Kotor, Montenegro – Dirty, Montenegro
The Dirty (Kotor) located in the largest bay in Montenegro, the Reserve Kotorska (Boca Kotorska). The kotor Bay emerged from soil precipitation, the maximum depth is 52m and its penetration in the land reaches the 29 km. At the top of the mountain that we see over the city, to 280 m dominates Castle San Giovanni (Castle of St John). Behind the castle hill of St. John the great mountain range called Lovcen.
HISTORY
According to archaeologists the Kotor existed before the time of Homer and were Greek city. Destroyed by the Visigoths(5th B.C.) but after that it was ruled by many foreign. first the 476 A.D. by the Byzantines, Slovenian (10th 11th ), Serbs (1185-1371), the Venetians (1420-1797), Austrians (1797), Russians the 1806, 1813 and then Austria. Although the defensive walls of Kotor built by the Venetians, the top of St. John was already fortified by the Illyrians times (6th – 4th century. B.C.). The Venetian Albania, ie the inhabitants of the Republic of Venice on the Adriatic coast, improved the fortifications of Kotor. The 1797 the fortifications were transferred to the Austrians by the Treaty of Campo Formio. The massive earthquake that struck the region, at 15 April 1979 destroyed a part of the fortifications and buildings of the Old Town. Since then, UNESCO has included the Fortress, the Old Town and the natural environment of the Bay of Kotor in the list of "Places & World heritage "by UNESCO since 1979, called "Physics – cultural – Historical Region of Kotor »and under the protection of.
FORTRESS
The city's fortifications is an integrated protection system and includes Castle, towers, citadels, gates, bastions, Reservoirs and auxiliary spaces. The monument is an example of defensive military architecture with influences of Illyria, Byzantium, Venice and Austria. At the entrance over the "Gate of the Sea 'is an inscription referring to the release of Kotor, after the Second World War, dated 21 November 1944.
The medieval part of town Kotor is located on a triangular piece of land bordered ND, with more internal expansion Gulf of Kotor, B with the River Skurda and A to the mountain Saint John. The walls of the fortification protecting the town in North and west side, to the sea, as there is behind the physical protection of the mountain. The walls (thick 2 – 16 m. , height 20 m.) is fortified towers and Bastions, with the most important "tower Kampana" and Acropolis (13th – 14th), near the point where the river enters the Gulf. Near it is the Main Gate of the Castle, the "Gate of the Sea» (1555). The other two gates of the city is the north of the river, the "Gate of the river» (1540) the nearby Perivolos "Bembo» (1540) and N gate, the "gate Gurdic Bastion». From Bastion Bembo Bastion Gurdic and you can climb to the top of Mount San Giovanni, with stunning views of the Bay of Kotor. On the way to the Castle of St John, hillside, there is the Church of Our Lady of Health Rehabilitation (1518).
OLD TOWN (OLD TOWN)
The main entrance to the Old City of Kotor is the "Gate of the Sea" and you can join free. On entering there is a small shop with maps, cards, ethnic souvenirs, notebooks, pens etc.. The Stari Grad is a charming, Medieval City, full of beautiful architectural monuments Palaces, Museums, Buckingham, Churches, Cathedral. The narrow streets form a small maze that requires attention to not get lost. Small squares are small cafes and restaurants and shops around for shopping. At the main square, or Square of Arms (market from weapons) you meet once you enter, It is the busiest part of the city.
WORTH SEEING
- the Cathedral Saint Tryphon (Cathedral of The Holy Tryphon, 11th century. A.D.), Gothic – Roman. The new church is built over an older church of Saint Tryphon, which was built in the year 809. The earthquake 1979 made disasters in the new temple, which is fully restored. Saint Tryphon is the patron and protector of the area and the church is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Kotor. The frescoes inside the church are the 14th century. St. Tryphon with a winged lion of St. Mark, symbol of Venice and the mountain of San Giovanni depicted in the city coat of arms.
- the Orthodox Church Saint Nicola's (Church of The Holy Nikolas, 1902) It is a large church, with 2 steeples built at a rate reminiscent of Byzantine, near the walls to the river Scurda. It is worth admiring the chancel of the church (1908).
- To Church of St. Luke (St. Luke ή St. Luke,1195) in the Piazza Greca Square, Roman type – Byzantine. Was Catholic school until 17The century. but then given to orthodox. For this reason has 2 altars, a Catholic and an Orthodox. The floor of the temple is made of gravestones as by 1930 there buried their dead.
- the Collegiate Church of St. Mary (Church of St. Mary Collegiate, 1221). It is a medieval catholic church, built on the ruins of an early Christian (6th ), Roman type.
- the Clock Tower (17th ), at the main square, opposite the "Gate of the Sea", between coffee. three floors, with the clock displayed on two different views of the Tower.
- The Marine Museum where you will see paintings with portraits of famous captains of the area, engravings, photos, navigational instruments, miniature boats etc..
- The Palace Grgurin, type baroque, which houses the Naval Museum of the city.
- The Palace Bescuca, located between the central square and Floor Square. It was the residence of Bescuca family and Gothic style.
