Budva Montenegro

Early morning, left the Valamar Argosy Hotel Dubrovnik we are going to the town of Budva in Montenegro. Budva is a famous tourist destination in Montenegro.

Leaving the old town of Dubrovnik.

Soon after leaving the city of Dubrovnik we took pictures of the old town of Dubrovnik from the parking lot on the road of Jadranska cesta.

Distant view of the old town Dubrovnik, Lokrum Island and A large tourist boat is turning.

We are running east along the Adriatic Sea. The scenery is very beautiful.

Passing by the village of Cavtat.

With a population of 2,143 Cavta is on the Adriatic Sea coast 15 kilometres east of Dubrovnik. The original city was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC.

Popovici Croatia

Popovici is located 27 km east of Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic Sea. With a population 236 it has a beautifl beach, and agriculture is mainly the cultivation of grapes inland.

After passing Popovici and running for about 15 minutes, we cross the border into Montenegu. And Kotor Bay cames into sight.

Bay of Kotor, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?

Enjoying the view of the Bay of Kotor, we are running to a small town called Kamenari. We will take a Kamenari-Lepetane ferry to the opposite town.

Arrived at the edge of Kamenari.

Kamenari is located about 30 km east of Popovici Croatia on the banks of Kotor Bay.

Getting into the town of Kamenari and going to the ferry port.

With a population of 747 the main industries of Kamenari  are the fishing in Kotor Bay,  agriculture and dairy farming inland, as well as the ferry industry.

Arrived at the ferry port.

Kamenari – Lepetane Ferry

We arrived at the ferry pier and acrossed the strait separating the inner and outer parts of the Bay of Kotor, and went to the opposite side town of Lepetane.

Strait between Kamenari and Lepetane

The town of Lepetane Montenegro

During the Middle ages Lepetane was called “The Place of Saint Lovrienec” for the church which existed there and which is connected to a legend of three brothers – saints: Andria, Peter and Lovrienec. “Lepetane” got its current name by the nicknames of some Perast families (“Lepetanus”) which owned land in this area.

We landed in Lepetane.

From here we are going to Budva. It will take 30 minutes.

Scenery on the way to Budva.

We decided to go to Sveti Stefan to take pictures first and then to Budva.

Sveti Stefan Island Montenegro

Sveti Stefan is a small islet and 5-star hotel resort on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, approximately 5 kilometres southeast of Budva.

Scenery on the way to Budva from Sveti Stefan.

Budva is a Montenegrin town on the Adriatic Sea. With around 60,000 inhabitants it is the centre of Budva Municipality. The coastal area around Budva is the center of Montenegrin tourism, known for its well-preserved medieval walled city  and  sandy beaches. Budva is 2,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast.

Arrived in Budva

Arrived at the parking lot in Budva, we are going toward the old town on foot.

Map of Old Town Budva “Stari Grad”

Walls surrounding the old town of Budva

The Old Town of Budva is situated on a rocky peninsula, on the southern end of Budva field. An Illyrian settlement was formed on the site of the Old Town before Greek colonization of the Adriatic. While the site was permanently settled since Roman era, most of existing city walls and buildings were erected during the Venetian rule.      Going to the old town of Budva, Roman ruins appear in front of the city walls.

Ruins of Roman-Era, Budva

During the digging of the foundations for a hotel between 1936 and 1938, several graves from the Hellenic and Roman periods were discovered, together with a lot of precious materials – especially gold and silver jewellery, different dishes, glassware, ceramics, and weapons.

Ruins of roman-era necropolis Budva

The necropolis has two parts, the older one that belongs to the Hellenic period between the 4th and 1st centuries BC, and the newer one belonging to the Roman period from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

Cafes around the rampart of the old town Budva.

Caffe Greco Budva

Budva surrounded by castle walls. We entered the old town from here.

Entered the old town, the streets are very narrow.

We are strolling about the old town of Budva. These alleys are the main street.

Ordinary private houses. What kind of lives do they have?

We are walking to the Holy Trinity church first.

Holy Trinity church Budva

After the downfall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Austria allowed the construction of the Church of Holy Trinity at the request of the orthodox population of Budva, supported by the Bishop of Montenegro, and its construction was finished in 1804. It has a bell loft with three bells and a dome. Its facade is decorated with a rosette above the western door.

Holy Trinity Orthodox church

Entrance of the Holy Trinity church. Amazing mosaic painting.

The interior of the orthodox church.

Iconostasis of the Holy Trinity church, Budva.

Holy Trinity: Religious picture in front of the Iconostasis. Three angels visited Abraham in Genesis.

Budva Citadel is beside the Holy Trinity Church.

On the southern side of the Old Town Budva, at the most elevated place, the town fortress was built from which city walls begin and end.

Entrance of Citadel. Let’s get into Budva Citadel.

Entered the fortress we are walking up to the top of the fortress.

We came out on top of the fortress. A cafe is on the roof.

View from the fortress, the church of St. John and Santa Maria are visible.

So we decided to go to the church of Santa Maria in Punta and St. John.

We went to the church of Santa Maria in Punta first.

Santa Maria in Punta is one of the oldest pre-Romanic churches in Montenegro. According to the preserved written record, the church was established by the Benedictines in 840 AD as their cloister and it was later taken over by the Franciscans. The oldest school in Budva was located in this Monastery. A large number of old tombs have been found in the church. The church is currently used for art exhibitions and concerts of classical music.

Left the church of Santa Maria we are going to the St. John church next.

We got to the church of St. John.

Church of Saint John is one of the oldest churches in the coastal region, which was built, according to the local tradition, in the 7th century. It was a Cathedral until 1828, when the Diocese of Budva was abolished.

The Church of St. John Budva. From the left, Bell tower, Church, Bishop’s Court.

The Cathedral was damaged in the earthquake of 1667, after which it was reconstructed on several occasions, while its high tower, which dominates the town, was erected in 1867.

Souvenir shops, cafes and inn are around the church of St. John.

It is time to leave Budva. After this we will walk on the beach a little and then go to the parking lot in the new town of Buva.

Small gate on the walls of the old town Budva. We will go to the beach through the gate.

Walking about 5 minutes on the old town beach, a bronze statue appeares.

Ballet Dancer Statue

Beautiful bronze sculpture of a girl in graceful pose.

The new town of Budva

Left the Ballet Dancer Statue, we are walking to the parking lot in the new city. After this, we will go to the city of Kotor 20 km north. It takes about 30 minutes.

It’s 11:15 pm in Tokyo. I have to go tothe bed soon. Good night.