The Bay of Boka Which Covers Three Cities
-Kotor
As a special destination of Montenegro’s coast, we should definitely single out the famous Bay of Kotor, known as the only Mediterranean bay that looks primarily like Norwegian fjords, and due to its great indentation, the places located there were named after larger places such as Herceg Novi, Tivat, Risan and Kotor Bays.
Kotor was first mentioned in the time of the Roman Empire. For those who don’t know, Kotor was still part of Dalmatia at the time. Only subsequently – more precisely, in 1813 – was it annexed to Montenegro.Kotor is one of the best preserved towns dating back to the Middle Ages. The most attractive sights located in the city are: 6 Romanesque churches from the 12th and 13th centuries, old buildings, palaces, private houses and cobbled streets and squares.
Back in 1979, Kotor was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It has almost the most beautiful example of a European fortress – the beautiful city walls that were built in the 9th century. On average, they are 10 meters wide and 20 meters high in places. The walls circle the city in the length of 4,500 meters.
-Tivat
Tivat has gone through the following epochs: Illyrian, Roman-Byzantine, Serbian, Venetian-Turkish and Austrian, as evidenced by many archaeological finds and existing monuments of old architecture as well as written historical sources.
According to historians, Tivat is the youngest town in the Bay of Kotor, as well as on the Montenegrin coast. There are three different opinions about the name of the city. One suggests that the name Tivat originates from the name of the Illyrian queen Teuta, who, in addition to the fact that her capital was Risan, also had several summer houses in the immediate vicinity of today’s Tivat. Another explanation points to the names of Christian saints that resemble the name Tivat, e.g.: sanctus Theudorus, Theodosius, Theodotus, Theodulus or medieval names that originate from the XII century – Theudo, Theodo. However, very often there is a third opinion, which directly clarifies, that the name Tivat comes from the Celtic word “teuto” which means city.
According to publicly known data, the first epoch in the development of Tivat, characterized by the Illyrian period, ended in 168-7 BC. Although only a small number of archaeological finds testify to this period today, this time period is historically important due to the fact that the Illyrian state collapsed at that time.
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a city of stairs, a city of sea, walls and towers, a city of sun and flower gardens. Herceg Novi is located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, 51 km from Dubrovnik and 43 km from Kotor. One of the sunniest cities on the Adriatic, which is the first to welcome guests who “sail” into the Bay of Kotor. Bordered by the high mountain Orjen, decorated with greenery and mimosa, palm trees and the open sea. Herceg Novi is home to tall palm trees that sailors brought back from their distant voyages; This is home to magnolia, eucalyptus, and agave.
The centre of Herceg Novi is its Old Town (Stari Grad), decorated with buildings dating back to the epochs of Sahat – Kula (1667) and Kanli – Kula (1483). Fortress Spanjola (1538) and Fortress Forte Mare (1687) are only a part of the cultural heritage of this renowned town.
Rich with greenery, Herceg Novi hides numerous kinds of tropical flowers. Towards the end of January the town becomes scented with the subtle fragrance of yellow and green mimosas and there is a special festival dedicated to this flower, called Praznik Mimosa. During the summer months many festivals are organized to further enrich the tourist offer of this enchanted town.
The 7 Islands of the Bay of Boka
The islands of the bay are known for many historical details and legends, as well as archaeological details dating back to the time of the Illyrian state.There are seven islands:Lastavica/Mamula,Vavedenje/The Nativity of the Virgin Mary,The Island of Flowers/Saint Archangel Michael,Stradioti,Skolj/Gospa od Milosti,Island of Saint George,Gospa od skrpjela,
Cultural Importance of Perast to Montenegro
Perast, first mentioned in a document in the 13th century, stood in the shadow of the dominant Kotor for years, finally sided with the Venetians and fought Kotor before it became known as an independent small town for its sailors, traders and navigators. Perast’s four shipping companies maintained up to 100 ships and many captains chose Perast as their retirement home. The wealth of the small town grew over the centuries and between 1600 and 1797 magnificent new buildings of the Peraster upper class were built.
With deep cultural roots intertwined, these island churches hold significant importance for both Perast and Montenegro. The churches of Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George’s Island aren’t just architectural marvels but also serve as symbols of the rich history and traditions of the region. Perast, a small town with a big cultural heritage, takes pride in these churches as they represent the spiritual and communal life of its people.
For Perast, the island churches are more than just places of worship; they’re integral to the town’s identity and serve as reminders of its maritime past. The annual tradition of the Fasinada ceremony, where locals throw stones into the sea to expand the island of Our Lady of the Rocks, showcases the deep cultural connection that the town has with these churches.The island churches stand as testament to Montenegro’s diverse cultural heritage and are cherished symbols of national pride.
