21-10-2016
KOTOR, a town in Montenegro was founded by the ancient Romans. In the 10th century it was an autonomous city ruled from Byzantium, and from 1186 to 1371 it was a free city of medieval Serbia. It was Venetian and Hungarian for brief periods, and independent republic from 1395 to 1420. From 1797 till 1806 In the Middle Ages, this natural harbor on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro was an important artistic and commercial center with its own famous schools. A large number of the monuments were seriously damaged by the 1979 earthquake but the town has been restored. Now it is a UNESCO World heritage site.
The fortified, coastal town of Kotor, Montenegro is guaranteed to leave quite an impression, whether you’re making a quick pit stop during a Balkans road trip, visiting for the day as part of a cruise, or are lucky enough to have a few days to properly explore. Easily one of the most beautiful spots in the Adriatic, its medieval old town is picture-perfect from all angles thanks to the cluster of orange terracotta rooftops nestled at the bottom of a lush green hill, framed by dramatic cliff sides and the sparkling, smooth-as-glass Bay of Kotor.
Walking through the maze of cobblestone streets and hidden passageways that wind past stone churches, restaurants and boutiques, gazing out at the nearby islands from a rooftop perch, tackling the steep trail to get up to the fortress and it can get busy when the cruise crowds show up, and summer traffic on the outskirts is nothing to scoff at, but it’s still remarkably easy to find peace and quiet by simply wandering a block or two off the main streets.
