Kotor, Montenegro
Ever since I heard about the beauty of Montenegro from one of Paige’s patients ten years ago, I wanted to check it out. The beauty did not disappoint.
Getting here was quite a challenge though, just mentally lol.
We took the mountain route (the one with tolls, so we thought quick and auto strada) and relied on Google maps as we usually do. We quickly realized our mountain route took us through Bosnia when we reached our first border crossing. That was when we lost our cell signal. That toll route ended and pushed us off into the country roads of Bosnia which was beautiful and something we have never seen before. If it weren’t for the worry of losing our directions, we would have enjoyed it a little more. At one point we basically drove through a dirt road that was still being made (part of our route) the trucks were digging as we were on it.
By the time we got to the Montenegro border we got our signal back and we were very relieved. It took about 5 hours to get here.
Kotor is a bay, they say the most southern fjord. It is simply gorgeous with two small islands in the middle each housing a church.
We made it to our apartment in old town after parking outside of the walls. Yes walls, and Roman built. So, it is very similar in looks but very different in feel. We walked around the zig zag streets and popped into two churches one being St Nikolas. Santas are in every shop.
“Montenegrin religious monuments such as St. Nicholas Church reflect the harmony of the different ethnic and religious groups that peacefully coexist in this area. This Orthodox temple is dedicated to St. Nichola, one of the most respected saints, especially in the coastal areas. He is considered a protector of sailors and travellers. Although his remains rest in Bari, the cult of his personality came to Kotor and spread further as numerous families today celebrate him as their family saint.”
Remember we saw his crypt in Bari and saw the Orthodox ceremony.
Another beautiful church that I was in awe over was St Francis.
It is called The Church of Saint Claire. This Catholic temple belongs to the Franciscans.”
The church of Saint Clara was built in the 17th century on the site of a former Benedictine Monastery and is one of the few Catholic churches in Kotor. The simple exterior stone and brick building contains an apex roof and a large two-part brown entrance door, with a circular window above. The plainness of its exterior conceals the beauty of its interior.
The site has contained a monastery since 1362. This was originally a Benedictine monastery but in 1543 it was handed over to the Franciscans due to not having enough people wishing to join it. The current church was built in the 17th century.
On entering the church visitors are struck by the five altars in the one-nave church.”
We ate at a great local meat bbq with the recommendations of chat gpt (my buddy who I call Chachi). It had a Seinfeld soup man feeling. I got my delish grilled chicken.
Next up, 1350 steps to the top of St John’s Fortress. We walks up a lot of hills and to the top of the duomos in Rome and in Florence and the tower in Split but this was the longest and hottest and steepest. It was worth every step.
“The Castle of San Giovanni is a historical landmark located in the beautiful town of Kotor in Montenegro. The castle is situated on a hill overlooking the picturesque town and provides visitors with breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The castle has a rich history dating back to the 9th century and is a testament to Montenegro’s cultural heritage.”
There is a beautiful church along the steps. The doors were locked but the altar was beautiful. I snapped a few photos through the grid gate.
At the top you could see the ruins of another city on the mountain side with a still intact stone church.
This is a great site for the history of the port of Kotor and the Walls and fortress.
https://www.portomontenegro.com/blog/st-john-fortress-kotor
Just one day in Kotor then a quick 2 hours jaunt up the coast to Dubrovnik. Hahaha. That’s what we think. The adventure continues… I forgot to mention that this is the city of cats. They are wandering the streets everywhere.
our road trip
