Kotor - Montenegro

KOTOR

       Kotor (Serbian Cyrillic: Котор; Italian: Cattaro; Latin: Acruvium)…

is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a most secluded part of Gulf of Kotor (Boka Kotorska bay) in the northern part of Montenegro coast. It has developed around old town, the city's best known landmark, and one listed with UNESCO World heritage sites. It is not a first choice for people looking for swimming in the clear blue sea, but it has many other great things to offer...  

The old Mediterranean port of Kotor, surrounded by an impressive city wall built by House of Nemanjić, is very well preserved and protected by UNESCO. Between 1420 and 1797, Kotor and its surroundings were under the rule of the  
Republic of Venice and the Venetian influence remains among the architectural influences. The Gulf of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe (though it is actually a submerged river canyon). With the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen one of the great Mediterranean landscapes is created.

In recent years, Kotor has seen a steady increase in tourists attracted by both the natural beauty of the Gulf of Kotor and the old town of Kotor itself.

     The old town of Kotor...

The old town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this part of the Mediterranean. It was succeeded in preserving its original form, so typical of towns between the XII and the XIV century. The asymmetric structure of the narrow streets and squares, combined with the numerous valuable monuments of medieval architecture, contributed to Kotor being placed on UNESCO's “The world natural and cultural inheritance” list. The cultural inheritance of this town is enriched by the unique architectural styles and the ambient atmosphere. The fortification system of Kotor, which protects it from the sea, is actually a wall 4.5 km long, 20 m high and 15 m wide, and is preserved as one of the world's historic values.





*History

Kotor, first mentioned in 168 BC, was settled during Ancient Roman times, when it was known as Acruvium, Ascrivium, or Ascruvium and was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia.

Kotor has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when Emperor Justinian built a fortress above Ascrivium in AD 535, after expelling the Goths, and a second town probably grew up on the heights round it, for Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in the 10th century, alludes to Lower Cattaro. The city was plundered by the Saracens in 840.

In 1002, the city suffered damage under occupation of the First Bulgarian Empire, and in the following year it was ceded to Serbia by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, but the locals revolted, in alliance with Ragusa (Dubrovnik), and only submitted in 1184, as a protected state, preserving intact its republican institutions, and its right to conclude treaties and engage in war. It was already an episcopal see, and, in the 13th century, Dominican and Franciscan monasteries were established to check the spread of Bogomilism. In 1185, on his campaign to annex Zeta, Serbian Duke Stefan Nemanja entered Kotor triumphantly which surrendered to him peacefully. He spared the City and built in it an impressive Chateau.

In the 14th century the commerce of Cattaro, as the city was then called, rivaled that of the nearby Republic of Ragusa, and provoked the jealousy of Venice. The downfall of Serbia in 1389 left the city without a guardian, and, after being seized and abandoned by the Republic of Venice and Kingdom of Hungary in turn, it passed under Venetian rule in 1420.

Kotor was besieged by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 and 1657, visited by the plague in 1572, and nearly destroyed by earthquakes in 1563 and 1667. Under the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797, it passed to the Habsburg Monarchy, but in 1805, by the Treaty of Pressburg, it was assigned to the French Empire's client state, the Kingdom of Italy, although in fact held by a Russian squadron under Dmitry Senyavin. After the Russians retreated, Kotor was united in 1810 with the French Empire's Illyrian Provinces.

In 1814 it was restored to the new Austrian Empire by the Congress of Vienna. In 1838, The Palace of the Serbian Gathering was built in Kotor as a three-story house as well as the Serbian Library. The following 1839, the Serbian Vocal Society Unity (Jedinstvo) was founded. In 1848, the Serbian People's School under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church was founded in Kotor. The Serbian Library became the Slavic Library in 1849 to attract local Croats, Slovenians and Czechs. In 1854, the Serbian Memorial Music School was built, in 1862 the Serbian National Guard; in 1868 the Serbian National Charity Society Saint George; in 1869 the Serbian Orthodox School, while the Serbian Orthodox Episcopate was established in Kotor in 1870 and the Schism of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Boka Kotorska and Dubrovnik was first printed in Kotor, in 1874. The attempt to enforce compulsory military service, made and abandoned in 1869, but finally successful in 1881, led to two short-lived revolts among the people of Krivošije on the western branch of mount Orjen, during which Kotor was the Austrian headquarters. In 1893 the Serbian Memorial Women Primary School was opened; in 1895 the Serbian Tamburitza Orchestra; in 1897 the Serbian Music; in 1899 the Serbian Workers' Cooperative; in 1901 the Serbian Credit Union. In 1903 the Unity was canceled as it joined the Union of Serbian Vocal Societies. The Serbian Falcon Society was founded in Kotor in 1910. In 1912, a massive celebration was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Serbian National Guard in Kotor.

