Magnificent Montenegro

I enjoyed my first visit to Montenegro. I arrived by cruise ship, like many visitors do.

Windstar's "Star Pride"
Windstar’s “Star Pride”

That’s us in the photo below (ms Eurodam – Holland America Line) docked in Kotor for the day.  Located in the Bay of Kotor, this is one of the most scenic sail-ins/sail-outs I have experienced. It was a busy Sunday in Kotor with several cruise ships visiting and we were the one lucky ship that was docked portside which is always a plus.

ms Eurodam Docked in Kotor, Montenegro
ms Eurodam Docked in Kotor, Montenegro

Montenegro is located along the Adriatic. A small country, bordered by Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Servia, Kosovo, and Albania, Montenegro is rich in history. Click here for my posting on nearby Dubrovnik.

As can be seen from the photos, Montenegro is quite mountainous.

Mountains of Montenegro
Mountains of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro

We spent our time wandering through the fortified medieval old town that is bordered by stone walls dating from the 15th century.  This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lots of narrow cobblestone streets and alleys to explore. Kotor can be quite crowded during peak tourism season and especially when there are several cruise ships in port. There were three docked on the day of my visit.

Old Town Kotor
Inside Kotor’s Old Town
In Old Town Kotor, Montenegro
In Old Town Kotor, Montenegro

The clock tower in the old town is one of Kotor’s most recognizable landmarks. Dating back to the 16th century, the clock tower features both Baroque and Gothic architecture.

Clock Tower in Kotor's Old Town
Clock Tower in Kotor’s Old Town

We concentrated our visit on two points of interest – The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon and the Maritime Museum.

Like many historic European cathedrals, the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon is filled with stunning architecture.

Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor, Montenegro
Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor, Montenegro

The interior of the Cathedral is in beautiful soft soothing tones of pink. It has a rich collection of artifacts and is well worth some time just admiring the interior.

Interior of Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor, Montenegro
Interior of Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor, Montenegro
Interior of Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor, Montenegro
Interior of Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, Kotor, Montenegro

About halfway up St. John’s Mountain is the Church of Our Lady of Remedy built in the 16th century. This church can only be reached by foot and the path is not an easy one to traverse.

Church of Our Lady of Remedy, Kotor, Montenegro
Church of Our Lady of Remedy, Kotor, Montenegro

A schooner day sail departs from Kotor.

Day Cruise in Kotor, Montenegro
Day Cruise in Kotor, Montenegro

The sea plays a major role in life in Kotor and surrounding areas.

Out for a Sunday Sail in the Bay of Kotor
Out for a Sunday Sail in the Bay of Kotor

In this part of the Adriatic, it’s very common to see luxury yachts of all shapes and sizes out cruising.

Cruising in the Bay of Kotor
Cruising in the Bay of Kotor

When you sail in and out of Kotor, there are miles of scenic landscapes at which to marvel. Two islets, in particular, stand out.

The first islet is St. George Island just off the coast of Perast in the Bay of Kotor. It houses the Saint George Benedictine Monastry (behind the trees in the photo below) from the 12th century.

St. George Island, Montenegro
St. George Island, Montenegro

The second islet is the Lady of the Rocks.  Legend has it that this artificial island was formed by seamen who, successfully returning from a sea voyage, would drop a rock in this area of the Bay of Kotor. Through time, this little mass of an islet surfaced. The Church of Our Lady of the Rocks and its museum are the largest structures on this small islet.

Lady of the Rocks, Montenegro
Lady of the Rocks, Montenegro

The photo below is the town of Perast, Montenegro. The church in the photo is Saint Nicolas’ Day Church built in 1616.

Prevast, Montnegro
Prevast, Montnegro
Along the Bay of Kotor
Along the Bay of Kotor
Along the Bay of Kotor
Along the Bay of Kotor
Along the Bay of Kotor
Along the Bay of Kotor
Near Kotor, Montenegro
Near Kotor, Montenegro
Near Kotor, Montenegro
Near Kotor, Montenegro

I would visit Montenegro again in a heartbeat! It has lovely mountain scenery that dips down to beautiful blue water, all natural beauty. This, combined with the rich culture and historical heritage of the area, makes Montenegro a “must visit” when in the Adriatic area.

Boat in Kotor
Boat in Kotor