KOTOR

The Magnificent Bay

As Croatia’s lesser-known neighbor, Montenegro shares a lot of the same architechture, scenery and climate but minus the huge crowds and high prices. It has its own spot in the Adriatic coastline, making it the place to visit for celebrities and royalty to explore the historic walled towns, gorgeous lakes and beautiful mountains.  Having only recently obtaining its independence in 2006, one would still see the signs of the communist legacy of Serbia from their deserted state-run buildings; a great destination for those with a knack for pristine and unspoilt cultural experience.

The spectacular Bay of Kotor (a.k.a. Boka Kotorska) provides stunning scenery for all. Imagine a picture-perfect panorama of sheer limestone mountains, and glittering turqoise indent of the rocky coastlines dotted with pretty waterside towns with their red-roofed Venetian-styled architechture... Another one of UNESCO’s listed World Heritage sites, enjoy the beauty of the fjords (like Norway) as you indulge in fine dining and champagne afloat on cruiseships, but in a much more comfortable warmer Mediterranean climate!

Discover many things at Kotor, including traffic-free streets, mazes of romantic hidden back lanes, wide sunlit squares and green shutters covering the windows. To imagine what it would be like inside the city gates, try and picture walking on narrow cobbled alleyways and flights of steps with honey-coloured stone buildings, historic churches, piazzas, and colorful hanging pots of flowers... Be advised to use sensible footwear though, as the ruins you seek are made up of lose rubble and the irresistability of climbing through windows for hidden churches provides its own risks!

As most of the population of Montenegro belongs to the Orthodox Church, it is no surprise that you’ll find many alluring shrines, churches, and cathedrals. Visit a few of the famous ones like the largest building in Kotor that is the 850-year old Roman Catholic cathedral of Saint Tryphon, a representation of the Croat-Serb relations at St. Luke’s Church, or the Catholic church that is St. Mary Collegiate, named after an anchoress who chose to be walled into a small cell to devote her life to prayer... 

Saint Tryphon
Regent Porto Montenegro,.

After all that exploring of the Bay of Kotor, one would no doubt enjoy relaxing by another one of Montenegro’s magnificent marinas that is the Regent Porto Montenegro, presenting modern waterfront sensations and an absolutely luxurious experience. Settle into an elegant chair at the Library Bar and take in your surroundings of the region’s gorgeous “Black” mountain, charming city streets, and jaw-dropping seaside settings at your own leisurely pace... Rest your bones and sleep in to the warm morning light, order breakfast in bed as you gaze out to sparkling seas, before you head out on another day of boating, wining and dining.

Located in the village of Morinj lies a 200-year old restaurant called Catovica Mlini (meaning ‘The Catovica’s Mills’), a water-driven flour mills turned ‘konoba’ (a.k.a. restaurant). A man by the name of Lazar Catovic runs this delightful place, blessed with a marvelous ambiance provided by the lively stream, exuberate vegetation, quaint bridges and running water that will mesmerize all of its customers. It’ll be a feast for the soul!

Catovica Mlini
Galion

If you’re still roaming around looking for a nice bite to eat mid-exploration of Kotor’s city, have a short walk along the coast from the Old Town and find Galion – a large glass-and-steel terrace extention overlooking the sea that makes for a top-class dining experience. The menu offers a selection of thoughtfully chosen specialties from all parts of the world, fused with authentic local flavours and ingredients that you should not miss. Make sure you find a seat out on the water to watch the sunset, as you dig into your freshly caught and grilled Mediterannean fish, sipping on your local wine...

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