Isle of the Dead" by a Swiss artist named Becklin.
If you believe the stories, the island was built artificially by a sailor from Perast (Old Kotor). Some time later, according to legend, after a shipwreck near the island, an icon of the Holy Mother of God with Christ was found by a fisherman, the survivors vowed to build a church. And they kept their promise: the temple was built in 1630. To save the island, it was necessary to bring and lay stones, this tradition is alive to this day. The holiday dedicated to her was called Facinada, it is held every year on the evening of July 22.
Maritime Museum
Describing the sights of Kotor, one cannot fail to mention the Maritime Museum, which is located on the square of the Boka Kotor Fleet. Maritime business in this city began to develop in the Middle Ages, there was a real brotherhood of sailors. Memories of those bygone days and years, of the successes of the famous Kotor sailors, artists, shipbuilders, craftsmen, government officials and diplomats, mediators between West and East todaystored in the maritime museum.
Here you can see portraits of famous captains, models of old galleys and sailing boats, navigational instruments, maps, engravings, watercolors depicting coastal cities and other valuable exhibits. The museum contains six bronze reliefs, which reflect the most important events and personalities from the turbulent history of Kotor. There is also an ethnographic collection testifying to the golden age of Kotor, which lasted throughout the 16th - 18th centuries. Near the entrance to the medieval palace, where the maritime museum is located, two small cannons are exhibited, they are a symbol of the confrontation between local sailors and pirates.
Sights of Kotor
The famous Bay of Kotor is considered one of the most beautiful on the European continent. The town of Budva is also famous for its clean beaches, excellent cafes and just a fabulous selection of restaurants. The fishing villages and picturesque resorts dotted along the coast have their own distinct charm of an old pirate town, home to many historical monuments, a perfect blend of modern marinas and the city's beautiful old architecture.
Sights of Kotor include countless cultural monuments. The old city was built in the shape of a triangle surrounded by thick walls. Many historically significant buildings are still in excellent shape. These include the magnificent old Clock Tower of the 8th century, the Prince's Palace of the 17th century, the Cathedral of St. Tryphon of the 13th century and much more.
Tourist Tips
Prices in Montenegro for public transport are quite high here, so a good tip for travelers who have chosen these places for recreation and tourism would be to rent a car. This is suitable for those who do not like crowded tourist groups and prefer a solo and independent trip. When you come to Montenegro, it is important not to lose sight of those places that are most popular among seasoned tourists. Despite the fact that this state is part of the EU, prices here are much lower than in other European countries.
Popular Places
1) Kotor. Reviews of this charming old town call for a visit in the first place. And it doesn't make sense. Already on the way to the main entrance, the stone walls that have been surrounding the fortified city of Kotor for more than a thousand years are striking.
2) Perast. With a population of less than 500 people, this city is closed to cars. This is a completely different world: unhurried, sleepy and beautiful. This peaceful place with two tiny islands of St. George and the Virgin can be called a real Balkan paradise.
3) Cetinje. Once it was the capital of Montenegro, and now this mountain town invites you to stroll along its streets and visit its sights, there are a lot of museums and churches that, in fact, deserve attention.
4) Lovcen National Park and Negosh Mausoleum. When visiting the cities of Montenegro, one should not miss these wonderful places. The mausoleum was built on the secondthe height of the top of Montenegro. Climbing it, you will be rewarded with stunning views covering almost 80% of the entire country. On a clear day, the sight is quite impressive.
5) Ostrog Monastery. This place is located in central Montenegro, about 3 hours drive from Kotor. To get here, it is better to rent a car, although the road is replete with bumps and numerous potholes. The rock-built monastery actually looks amazing. A trip as part of a tourist group will cost about 30 euros, these are the approximate prices in Montenegro for such excursions.
6) Sveti Stefan. The old city, built on an island 30 meters from the coast, has been famous since 2008 for its luxury hotel, rooms cost from $1000 per night, and a paid beach visit will cost $65! Fortunately for tourists, there is also a fairly good free beach near the hotel.
Enjoy and happy travels!