In World War I, Kotor was the site of some of the fiercest battles between local Montenegrin Slavs, and Austria-Hungary.  
After 1918, Kotor became a part of Yugoslavia and became known as Kotor. After 1945, it became a part of the then Socialist Republic of Montenegro within Yugoslavia's second incarnation.

In 1979 (April 15) a major earthquake hit the Montenegrin coastal area. The victims were approx. 100. Half of the Kotor Old Town was destroyed. St. Tryphon Cathedral was partly damaged.

Up until the beginning of the 20th century, Catolics) constituted the majority in Kotor as well as in other places around the Gulf of Kotor, with the other major ethnic group being the Serbs.

Kotor is still the seat of the Croatian Catholic Bishopric of Kotor, which covers the entire gulf.


*Population
Kotor is the administrative centre of Kotor municipality, which includes towns of Dobrota, Risan and Perast, as well as many small hamlets around the Bay of Kotor.
Biggest ethnic groups are Montenegrins, Serbs and Croats.
Up until the beginning of the 20th century, Catolic population constituted the majority in Kotor as well as in other places around the Gulf of Kotor, with the other major ethnic group being the Serbs.
Kotor is still the seat of the Croatian Catholic Bishopric of Kotor, which covers the entire gulf.
Most of the population are Orthodox Christians now (predominantly adherents of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with some adherents of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church).


*Climate

Climate is subtropical. Rains are heavy in all seasons except summer. Crkvice, small place near Kotor, hold European record in annual quantity of rain.   

*Tourism
 
Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (Sv. Tripun)
Kotor is a major tourist destination. It has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic, listed with UNESCO world heritage sites. It has numerous other sights, such as Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in the old town (built in 1166), and ancient walls which stretch 4,5 km directly above the city. Sveti Đorđe and Gospa od Škrpijela islets off the coast of Perast are also among more popular destinations in Kotor vicinity.

Nightlife is another thing which attracts tourists to Kotor. Old town is filled with pubs, taverns and cafes, and there are some excellent nightclubs in Kotor. With the opening of Maximus nightclub, it has once again become the focus of nightlife of Montenegro's coast.

Summer events, such as Summer Carnival or Bokeljska Noć, are visited by thousands of tourists. These are the most visited happenings in Montenegro during the summer, with over 30,000 people partying in Kotor during Summer Carnival.

Kotor is not a premium destination for sunbathing, as there are no sandy beaches, and water is not of reasonable quality in this part of the Bay of Kotor. However, the drive is no more than half an hour to some of the beaches on the Budva  
*Riviera

These beaches have been voted as amongst the finest 5 in the world by Travel Agency Professionals and are amongst the cleanest and most attractive anywhere. There is a beautiful sandy beach in a sheltered bay looking out to the open sea.

Opportunities to buy superb old stone villas or newly constructed top quality houses and apartments as well as land with planning permission for development, is available through a number of different firms.


*Transport

Kotor is connected to the Adriatic Motorway and the rest of the coast and inland Montenegro by Vrmac Tunnel. Inland is reachable by detouring from Adriatic motorway at Budva or Sutomore (through Sozina tunnel). There is also a historic road connecting Kotor with Cetinje, which offers spectacular views of the Kotor bay.

Tivat Airport is 5 km away, and there are regular flights to Belgrade and Zürich, and dozens of charter planes land daily on Tivat airport during the summer season.

Podgorica Airport is 65 km away, and it has regular flights to major European destinations throughout the year.


*Get in
----- By plane
Tivat airport is 8km away. During summer, there are daily flights to many european destinations. Throughout the year there are flights from Tivat to Belgrade and Zurich. Transportation from the airport to Kotor is easy to find.

