Located in the middle part of the Bay of Kotor, adjacent to the narrow channel that opens out to the

Adriatic, Perast is a tiny hillside town sandwiched between the coast and the mountains. Its single main
street is overflowing with pretty architecture, crumbling bell towers and romantic seaside cafes. Perast
was established by the Venetians and features grand marble palazzos and picturesque churches. Today,
Perast is mostly residential and very peaceful compared to other towns along the Boka Kotorska.
Instead of cruise ships, small boats ply the harbour, ferrying people back and forth to Our Lady of the
Rocks. The only artificial island in the Adriatic, it was constructed from old shipwrecks and stones at the
site where a vision of the Virgin Mary appeared to two local fishermen. The island chapel is one of the
most unique churches I’ve ever visited. Perast has its own unique history and culture, and there are many
annual festivals that celebrate the town’s seafaring heritage
The UNESCO World Heritage Listed Kotor Old Town is among the most enchanting walled cities on the
Adriatic, and a worthy rival to Dubrovnik or Split.
Medieval Roman churches, Venetian palaces and towering Byzantine towers reveal the legacy of the many
different empires that have occupied Kotor over the centuries. Under the shadow of the legendary St.
John’s Fort, the myths and tales surrounding Kotor will keep you enthralled, while the sheer beauty of the
orange-roofed houses, narrow lanes strung with laundry and resident Kotor cats will have you reaching for
your camera at every turn. Entering the Old Town through the gates still marked with Venetian insignia
feels like taking a step back in time.
The best way to experience Kotor is by ambling along the cobbled streets in the early morning before the
crowds arrive. Climb up to St. John’s (either via the official trail or via the Ladder of Kotor) for a birds-eye
view of the rooftops and turquoise bay beyond.
Located off the country’s central coast, just south of Budva and the Bay of Kotor, Sveti Stefan started life in
the 15th century as a humble fishing village. Built on an isolated islet, the whole town was fortified to
afford its residents protection from pirates and Ottomon invasions.
Sveti Stefan is now joined to the mainland by a narrow causeway – but it’s off limits unless you happen to
be a guest of the Aman hotel.
Sveti Stefan is best viewed from afar anyway! Shady paths along the chalk-coloured cliffs that line the coast
north of the causeway are a great place to walk and watch the sun go down over the island.
The Church St. Sava, a 20-minute drive up a steep road in the hills above the coast, affords the best views
of the island. While you’re up there, also visit Praskvica Monastery, a charming monastic complex with
gardens and resident goats.
Part of Durmitor National Park, the Tara River Canyon is one of the most beautiful natural areas in
Montenegro. The waterway flows down from Bosnia and Herzegovina where it forms a natural border
between the two countries, then opens up into a gorge just outside the Montenegrin town of Zabljak. In
late spring and summer, visitors descend on the area to try whitewater rafting.
The most beautiful spot along the gorge is Đurđevića Bridge. Constructed in 1940 , it was the largest
concrete arched bridge in Europe at the time. Just a few short years later, during WWII, the bridge was
almost completely it is rebuilt in 1946, the arches beautifully mirror the rolling mountains beyond.
Smaller than Durmitor but offering similarly spectacular mountain scenery, Lovcen National Park sits above
Kotor at the south-eastern tip of the bay. From the western side, you can catch a panoramic view of the
entire bay – and the best sunset in all of Montenegro.
The highlight of Lovcen is visiting the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic-Njegos. Dedicated to Montenegro’s
most beloved national hero – a prince, poet and philosopher who was born nearby in Cetinje – it’s
a surreal piece of architecture that can only be accessed by climbing a very long set of undercover stairs..
You’ll agree that the view from the round viewing platform at the back of the mausoleum is hard to beat.
The waters of Lake Skadar are shared between Montenegro and Albania, but the richest, marshiest part of
the lake lies on the Montenegrin side.
Skadar is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, covering an area of over 500 square-kilometres. Despite
its size, it’s a true hidden gem in Europe that has somehow managed to avoid the limelight. It’s a nesting
ground for endemic and migratory birds (more than 280 species in total).
May is the best time to visit Skadar for bird watching. In summer, parts of the lake are covered with a bed
of pretty water lilies.
Lake Skadar looks incredible from afar, which is why you must stop at the Pavlova Strana viewpoint near
the town of Rijeka Crnojevića for a panorama of the marshes and the waterway’s horseshoe bend.
• Made by Anja (MYP2) and Iva (PYP3)