Location
Kotor lies at the end of the Bay of Kotor between the Lovćen Mountains and the sea. The Kotor–Lovćen cable car offers an 11-minute ride from the sea into the mountains, connects Kotor with Lovćen National Park and provides views from above the Bay of Kotor; its operation may be weather-dependent.
Culture
The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor encompasses the city of Kotor and the surrounding area within a 14,600-hectare World Heritage Site. Kotor’s cultural character has been shaped by centuries of seafaring and trade, eastern and western cultural influences, and the coexistence of Catholic and Orthodox traditions. The historic urban areas were restored and reconstructed after the 1979 earthquake, while preserving their architectural, urban-planning and historical authenticity.
Architecture
Large and small squares are connected by narrow, winding streets. Arms Square is described as the largest and architecturally most developed square. Kotor can be entered through three city gates; the present appearance of the Sea Gate dates from 1555. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas stands in the northern part of Kotor’s Old Town and is described as an attraction for tourists as well as for worshippers and those interested in history.
History
Kotor’s fortification walls were built gradually from the 9th to the 18th century. In some places, they reach a height of 20 metres and are between 2 and 15 metres wide. Access to San Giovanni Fortress is through two entrances; their paths meet and continue to the 15th-century Church of Our Lady of Remedy. The fortification route climbs from the shore to the mountain fortress and can be explored as a path with around 1,400 steps along walls extending for approximately 4.5 kilometres.
Sacred Art
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon was built and consecrated in 1166. It contains golden reliquaries made by goldsmiths from Kotor and dating from the 14th to the 18th century. It also features frescoes by Greek masters and a Romanesque-Gothic ciborium from the 14th century above the main altar.
Collections
The Maritime Museum of Montenegro in Kotor traces its origins to the collection established by the Boka Marine Fraternity around 1880 and was opened to the public in 1900. It is housed in Grgurina Palace, an 18th-century Baroque palace. The objects on display include old weapons, traditional costumes, ship models, and depictions of Boka sailing ships and naval battles. The Kotor Lapidarium permanently displays stone objects from the Classical, Early Christian, Pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Kotor can then continue their accommodation search. Other location pages: Risan, Ljesevici, Kovaci, Å kaljari, Tresnjica, Zagora, Muo, Perast.
