The most beautiful religious buildings Bay Of Kotor

This church, dated 1630, is located opposite Perast on an artificial islet built of stones piled up around a reef. Originally a simple chapel, it was enlarged in 1725 with the construction of an imposing sanctuary recognizable by its octagonal dome. All around the capitals inside the church, you can admire nearly 2,500 small silver squares, each decorated in an original way: it is the sailors who, on their return from a sea trip, used to engrave an ex-voto with their name on it to thank Our Lady of Rocks for having spared them the misfortunes of the sea. This escapade in the middle of the Boka is worth it, both for the beauty of a unique site and for the evocation of the many stories of sailors by the guides gravitating around the church.

Located in the middle of a square, this small church dates back to 1195. Originally Catholic, it was transferred to the Orthodox Church in 1657. It was used by the faithful of both confessions, each with their own altar. Today it is attended only by the Orthodox. The iconostasis inside is the work of Dimitrije Daskal, founder of the Dimitrijević-Rafailović school of icons. Renovated in 2013 by Russia, this church houses the icon of St. Nicholas and St. Basil.

This small Benedictine monastery was built on a natural reef 100 metres from the artificial islet of Gospa od Škrpjela. First mentioned in a document from 1166, it is believed to have been inhabited by Benedictines in the 9th century. The original building could not be preserved because it was constantly under attack. In addition, it suffered an earthquake in 1667 in which the ceiling and apse of the church were destroyed. A new church was rebuilt in the 17th century.

Completed in 1166, on the remains of a ^9th century church, the Cathedral of St. Thyphon (Sveti Trifun) is one of the representative monuments of Romanesque art in the Adriatic despite the reconstructions it has undergone. Its facade, recognizable by its two towers connected by a portal forming a porch, dates from the ^17th century.

Of the frescoes that once covered the entire interior of the building, only a few traces remain today, recently uncovered, especially in the apse and the treasure upstairs. These date back to the ^14th century. The sarcophagus of Andrea Saracenis and his wife, Maria, can be seen there. To the left of the entrance, stairs lead to a small ^14th century chapel where the relics of St. Tryphon are kept. This chapel is decorated with a finely carved white marble frieze, the work of a certain Francesco Cabianca, an ^eighteenth century Venetian artist. Finally, there is a large wooden cross of unknown origin on which the features of the crucified Jesus can be seen. The canopy over the altar (ciborium) is a magnificent example of Gothic art. The monumental baldachin is made up of four red marble columns supporting an octagonal construction on three levels and is decorated with sculptures illustrating the life of Saint Tryphon. The cathedral's treasury on the left-hand floor displays liturgical objects such as ciboria and other relics. The balcony between the two towers is also accessible.

Located in the middle of the village, facing the sea, this church was designed by the Italian Giuseppe Beati in the 17th century. Never completed, it is distinguished by its imposing 55 m high belfry, the highest in the Bay of Kotor. Ivan Scarpe began the construction of this imposing belfry with a series of loggias spread over five floors. An inscription above its entrance door commemorates the defeat of the Turks in 1657: " Christianae Reipublicae Triumphanti ".

Located 2 km east of the town, on the slopes of a hill overlooking the sea, this monastery is a superb example of architectural blending. It was here that the poet prince Petar II Njegoš received his first education as a child. The monastery complex consists of two churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a cloister and a small chapel on the hillside dedicated to St. Sava Nemanja (the first archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, appointed in 1219, who became its most venerated saint). The present monastery was apparently built on the site of an earlier 11th-century church and dates from the late 17th century (1690s), when monks fleeing the destruction of their monastery near Trebinje in Herzegovina came to bring their treasures here. Among these treasures, which are still in the possession of the monastery, are a chalice from 1650, a Gospel from 1685, a silver miniature from the monastery of Tvrdoš, where the monks came from, and a 13th-century crystal and silver cross said to have belonged to St Sava.

The monastery has a large library with manuscripts from the 14th century. It also has a vineyard providing the traditional wine tasted on the feast of St. Typhon on February 14, the patron saint of winegrowers. The monastery also has a merlot, cabernet, chardonnay and rosé, and two types of brandy, including travarica with medicinal properties.

Dedicated to St Jerome, the patron saint of the town, this church was built in the mid-19th century on the site of a 17th-century Catholic church. The latter was destroyed to make way for a new church. The interior of the church building is decorated with paintings by Tripo Kokolja (1661-1713). This Montenegrin artist from the town of Perast is considered one of the greatest Baroque painters of his time.

If you are looking for a romantic getaway, you should definitely visit Manastir i crkva Vavedenja Presvete Bogorodice. This small island is a real gem, located in the heart of the Lustica Bay. It is a monastery and an Orthodox church that dates back to the ^17th century. The church is built of white stone and has an architecture typical of Orthodox churches in the region. It also houses many old icons and frescoes. The small island on which the monastery and the church are located is surrounded by crystal clear water and steep cliffs.

On the outskirts of Risan, the monastery of Banja spreads out on the side of a mountain dotted with cypress trees. It offers a breathtaking view of the bay of Kotor, caught between the mountains and the water. It is said that this old monastery was built by Stefan Nemanja in the ^12th century, but its current appearance dates back to the ^18th century. It is a good idea to walk through the narrow streets of Risan, to stroll through its market, and to visit the ruins of the old Venetian palace.

Located near the Hotel Marija, this 14th-century Franciscan church has a Baroque altar in polychrome marble. Decorated with thirty sculptures depicting angels with St Clare and St Francis of Assisi, the altar is the work of the 18th-century Venetian Francesco Cabianca, who also designed the marbled frieze in the small chapel inside St Triphon's Cathedral. It has a large collection of original books dating from 1450 to 1500.

A church of pink and white stones dating from the 14th century. The remains of a 6th century baptistery from the reign of Emperor Justinian can be seen. Frescoes and a crucifix were restored in 1984. In her stories, author Rebecca West says "a 17th century monk, a great liar or ignorant, attributed this crucifix to Michelangelo"! The church houses the sarcophagus of the nun Berta Hosanna, a Montenegrin saint beatified for her fight against the Turkish admiral Barbarossa.

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Rose is an architectural gem not to be missed by travelers in search of spirituality. Built in the ^17th century, this building is a witness to the history of the region and the Orthodox faith. The white facade and golden domes immediately catch the eye, while the interior houses remarkable frescoes and icons. Take the time to stop by and discover the richness of Montenegrin culture in an idyllic setting.