World Heritage Photos

Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor – The Hidden Jewel of the Adriatic Sea

Kotor is an ancient Mediterranean port in the northern part of Montenegro and is located at the deepest end of the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska). This breathtaking bay resembles a fjord. Over the centuries, the town was conquered multiple times. From the 10th century until the end of the 12th century, it was part of the Byzantine Empire and was subsequently besieged by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 and 1657. Its successive occupiers included Austria, Italy and Hungary. Following the Napoleonic Wars, English troops arrived to drive out the French and remained there until the Congress of Vienna. From 1945, Montenegro was part of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, and in 2006 it became an independent state.

The medieval town of Kotor is surrounded by an impressive defensive wall, built by the Republic of Venice. The wall stretches from the sea along slopes of Mount San Giovanni (St. John) up to the fortress of San Giovanni perched at the peak. The Kampana Tower is one of the defensive towers set into the walls. Despite all these fortifications, Kotor was not an impregnable city. Passing through the 16th-century Sea Gate, the city’s main entrance, you step into the historic town centre, where a maze of narrow streets leads you past various palaces and an incredible number of churches.

The largest and most impressive of these monuments is the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. Some other remarkable religious landmarks in Kotor are the Serbian Orthodox St. Nicholas Church, the former Church of St. Michael and the small Serbian-Orthodox St. Luke's Church. Kotor has been destroyed by earthquakes several times; most recently, in 1979, the town sustained severe damage. That same year, the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which helped accelerate the arrival of international aid.

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1. 

   Kotor viewed from the fortress of San Giovanni, also known as the Fortress of St. John. The flag of Montenegro stands proudly atop the fortifications, high above the Bay of Kotor. This winding side arm of the Adriatic Sea is also known as Boka Kotorska, or simply Boka, and is surrounded by well-preserved medieval towns such as Kotor and Perast. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

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   The 16th-century Sea Gate is the main entrance into the historic centre of Kotor. Above the entrance is a plaque to commemorate the liberation from the Nazis on 21 November 1944; on this stone plaque is inscribed: 'Theirs we don't want, ours we don't give', a political slogan of former Yugoslavia. This slogan is often attributed to Marshal Josip Broz, commonly known as Tito. The Sea Gate remains one of the three historic city gates of the medieval town of Kotor.

3. 

   The historic clock tower of Kotor stands opposite the Sea Gate and is considered a symbol of the city. The tower is located in the central square within the historic center of this Mediterranean port. Built in 1602, the wide, fairly low tower has Baroque and Gothic style elements. The tower leans slightly towards the west, a tilt caused by the earthquake in 1667, which also devastated nearby Dubrovnik. Over the centuries, Kotor has been struck by several earthquakes.

4. 

   The robust square towers of the Serbian Orthodox St. Nicholas Church (Sveti Nikola) in Kotor. The church was built in the pseudo-Byzantine style between 1902 and 1909. Those who step inside are surrounded by a serene and mystical atmosphere. Flickering candlelight illuminates impressive icons and a magnificent collection of precious silver. This silver treasure consists of candlesticks, chandeliers, and the reliefs on the iconostasis – the ornate screen with icons and religious paintings separating the nave from the altar. Above the entrance, a striking mosaic depicts St. Nicholas.

5. 

   St. Nicholas Church (Sveti Nikola) is the largest Serbian Orthodox church in Kotor. The most striking features of the church are the two bell towers with their black onion-shaped domes, which are crowned by Eastern Orthodox crosses. These gold-leaf decorations were a gift from the Russian Empire at the time. There are also several small churches hidden within the historic centre of Kotor, including the Serbian Orthodox St. Lucas Church (Sveti Luka) and the Roman Catholic St. Clara Church (Sveta Klara).

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   The Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary of the River, also known as the Church of St. Ozana (Sveta Ozana) was built in 1221 and named after Saint Ozana of Kotor; her incorrupt body lies in state within a glass coffin in this church. Situated close to the North Gate, or River Gate, of Kotor, the church is notable for its octagonal dome rising above its nave. The frescoes inside were created by Greek painters. Following the devastating earthquake of 1979, archaeologists discovered the remains of a 6th-century episcopal basilica beneath the foundations, including the baptismal font. Behind the church stands the Grubonja Palace, which housed a pharmacy as early as the 14th century – believed to be the oldest pharmacy in the Balkans.

