Culture:

Historical references and urban morphology

Nestled in the mountainous landscape of Boka Bay, Kotor retains its medieval charm despite past earthquakes. Its narrow streets and numerous Roman-Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance structures, including the cathedral, churches, and palace, reflect its historical ties to Rome, Byzantium, the Balkans, and Western Europe. Kotor is undoubtedly the most famous Montenegrin city in terms of culture and cultural landmarks. As early as the late 19th century, Kotor, or the Bay of Kotor, often referred to recently as the southernmost fjord, earned the title “Bride of the Adriatic” due to its unparalleled beauty.

Its stunning beauty is composed of the azure sea, rocky coastline, the slopes of Montenegro’s most famous mountain, Lovcen, greenery that, combined with the rocks above the old Kotor walls, creates an extraordinary natural palette, the serpentine road to the San Giovanni or Sveti Ivan Fortress, medieval palaces, the old town, and the ever-present cheerful spirit of its citizens, regardless of their nationality or religion.

Kotor has been a challenge for every visitor for centuries, not so much as a tourist destination, but as a city of great cultural value with ancient cultural monuments, particularly its churches and cathedrals. The city preserves traces of Illyrian and Roman cultures, pre-Romanesque, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. The Old Town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval urban complexes from the 12th to the 14th century among Mediterranean cities and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The medieval town of Kotor is located at the very end of the Bay of Kotor. Today, Kotor is the largest old urban complex in Montenegro. The oldest archaeologically documented structure dates back to the 6th century AD, an early Christian basilica found beneath the Church of St. Mary Collegiate or Our Lady of Health, located near the main gates of Old Kotor. By the 11th century, Kotor gained its patron saint, St. Tryphon, in whose honor the cathedral, now considered a symbol of Kotor, was built.The cultural wealth of Kotor is priceless. The city’s treasury hides its most significant cultural landmarks, such as the Clock Tower (8th century), St. Tryphon’s Cathedral (12th century), St. Luke’s Church (12th century), the Prince’s Palace (17th century), St. Mary’s Church (12th century), Our Lady of Health Church (15th century), and Napoleon’s Theater (19th century).Kotor is surrounded by city walls, or fortifications, including walls above the town, walls around the hills, and the fortress of St. John (San Giovanni) at the top of the hill of the same name.

No matter which gate or entrance to Old Kotor you choose, the asymmetrical layout of narrow streets and squares is characterized by a multitude of medieval monuments. These include not only monumental buildings such as the aforementioned churches, cathedrals, or museum monuments but also the ornamentation found not only on cultural and historical sites but also on ordinary buildings, such as family homes that are still inhabited. Many family houses still prominently display marks of past eras. In the form of ornaments that often bear witness to the Roman Empire’s presence in the area, one can see Roman symbols in the form of numbers, sentences, images of lions, dragons, snakes… All around are Baroque windows, massive walls, and richly decorated and skillfully carved vaults.

Kotor is also home to numerous palaces: the Drago Palace, with Gothic windows from the 15th century; the Bizanti Palace from the 12th century; the Pima Palace, with typical Renaissance and Baroque forms, from the 16th century; the Grubonja Palace, with the coat of arms of the old Kotor pharmacy, founded in 1326; the Grgurina Palace from the 17th century, now the Maritime Museum, as well as the Clock Tower from the 16th century, next to which is the medieval Pillar of Shame.

Historians generally agree that the most important period for Kotor was the Middle Ages, as the city experienced significant economic growth during that time. A strong economy soon led to further development in education, culture, art, and construction. By the end of the 13th century, Kotor had a grammar school that produced a host of humanist writers and scholars, and the city also produced notable figures in Renaissance literature.In addition to trade and maritime activities, the art of metal and stonework flourished in Kotor during those centuries, earning Kotor craftsmen fame across Europe.In the Middle Ages, Kotor was home to so-called Greek painters. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Kotor had its own pharmacy and doctors, goldsmiths, weaponsmiths, and a mint, as well as a library, classical education, theologians, municipal organization, and Statute, and notary books.

