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Content accurate at time of publication
01 Aug 2011
Located along one of Montenegro's beautiful bays is the coastal city of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site with many stories and legends within its ancient stone walls and romantic winding cobblestone streets.
Founded by the Romans on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro, Kotor developed in the Middle Ages into an important commercial and artistic centre with its own famous schools of masonry and iconography. Through the centuries, many countries fought for control of the city, and at various points in time, Kotor has been part of France, Austria, Venice, Hungary and the Byzantine Empire. In more recent times, Kotor – as part of Montenegro – dropped out of its union with Serbia in 2006, when Montenegro gained independence.
Throughout its turbulent history, a variety of buildings of important historical value were erected. One of the largest and most impressive is the St Tryphon Cathedral, built in 1166. The frescoed church, which has in its possession a treasury of paintings and relics, was rebuilt after sustaining massive damage during earthquakes in 1667 and 1979.
Although full of historical charm, the city is also undergoing a revival of sorts, with its increasingly popular summer carnivals and events, such as the annual International Summer Festival of Kotor. Held in August, the festival includes dance performances by locals dressed in colourful costumes, feasts of wine and seafood, a masked ball for children and an all-night street party.
At the crossroads of old and new, this small city, part of one of the world’s youngest nations, clearly knows how to forge new memories while keeping old traditions alive.
PHOTO PHOTOLIBRARY
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