- The Palace Pima, He belonged to the family Pima, is type Renaissance - Baroque (1667) and is a characteristic building of the old town of Kotor.
- To Theater Napoleon (Theatre Napoleon, 1810), near «Kampana Tower". The facade of the theater was destroyed by the earthquake 1979 but fully restored by UNESCO.
- The Cat Museum (Cats Museum, 2013) in the Old City center. Collection of paintings, engravings, currency, books, cards, All about cat. It has a small shop with very affordable memorabilia (www.cats museum.org).
Bay of Kotor is the island Our Lady of the Rocks, the church "Virgin of the Rocks», across the region Perast. The island Our Lady of Rocks and the island Sveti Djordje (St. George),are two beautiful islands in the Gulf Kotor. The island Gospa od Skrpjela is an artificial island, built by sailors from Perast and Kotor, who transferred to ships large boulders. According to stories, a fisherman from Perast, after a shipwreck near the island, He found a picture of the Virgin with Christ, a rock of the sea, so I promised to build a church on the islet (1452). Because the rock had to grow up and become island locals sailors then threw boulders in the Gulf entrance. The church built on the rock called "Virgin of the Rocks" (this event) and while the original church was destroyed, new temple built (1632), baroque type which further expanded when 8The century.
BROWN – FOOD
Siemle, Old Town, coffee on the main square
San Giovanni, Old Town, Coffee - bar, at the main square
Scorpio, Old Town, coffee - food
La Pasteria , Old Town, opposite the Saint Tryphon, Italian food
Cesarica, Old Town, economic restaurant
Bastion Restaurant, fish
Power, Old Town, near Clock Tower, coffee – dessert
Pizza Pronto, Old Town, near Montenegro Hostel,coffee – pizza
Power Great, Dobrota area, seafront restaurant and hotel.
MARKETS
Within the Old Town there is the Cats of Kotor, Art & Handicraft Gallery, with handcrafted artwork on the cat (+38268715104). the AFAR, near St Tryphon, nice items for souvenirs, το Discover Art Galleries, with hand made jewelry Murano, with special designs and Tiffany Clothes. Also here there are shops where you can buy religious items, pictures, rosaries etc.. In the new town, next to the river Skurda There is a small mall with modern shops, το Shopping Centre Kamelija (+38232335380, 8 -11 pm) in Mate square Petrovica. Montenegro sees excellent wines, Cabernet, Chardonnay, brandy and beer, as Vranac, Pro Corde, Krstac.
ACCOMMODATION
The Kotor and the area around the vagina, in Perast area there are many accommodations. Examples include the following :
Hotel Kotor, 4*, Old Town, tel.:+38232311000
Hotel Monte Cristo, 4*, Old Town, tel.: + 38232322458
Hotel Maria, Old Town 449, tel.: 38232325062
Montenegro Hostel Kotor , Old Town, tel.: +382 69 039 751 email : [email protected]
Old Town Hostel Kotor, Old Town, 284, tel. : + 382 32 325 317
Hotel Cent, Old Town 410a, tel. : +38232326882
Hotel Vardar, Old Towon, hotelvardar.com
Perl Apartments, 4*, Old Town, tel. : +38267000782
Hostel Center , Old Town, 459, tel : checkout: 11.00am .+38168212552
Hotel Palazzo Radomiri, Dodrota, Book Kotorka, tel.: +38232333176, +38269146939, [email protected]
Hotel Forza Mare,5*, Dobrota area, Book Kotorka, tel.: +38232333500
Hotel Amfora Kotor, Orahovac, Book Kotorka ,6 km from Perast, tel. : +382 32 305 857
Conte Hotel & Restaurant, 4*,Marina Perast,12 km from Kotor, tel.:+38267257387
PORTO MONTENEGRO
The Peter Munk a Canadian billionaire, He decided to invest his money (1 billion. Dollars) Bay of Kotor, in Tivat city. He built a luxurious Marina boats, 5 * hotel, expensive houses, golf courts, squares, walkways, mall, etc.. (Oballa bb, Tivat, +38232660700, www.portomontenegro.com).
ACCESS
The shortest distance from a nearby airport, It is from the Tivat airport (Tivat) located in the Bay of Kotor, about 7,5 km, (Air Serbia Airlines). From Greece there are several flights in summer mainly stopover. The airport that is the biggest Montenegrin even from the Undergorica. In addition to the airport Tivat has a large and modern marina boats.
From airport Podgorica (Undergorica), Montenegro's capital, in Kotor directly connected to Athens. Road distance Podgorica – Dirty They are 85 km. From Dubrovnik Airport (Dubrovnik) road distance Dubrovnik – Dirty to be 91 km. H air link from Greece either directly or with stopover. The Kotor is the town about Budva 23 km.
USEFUL ADDRESSES
GREEK EMBASSY IN PODGORICA
Atinska 4, Gorina C, Podgorica, Montenegro, + 382 20655544, +382 20618170
EMBASSY OF MONTENEGRO TO GREECE
Lucian 5, Kolonaki, tel. 210-7241212