Modern Kotor

The organization of cultural programs and activities is managed by national public institutions, municipal cultural institutions, non-governmental associations and organizations, local communities, and there are also amateur forms of cultural engagement in both urban and rural areas. Some non-governmental associations, such as the “Bokelian Navy,” the “Jedinstvo” Singing Society, and the City Music, are particularly important carriers of the cultural life of the city due to their longevity and significance. The Bokelian Navy is one of the symbols of the city and represents the protected intangible cultural heritage of Kotor. The city of Kotor, with its architectural and cultural heritage and natural beauty, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Both in terms of the intensity and diversity of its cultural life and the importance of its cultural-historical and monumental heritage, Kotor is the most culturally renowned city in Montenegro. Kotor has traditionally been a center for numerous cultural activities and events: carnivals, masquerades, fishing and religious festivals, and various cultural happenings intended for all generations. Among the most significant are: the event “From Christmas to Christmas” (a series of musical, theatrical, and humanitarian events from December 23 to January 8), the New Year’s program “Rock New Year” (two-day concert programs in city squares), Children’s New Year (a uniquely designed program of various events dedicated to children), celebrations in honor of St. Tryphon’s Day (a tradition dating back to the 9th century), Kotor’s Traditional Winter Carnival (the trial and burning of the carnival effigy accompanied by masquerades and other musical, entertainment, and gastronomic events on the city’s streets and squares), Days of Camellia in Stoliv (an event in honor of the camellia flower, with exhibitions, performances, and the Camellia Ball), “Kotor May Rock” (a rock concert program on Independence Day), the “Kotor Art” event as the umbrella title for numerous prestigious summer cultural events, which include the classical music concert series “Don Branko’s Music Days,” the Kotor Children’s Theater Festival (a series of performances for children with a competitive theater program), “Philosopher’s Square,” a four-day philosophical symposium, the “International Klapa Festival in Perast” (a two-day competition of klapa singing groups from the region), the “Sea Rock Festival” (a two-day free rock concert program), the “Morinje Guitar Festival” (a two-day rock concert program), “Špina” (a music concert program for the craft beer festival), “Kotorska Pašta” (a gastro-musical event dedicated to Kotor’s cream pie), the International Showcase “Fashion and Art” (featuring renowned fashion designers and artists), the String Festival (an eight-day musical and educational workshop program), “Kotorski Krug” (a two-day event gathering writers, philosophers, and publicists for open thematic discussions), traditional events from Perast: Fašinada, Rooster Shooting, and the “Rome Night” event in Risan (a series of events reviving the Roman ancient life of Risan), the International Summer Carnival (an international parade of costumed carnival groups with accompanying musical and entertainment content), “Boka Night” (a centuries-old event known for its parade of decorated boats), “Municipality Day,” “Kostanjada” in Stoliv, and others.

Tourism

Popular Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel yearbook for 2016 has named Kotor as the number one city to visit in the world. At that time Kotor was also among 10 European best destinations, together with Zadar, Paris, Nantes, Brussels, Athens and others.The most famous portal dedicated to cruising tourism the “Cruise critics” enlisted Kotor among TOP FIVE cruising destinations at the Mediterranean. Kotor received PRO PR Vision City in 2016 award for good communication with the public and media and for representing Montenegro in the best way. In 2020, Daily Mail placed Kotor among world’s most beautiful ports while in  February 2021, Kotor earned its place on the list of Best European Destinations. Modern Kotor is as place of every age and group, proud of its multiculturality as one of its most distinguished features.

All relevant information for visiting Kotor may be found at kotor.travel.

International cooperation

Kotor is among leading Montenegrin municipalities in international cooperation and EU integration.

Kotor is member of international associations of cities based on UNESCO principles of development for locations of universal value, multi-ethnic principles of spreading the culture of peace and integrative principles of the EU:

• Organization of World Heritage Cities
• EUROMED Cities Network
• MedCities
• Club of World’s most beautiful Bays
• Forum of cities along the Silk Road
• Adriatic and Ionian Euroregion
• Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Cities
• International association of Peace messenger cities of the UN
• Mayors for Peace
• Association of multi-ethnic cities of South – Eastern Europe
• Federation of European Carnival Cities
• ALDA

The Municipality of Kotor is a good example of good practice in terms of city twinning.

Sister cities: Santa Barbara (USA), Szeged (Hungary), Campomarino (Italy), Nessebar (Bulgaria), Subotica and Old Town Belgrade (Serbia), Trogir, (Croatia), Xi’an (China), Gaziantep and Antalya (Turkey) and Prerov (Czech Republic).

The cities with which the Municipality of Kotor, despite the geographical distance, nurtures mutual cultural ties and contacts through various activities are: Venice (Italy), Ćuprija and Gornji Milanovac (Serbia), Dubrovnik, Split and Pula (Croatia), Sarajevo and Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ohrid (North Macedonia), Athens (Greece) and Craiova (Romania).

Kotor is a reliable partner in realization of international projects. It has an intensive communication with EU bodies and international organizations, oriented towards regional cooperation, creating partnerships in international projects and applying modern knowledge and best praxis while connecting with key actors from neighbouring countries and member countries of EU on project basis.

Official website of the Municipality of Kotor is kotor.me