June 25, 2018 - Kotor is a medieval, coastal and fortified town, located at the very end of the Bay of Kotor. Written evidence suggests that Kotor is as old as maritime trade in the Adriatic, so it can be defined as an ancient city. Kotor is truly one of the most beautiful cities in Montenegro that holds numerous cultural and historical treasures that give it a special kind of traditional charm.
Kotor can be reached through three different gates: The Main, The Northern and The Southern Gate. The Main Gate, also called the “Sea Gate”, was built during the first half of the 16th century. The name "Sea Gate" was given because, at the time, the built-up sea could reach all the way to the entrance. The oldest gate out of the three is the Southern Gate, partially built in the 9th century. It consists of three groups of gates, each of which is built at a different time.
The Old town Kotor is one of the best preserved medieval towns in this part of the Mediterranean, whose patron was St. George. Kotor persisted in preserving its original medieval look, which significantly contributes to its placement on UNESCO's cultural heritage list. The heart of the city is framed by the city walls, which continue to Mount St. Ivan and reaches its peak. The walls are about 5 kilometers long, the height is 20 meters and a width up to 15 meters. Historic data says that the construction of the city walls was started by the Byzantines and later, the construction was finished by Nemanjići, a Serbian royal dynasty. The main characteristics of Old town Kotor are narrow and confined streets and numerous squares, such as The Square of Arms, The Flour Square, The Milk Square, The Wooden Square, and more. The biggest city square is The Square of Arms, which throughout history served as an armory. At this square, you can find The Clock Tower, The Arsenal Building, The city guard’s tower and Napoleon’s Theatre as well. What particularly distinguishes Old town Kotor is the many gates, palaces of wealthy families, stairways, as well as churches and monasteries in a relatively small area. While visiting Kotor, you shouldn’t miss Bizanti Palace, Buća Palace, Vrakjen Palace, Grgurina Palace and Pima Palace. The Pima Palace is, in many respects, the most beautiful of the Kotor palace. It is located on Mali trg (The Small Square), between The Square of Arms, the Main City Gate and the Cathedral.
The Cathedral of St. Tripun is certainly the most important monument and symbol of the Old Town of Kotor. The cathedral was built over several decades, but many historians believe it was built in 1166. The Cathedral of St. Tripun is also known for its precious valuables: the cyborium from the XIV century, the stone Pieta of Nordic origin, the painted statue of Vinko Fererski, the four stone stones from the 18th century, the relief of the Virgin with Christ, the silver-plated pale-masterpiece of the Kotor medieval goldsmith, and more.
Old town Kotor is filled with many different stores, cafes, restaurants and taverns where you can always eat fresh fish. A one-day excursion to this beautiful city is not recommended, because for the real experience of Kotor, you need several days to enjoy the sea breeze, the lovely sunny weather, and Kotor’s rich tradition.