7. 

   For centuries, the former Church of St. Michael (Sveti Mihailo) has held a deep religious and spiritual meaning for Kotor. This small church was built at the end of the 14th century as part of a Benedictine monastery. Beneath the floor lie the remains of a 12th-century Romanesque church, with the ruins of an early Christian basilica from the 6th century buried even further below. The church interior was decorated with frescoes, which have remained reasonably well-preserved on the northern wall. Today, the building houses a lapidarium: a collection of unique stone fragments from ancient monuments of Kotor.

8. 

   Although Kotor is a small town, it has many churches within its medieval walls. The Romanesque Cathedral of St. Tryphon is one of the two Roman Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro, built on the site of an earlier church from 809. The cathedral was consecrated in 1166 and dedicated to Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor; this monumental building houses his relics. After a severe earthquake destroyed the Romanesque façade and bell towers in 1667, they were later rebuilt in the Baroque style.

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   The two towers of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon rise high above Kotor. The towers were built in different styles and are also different in height. Following an earthquake in 1667, the towers were destroyed and later rebuilt; however, due to a lack of funds, the northern tower was never completed. Later restorers made a conscious decision to preserve this unique feature. The interior of the cathedral is adorned with 14th-century frescoes. The cathedral was damaged by an earthquake in 1979 once again; the restoration and renovation was completed in 2000. It is the largest Romanesque cathedral on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.

10. 

    The Kampana Tower is a bastion of the fortified town walls of Kotor. This strategic bastion is located in the northwestern corner of the town, at the point where the wild River Škurda flows into the Bay of Kotor. The foundations of the tower date back to the Middle Ages, but like the other fortifications, it was completely rebuilt and modernised during the Venetian period in the 16th and 17th centuries. The historic centre of Kotor is surrounded by these defensive walls; there are three city gates and approximately ten bastions of varying sizes. Kotor remains one of the best-preserved medieval fortified towns on the Adriatic Sea.

11. 

    These stone stairs run along the fortification walls of Kotor and lead to the remains of the San Giovanni fortress. The fortress lies on Sveti Ivan, one of the peaks in the Lovćen mountain range that rises high above the city and its bay. Reaching the summit requires climbing approximately 1,400 steps; the path is steep, and the steps are uneven. The ascent takes about one hour, but it rewards climbers with a magnificent view over Kotor and its bay. Within the fortress, visitors can find traces of an Illyrian settlement dating back to the 3rd century BC.

12. 

    Two donkeys carrying restoration material up to the old Fortress of San Giovanni (Fortress of St. John). Because Kotor and its surrounding region are located in a highly seismically active zone, the city has repeatedly sustained major damage by a number of earthquakes over the centuries. The severe 1979 Montenegro earthquake lasted only ten seconds, but Kotor and its medieval fortifications were heavily damaged. At the time of our visit, the traces of this disaster were still visible. In some places, the walls are 16 metres high and vary in thickness from 2 to 20 metres.

13. 

    Kotor and its bay viewed from the Fortress of San Giovanni, also known as the Fortress of St. John. This stronghold is situated at an altitude of about 280 metres above the amazing green-tinted waters of the Bay of Kotor. The ancient fortified town of Kotor lies safely nestled by the water; its historic centre is triangular in shape. St. George's Island and the artificial Island of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) are situated off the coast of the town of Perast in the bay. 

14. 

    A donkey on the fortifications of Kotor, with the bay in the background. The walls are about 4.5 kilometres long. The oldest parts were built during medieval times by the Byzantines, but the greater part was constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Venetians. In the past, the fortifications were severely damaged by multiple earthquakes. Despite restoration efforts, the traces of these earthquakes remain visible. Efforts to preserve and protect these fortifications are still ongoing, as they form a unique part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

15. 

    The small Church of Our Lady of Remedy is situated halfway up the fortress walls of Kotor, overlooking the breathtaking bay. The church was built in 1518; the remains of a 6th-century church were later found beneath it. In 1572, it became a votive church following several plague epidemics and grew into a popular pilgrimage destination. The bell tower stands 18 metres high and contains three bells. The church can only be reached on foot via the stone stairs that lead to the fortress of San Giovanni. During the climb over the walls, you are rewarded with a beautiful view of Kotor and its bay.