City Photos News Montenegro/Kotor

St. Eustace church in Dobrota (suburb of Kotor)

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 11:20:55 +0000

Kotor (Italian, Venetian & Dalmatian: Cattaro; Latin: Acruvium) is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a most secluded part of Gulf of Kotor. The town has a population of 13,510, and is the administrative center of the Kotor municipality. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor, surrounded by an impressive city wall built by House of Nemanjic, 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 dominant 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 Lovcen 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. 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. In 1979 (April 15) a major earthquake hit the Montenegrian coastal area. The victims were approx.100. Half of the Kotor Old Town was destroyed. St.Tryphon Cathedral was partly damaged. 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 Dorde and Gospa od Skrpijela 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 Noc, 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 (Plavi Horizonti) 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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotor http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=42.425001&lon=18.771434&z=17&l=1&m=h&v=2 .
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Children playing at a water-faucet

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 11:20:48 +0000

St.Nichola's church

Fri, 2 Nov 2007 06:11:58 +0000

St.Nichola's Church built in 1902-1909 on the premises of the former Dominican monastery of St.Nicholas (built in 1540, ruined in 1896 fire) in pseudo-Byzantine style. On the facade, you can see the flag of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Next to the church, there is the treasury of the Serbian Orthodox Church..
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Life of Bl. Ozana, relief bronze church door of St.Mary church

Fri, 2 Nov 2007 06:11:52 +0000

(artist V.Lipovac) Blessed Ozana was born in 1493 in what is now Montenegro. She used to have visions even as a girl; in 1515 she joined the Dominican Order and then spent 50 years in strict penitence, yet while living almost like a hermit in a small cell, she participated in the city life; thus, she preached to the people, strongly encouraging them to protect Kotor against the Turks (when Turkish admiral Hairuddin Barbarossa attacked the city with the force of 70 ships and over 30,000 force in 1539). Also, she protected civil piece in Kotor by settling a conflict between the citizens and the city nobles. Together with St.Tryphon, she's considered to be the patron saint of Kotor. Her sarcophagus, also decorated with scenes of her life, is within the church..
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

a small church near the St.Tryphon's

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 09:57:53 +0000

a small church near the St.Tryphon's.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Window of St.Tryphon's Cathedral

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 09:57:49 +0000

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=42.424122&lon=18.77196&z=18&l=1&m=h&v=2 The first church was built here to keep the relics of St.Tryphon (Tripun in the Montenegrian dialect of Serbo-Croatian) brought by the Venetians from Constantinolpe in 809. The present cathedral was built in 1166, and reconstructed in late 16th - early 17th, latte 19th and late 20th centuries. It is the main church in Kotor and one of the most famous in the country. In fact, it always was famous: on eof the earliest mentionings can be seen in the book "On running a state" by Constantine VII the Porphyrogenetus (10th century). It has many nice decorations and revered objects..
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

a street

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 09:40:10 +0000

a street.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

A street

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 09:39:47 +0000

A street.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Kotor marina near the Sea Gates

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:47:18 +0000

Kotor marina near the Sea Gates.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

A house in the outskirts of the town

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:47:15 +0000

A house in the outskirts of the town.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

a street in the Old Town

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:43:26 +0000

a street in the Old Town.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

A ruined factory

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:43:23 +0000

Like so many buildings in the country, badly damaged by 1978 earthquake.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

a street in the Old Town

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:36:33 +0000

a street in the Old Town.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

A street in the Old Town

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:36:23 +0000

A street in the Old Town.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

In a street

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:02:25 +0000

In a street.
Kotor, Montenegro, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.