This morning your driver will meet you for day trip across the border to nearby Montenegro (also part of the former Yugoslavia). The country's name, meaning "Black Mountain", dates back to the era of Venetian hegemony over the Adriatic coast in the middle ages. Your local guide will meet you as you cross the border into Montenegro and your first stop today will be the port town of Kotor. Located at the head of a deep fjord, Kotor’s fortified Old Town was strategically built at the foot of a high cliff and is now protected by UNESCO. The fortified Old Town resembles Dubrovnik a bit, but is smaller, less crowded, and certainly more idyllic.
The best way to explore this very compact part of town is to simply allow yourself to get lost in the maze of narrow streets and small squares and to wander around admiring the historic buildings. Of course your Exeter guide will be there so you can’t really get all that lost! Continuing your walk south, you might want to stop in to visit the Catholic Cathedral of St. Triphun, which was originally built in the 11th century, but was later reconstructed several times due to damage caused by frequent earthquakes. Its Romanesque-gothic interiors feature frescoes, vaulted ceilings and a gilded-silver iconostasis. The remains of St. Triphun, Kotor’s patron saint, are also kept here. If you are interested, your guide will take you to the small Maritime Museum, housed in an old aristocratic mansion which includes an armory, a collection of model ships, traditional costumes, and the coats of arms of Kotor’s ruling families.
Time (and fitness level) permitting, you may consider climbing the 1,500 steps of Kotor’s old fortress walls on the hills above the town. The fortifications were started in the early middle ages by the Byzantines and were later expanded by the Venetians. Throughout the centuries, the city survived many attacks and was successively controlled by Bulgarians, Serbians, Venetians, Ottomans, and Austro-Hungarians. Nowadays, the impressive city walls stretch some three miles from the waterfront to the steep cliffs above the town, range in thickness from five to 50 feet, and offer some of the best views over the Old Town and its surroundings. There are several access points to the fortress walls, so one does not necessarily have to walk their entire length, but those who do are rewarded with extraordinary and sweeping views of both the Old Town and the dramatic fjords filling the horizon.
After Kotor, continue with your driver and guide towards Njegusi, a typical Montenegrin village. In Njegusi you will have the opportunity for a light snack. A special tasting of the local honey wine, accompanied by homemade cheese and prosciutto, has been arranged for you. Later you will drive to Cetinje, where a visit to the Monastery of St. Peter has been arranged. You may also visit King Nicola’s Museum- the only king of Montenegro. This fascinating former palace takes you back in time with its with original furniture, works of art, porcelain and remembrances of a former glory. Late afternoon return to Dubrovnik.
Exeter Services: Full-Day Vehicle, Driver & Guide (8 Hours)
Hotel: Bellevue
