Senior Sailor Says…
Surrounded by rugged mountains, Viking Saturn slowly sailed toward Kotor, Montenegro. After the ship docked, at a surprisingly palm-lined pier, we walked a short distance to our waiting guide.
The young man greeted our tour group, and said he grew up in Kotor and was happy to show us the historic old city.
I felt like I had entered a fairytale as we began our journey back in time. Kotor is home to one of the Adriatic’s best-preserved medieval Old Towns.
The beauty is endless, from the mismatched towers of its Romanesque cathedral and narrow streets, to the Venetian Republic’s city walls dating to 1420.
The city, first mentioned in 168 BC, was settled during ancient Roman times and was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Our guide tells us that it was one of the more influential Dalmatian city-states. Its location was highly sought after, making it a target of other countries.
In 1391, Kotor became fully independent. The administration, wary of the looming Ottoman danger, asked Venice for protection. The city acknowledged Venice’s control over Kotor in 1420.
We walked single file along narrow alleyways and discovered new beauty when we entered each city square.
Kotor is a double UNESCO World Heritage Site: it is part of the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor and the Venetian Works of Defense between the 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar.
I admired the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, built in 1166. Inside are 14th-century frescoes and valuable artifacts. Over the centuries, the building has suffered earthquake damage—as evidenced by its mismatched towers.
We visited the Kotor Maritime Museum, housed in an 18th-century palace. Here we discovered the rich maritime history of Kotor and the Adriatic Sea, and admired the collection of historical artifacts, including ship models and navigational instruments.
At the end of the tour, I thanked my guide and spent the next hour wandering the streets and browsing in locally-owned shops.
It was another successful day, glancing at the past and enjoying the fun of making discoveries with my shipmates.
Our stop at Kotor is part of the “Empires of the Mediterranean” ten-day itinerary. For more information about this cruise and other Viking Cruises offerings, click here.
