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Kotor, Montenegro May 5, 2023
SAY HELLO TO KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
Tucked away between the mountains and the Bay of Kotor, one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea, is where you'll find the picturesque town of Kotor. As you arrive at this secluded city, you'll notice the dramatic 65-foot high protective walls, which date back to the Venetian period during the 9th century. Stroll the labyrinth of cobbled streets with cozy cafes and craft shops as you marvel the graceful old buildings.
Listed as a UNESCO World Natural and Historical Heritage Site, Kotor is also world-famous as a premier yachting and sailing destination.
I took a wonderful walking tour of the old town just as I had the last time I was here. I enjoyed it even more today and the weather was perfect!!
650,000 people live in the country, 30,000 people in Kotor.
You can traverse the entire country in 4.5 hours.
Major earthquake in 1979 destroyed Kotor.
Old town is traffic-free.
It is very safe here.
Catholics and orthodox Christians celebrate the same holidays and saints but on different dates. In mixed marriages, they celebrate major holidays and Saints days twice!
Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia in 2006. When I was here last, it had only been a country for seven years
Montenegrins are still a part of the Serbian Orthodox Church. There is no Montenegrin orthodox church.
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Rick Steves Kotor Montenegro commentary
Nothing can mar the natural beauty of Montenegro's mountains, bays, and forests. For anyone interested in getting a look at the untamed Adriatic, a spin on the winding road around Montenegro’s steep and secluded Bay of Kotor is a must.
Just beyond Perast is the town of Kotor. Butted up against a steep cliff, cradled by a calm sea, naturally sheltered by its deep-in-the-fjord position, and watched over by an imposing network of fortifications, Kotor has survived centuries of would-be invaders thanks to its imposing town wall, which scrambles in a zigzag line up the mountain behind it.
Though it's enjoyed a long and illustrious history, today's Kotor is a time-capsule retreat for travelers seeking a truly unspoiled Adriatic town.
With an inviting Old Town, inhabited by just 3,000 people, it seems custom-built for aimless strolling. Though it's sometimes called a "little Dubrovnik," that's a stretch. Kotor is low-key, less ambitious, and much smaller than its more famous neighbor. Yet visitors find that Kotor — with its own special spice that's exciting to sample — is a hard place to tear yourself away from.
Wander the enjoyably seedy streets of Kotor, drop into some Orthodox churches, and sip a coffee at an alfresco café. Enjoying my bijela kava ("white coffee," as a latte is called here), I watch kids coming home from school. Two girls walk by happily spinning the same kind of batons my sisters spun when I was a tyke. And then a sweet girl walks by all alone — lost in thought, carrying a tattered violin case.
Even in a land where humble is everything's middle name, parents can find an old violin and manage to give their little girls grace and culture. Letting that impression breathe, it makes me happier than I'd have imagined it would.
