Monuments to visit Kotor (Котор)

The beauty of Kotor lies in the 4.5 km long and 20 m high ramparts that encircle the old town. Of Byzantine origin, these fortifications helped protect the city from Turkish attacks in the 16th and 17th centuries. The fortress of St John, which dominates the town at an altitude of nearly 260 m, was abandoned in 1918. Now in ruins, it is accessible by more than 1,000 steps. The view offered from the top of its walls is splendid, between the Bay of Kotor and Mount Lovćen.

Built in 1602 on the orders of Venetian governor Antonio Grimaldi, it is the first monument you see when entering the old town at the main entrance. The tower has four storeys and a basement. The tower was created from massive stone blocks taken from the rocks of Mount Lovćen. The clock was added in 1810. And if you look closely, it leans like the one in Pisa, a tilt due to the 1979 earthquake.

Kotor's architectural wealth is mainly due to the many Baroque palaces built over the centuries by the local aristocracy. As these buildings are not open to the public, they can only be admired from the outside. The best way to discover them is to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town. As you stroll along, you'll see many of the sculptures adorning the facades of these romantic-looking palaces.

The Pima family palace, with its long Baroque balustrade, dates from the ^17th century. The family coat of arms, supported by two angels, can be seen above the portal. The Drago Palace, next to the cathedral, dates from the ^16th century. The original ^12th-century villa was destroyed when part of the cathedral collapsed during the 1667 earthquake. Today, the palace houses the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments.

The Grgurina Palace, which houses the Maritime Museum, dates back to the ^18th century. Other noteworthy palaces include the ^18th-century Besuća Palace and, opposite it, the ^17th-century Bizanti Palace, both located south of the Place des Armes. The history of the Bizanti family begins with Nikola Bizanti, a respected judge in the town of Kotor. After the earthquake of 1667, it was he who rebuilt the palace as it stands today. Don't miss the stone staircase, balconies and old-fashioned water well of this remarkable palace.