#14 Montenegro
I am in love with Montenegro and need to visit again. We did not have enough time in this country. It wasn’t even a country I thought I wanted to explore. Silly me, I want to explore them all. Who am I kidding?
We drove from Croatia to Kotor, Montenegro. We left earlier in the morning, so the border crossing was manageable. on our way back, we had to wait a bit, but everyone was trying to go home at the same time. Kotor is the oldest town in Montenegro and is now a state-protected historical monument. The preservation of this town is phenomenal. No wonder it is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. Every old town holds its own history and it is always so fascinating to me. Kotor’s old town is made up of white stone walls, laneways, and staircases that create a maze of passages and hidden courtyards. You can easily get lost here, but who cares. Every twist and turn brings you to a new gem around each corner. Make sure to walk the city walls. It’s amazing to view the old town from a different perspective. From this view, you can see the intricate stonework up close and get an appreciation for the time and energy that went into the construction. It makes you soak in everything you have learned while you are exploring.
Michael and I created our own walking tour, and some notable gems are below!
Kotor Fortress
The fortress gained popularity because of the incredible views from the top. The fortress sits on a hill behind the old town and there are 2 different hiking paths you can walk to access it. We choose the Ladder of Kotor or Via Ferrata Kotor, which starts from this point and takes you to the top via a goat trail. It’s much quieter, more scenic, with small stone churches along the way. The other route starts from the base of Old Town and includes 1,300 steep steps.
St Tryphon Cathedral and Kotor’s Old Churches
If you’re a fan of historic churches, then you’ll love the religious architecture in Kotor. There are several churches within the Old Town that date back to the 12-14th centuries and are open to the public to explore. Start with the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor’s largest and most recognizable Catholic church. Built in the Romanesque style in 1166, it houses a clutch of important religious relics in its small museum, as well as beautiful frescoes in the main chapel. Don’t miss walking out on the upstairs balcony for a view of the empty plaza below. Other smaller churches in Kotor include St. Nicholas Church, the Serbian Orthodox church Sveti Nikola, Sveti Luka Church, and St. Ana Church.
Cat Museum
Kotor is a city full of cats, so a museum is dedicated to the furry felines. Some random older lady sparked a conversation with us as I petted a cat and advised us it was a must-see. The cat museum is a little bit of a misnomer. While many would assume it has actual physical cats - it’s devoted to images of cats in advertising and news. If you love cats like me, you cannot ignore this place.
Our Lady Of The Rocks
Our Lady of the Rocks, a historic island off the coast of Perast, is just 20 minutes by road from Kotor. The tiny islet is the only artificial island in the Adriatic. As the story goes, locals made the island by sinking ships and throwing rocks into the water. On the island, there is a single church that you can visit on a short guided tour. The interior frescoes are stunning, and there’s a small museum dedicated to curios unearthed from shipwrecks in the bay. The first picture below is a picture of the islet!
I promise you won’t be disappointed after visiting Kotor. It’ll only give you the itch to explore more of Montenegro. Montenegro is a Balkan country surrounded by Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. You have the opportunity to visit many others countries that are so close!
Which picture below is your favorite? Please comment below!
Until next time…
Explore more.
Adventure awaits.
