When I bought a plane ticket to Tivat in April 2022, I had no idea what kind of adventure awaited me. I can't describe the excitement I felt as our small plane descended from Istanbul on a one-hour flight to Tivat Airport, gliding over high mountains towards the sea. Even this tiny airport felt incredibly peaceful.
For some reason, the first place I wanted to visit was Kotor. I love history and historical sites. Although it is only 11 km away from Tivat, it feels like a completely different world. When I passed through the tunnel and saw the Bay of Kotor, I felt like I had arrived in paradise. The Bay of Kotor is known as Boka Kotorska. I stayed alone for three nights in an apartment in the center of the old town. Since the weather was nice, I enjoyed exploring the surroundings and learning more about them. If you like, let's talk a little about Kotor, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979:
Situated at the foot of the Orjen (1878 m) and Lovćen (1749 m) mountains, this city, accompanied by unique lights and colors, is known to have been founded in the 4th and 5th centuries under Byzantine rule with the name "Catarum" (Latin: Acruvium). The city is surrounded by walls that stretch up to the San Giovanni (Sveti Ivan) fortress. The wall is 5 km long, 20 m high, and varies in width from 2 to 15 m. The fortress, which began construction in the 9th century and was later expanded, is situated 280 m above sea level. There are 1426 steps from the city to the fortress. Since it is an open-air museum, there is an entrance point at the back left section of the historic center. Because climbing can be challenging in hot weather, I recommend doing it early in the morning, taking enough water with you, and resting along the way.
As you walk up, you'll want to take countless photos of the magnificent bay view. When the shades of blue and green combine with the colors of the historic city, you will be grateful for whatever allows you to see such a place on earth. Kotor is also a port of call for cruise ships. Thousands of people come to see this ancient city, touring its narrow streets and filling its restaurants and cafes. In the center, you can find boutiques, jewelers, souvenir shops, and more. Kotor is also famous for its cats.
The St. Tryphon Cathedral in the center is the most important structure of medieval Kotor. Built in 1166, it was constructed in Romanesque style and, after an earthquake, its interior was renovated to have a Renaissance-Baroque appearance. There are Gothic sculptures. Four altars were brought from Venice. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in the world.
The Church of St. Luke is located in Piazza Greca and was once used simultaneously by people of both Catholic and Orthodox faiths. It was built towards the end of the 12th century. Some parts are adorned with icons made by famous Kotor jewelers. There are also palaces in the city: the Bizanti Palace, the Buca Palace, the Pima Palace, etc. In the Kotor Museum, you can find Roman-Byzantine mosaics and historical archives. There is also a Maritime Museum.
Just north of Kotor lies the charming and peaceful town of Perast. Perast was first mentioned in history as "Parestum" in 1326. Its Baroque and Renaissance architecture once signified the wealth in the bay.
Perast was also the center of maritime activities, and the Boka fleet was established here. Some of the 16 palaces in the town belonged to captains. Captain Marko Martinović founded the first Maritime School here in the 16th century. Many admirals who later became famous, especially admirals of the Russian navy, were trained in this school.
In front of Perast, there are two small islands: the 12th-century Sveti Đorđe (St. George) and Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks). The latter is an artificial island. According to legend, on July 22, 1452, one of the Mortešić brothers found an icon of the Virgin Mary on a rock and kept it at home. After recovering, the sailors created an island by leaving stones on the rock and sinking old ships each time they returned from sea (creating a 3030 m² area) and later built a church on it in 1630. 68 canvases by Tripo Kokolja, who was born in Perast in the 17th century, are displayed in this church. Additionally, you can see a tapestry made by Jacinta Kunic-Miljovic of Perast over 25 years, using gold and silver threads as well as her own hair.
Various events are held in Perast in July and August. One of these is the traditional "Fasinada" event. On July 22 at sunset, people carry stones by boat and leave them on the island of Gospa od Škrpjela. In August, they sing traditional songs from Dalmatia and Montenegro.
I hope I was able to introduce Kotor and Perast to you a little. No matter how much I describe it, it does not compare to seeing it in person. I hope one day I can welcome you here and show you these beauties up close.
Distances:
Kotor-Tivat: 11 km
Kotor-Budva: 23km
Kotor-Dubrovnik: 91km
Kotor-Podgorica: 87km
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