Podgorica airport is 90km away, and has flights throughout the year to Belgrade, Budapest, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome and Vienna.

Dubrovnik airport in Croatia is 73km away from Kotor, and mantains flights to many european destinations during the summer.

----- By bus
Kotor is fairly well connected with neighbouring countries by bus. Almost all busses that go from Budva on to Herceg Novi go around the bay instead of taking the ferry, thus going through Kotor.

----- By car
All roads in Montenegro are two-laned only, and mostly are curvy mountainous roads, so speeds over 70 km/h (43 mph) are rarely legal, and rarely safe.

The Vrmac tunnel (the current price is around €2.50 toll) has recently been completed, which significantly shortens the journey from Budva to Kotor. Road traffic was formerly diverted to alternative road over Trojica hill above Kotor. It is still possible to travel via this this very curvy mountain road, so you might travel from Budva to Kotor a bit longer. From this hill you can enjoy beautiful views not only of the tiny countryside villages, but also of Podgorica (when approaching from Cetinje), and also Kotor bay.

----- Get around
Kotor itself is a small town, so pretty much everything is within walking distance. Parking space in the city center is very hard to find, so use your car only when you have to.

There are no sandy beaches in Kotor, and water is not of premium quality for swimming. The best solution is driving to the Jaz or Trsteno beaches on the Budva riviera, some 20km from Kotor. Those are very beautiful beaches, and you should make the effort of going there.

----- See
 
San Giovanni Fort
The old town is a must-see!
St Triphon's cathedral, in the heart of the old town, built in 1166.
Walls of the ancient fort, stretching some 4,5kms directly above the city, on almost vertical cliffs. Climbing up the walls will be rewarded by an excellent view of the Kotor and the bay.
In the middle of the bay there are two islands, Sveti Djordje and Gospa od Skrpijela, which are very worth seing. You can get there with tourist boats.

----- Do
Strolling through narrow streets of old town, enjoy the unique atmosphere.
Drink coffee on some of many crowded open bars.
Enjoy the nightlife.
Take one-day trip to some of the small magical towns in the bay, like Perast or Risan.
Go to some of the beaches in half hour's drive from Kotor (Jaz, Trsteno, Plavi horizonti)
You shouldn't miss some of the great events during the summer, Summer Carnival or Bokeljska Noc.

----- Buy
Old town is packed with boutiques, but beware of counterfeited varinats of world famous brands. There is an open market just outside the old town, there you can buy almost anything from fresh vegetables to sunglasses.

----- Eat
There is a wide choice of places to eat in Kotor. In old town you can find almost anything - from classy restaurants offering fresh seafood and national cuisine to fast food offering pizzas, barbecue, etc...

----- Drink
Again, old town is the hotspot for relaxed drinking espresso in the shades of medieval walls. There are many cafes in the old town, but still it's hard to find a place to sit in the sunny day.

Espresso will cost from €1.00. Coke and other soft drinks and juices will cost from €1.00 up to €2.00.

You should also try out famous Montenegrin wines, "Vranac", "Pro Corde", "Krstac", "Cabernet", "Chardonnay" and "Nikšićko" beer. Montenegrin brandy, called "rakija" is good choice to "warm up" before going out in the evening, especially grape brandy "Montenegrin loza", "Prvijenac" or "Kruna".

----- Nightlife
A night out in Kotor usually begins in some of the many open bars within the walls of old town. As they are not allowed to play music after 01.00AM - the action then moves to some of the night clubs. The best club, without a doubt, is Maximus, located in the old town.

Note: Prices are high as they are, don't let the waiter make extra money on you. Always ask for a bill, as they must provide it by law. If you don't - it's likely that they'll overcharge your drinks, especially if they see you are a foreigner!

----- Sleep
Accommodation is cheap and plentiful in Kotor. During summer you can expect to pay about €10 per person for accommodation at a private residence in the old town, and €5-10 outside the old town and closer to beaches.

Hotel Vardar might at first seem like a good choice, because of its great location, but it has poor quality of service, and is somewhat depressing.
Hotel Maria is nice, it is situated in the Old town.
Hotel Cattaro  is a 5 star hotel, with quoted rates starting from €90 per night between November and February, and €150 per night during the summer. Various hotel reservation websites offer summer deals here of around €100 per nights.