MONTENEGRO: The Pearl of the Adriatic

The town of Kotor is called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’.

It is scenically nestled in the Bay of Kotor and has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic. 

Old Kotor looks like a cute Venetian-era old town. This is because it was ruled by Venice for nearly 400 years.

Over the centuries, Kotor has experienced tumultuous times.

Kotor was besieged by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 and again in 1657, it endured the plague in 1572, and was nearly destroyed by earthquakes in 1563, 1667 and 1979.

Kotor, and the Bay of Kotor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The bay of Kotor is like a bay within a bay. The mountains surrounding the bay rise steeply to nearly 1,500 metres making it the gateway to southern Europe’s only fjord.

It is a safe harbour which historically made it a strategic location for trade. 

Nowadays it is a popular stop for cruise ships. 

Much of Kotor’s medieval walls remain. Being completely preserved, they provide a unique sample of medieval fortification in Europe.

The town’s walls run a total of about 3 miles (4.5 km), are up to 50 feet (15 metres) thick, and reach a maximum height of about 65 feet (20 metres). 

 

Nowadays the walls are a great way to walk around the town and get birds eye view for pictures. 

 

 

 

 

 

The old town is full of twisting alleys which were designed to confuse the many invaders over the centuries. 

 

 

 

Samples of modern day invaders.

The mountains give a beautiful dramatic backdrop.

 

They also helped to provide safety from invaders. 

Kotor Old town was built over hundreds of years, starting from the Medieval times to the 18th century. This means that the buildings and streets are from different eras giving it a mix of different architectural styles.

 

Built in 1602, the Kotor Clock Tower is in Kotor’s largest square—the Square of the Arms.

St. Tryphon’s Cathedral is one of the only two Roman Catholic cathedrals in all of the country of Montenegro. It is also the largest church in Kotor.

It was originally built in 1166 by Byzantine monks, but rebuilt over the years after earthquake damage. It features a mix of Romanesque and Byzantine architectural styles.

Kotor has a large population of cats and they’ve become an unofficial symbol of the city. 

 

 

There are shops dedicated to them, a Cat Museum and even a Cats' Square where people missing their furry companions come and sit for the "feline fix". 

 

We had stunning sunset views from our Airbnb.

 

 

Many thanks to Apple and John for visiting us in Kotor,

 

and providing us with a social life.