Kotor

Kotor, Montenegro

Our last port on the cruise was on Friday in Kotor, Montenegro.

The port of Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is known for its medieval structures (including churches) and its stunning natural setting at the very edge of the mountain-rimmed Kotor Bay.
“Saint Stephen” is a small island and 5-star hotel resort on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, approximately 3 miles southeast of the town of Budva.
Walking through the Old Town of Budva. While the site was permanently settled since the Roman era, most of existing city walls and buildings were erected during the Venetian rule. The entire town is encircled with defensive stone walls. The fortifications of Budva are typical of the Medieval walled cities of the Adriatic, complete with towers, fortified city gates and a citadel.
Strolling through the farmer’s market outside the Square of Arms.
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor is one of two Roman Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro. It is the seat of the Catholic Bishopric of Kotor which covers the entire gulf, currently led by Bishop Monsignor Ilija Janjić.
“Our Lady of the Rocks” is an artificial island created by a bulwark of rocks and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks. The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks is the largest building on the islet; it has a museum attached. According to legend, the islet was made over the centuries by Croat local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea on July 22, 1452. Upon returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the islet gradually emerged from the sea. The custom of throwing rocks into the sea is alive today. Every year at sunset, on July 22, an event called “fašinada” takes place where local residents take their boats and throw rocks into the sea, widening the surface of the island.