Sveti Stefan, Fortified island resort in Budva, Montenegro
Sveti Stefan is a small rocky islet off the coast in Budva Municipality, linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Pink-tinged pebble beaches frame both sides of this connecting path and offer quiet bathing zones below the slopes.
The settlement arose in the 15th century as a fortress against Ottoman attacks and housed fishing families until the 20th century. In the 1950s, conversion into a hotel complex began, which continues to this day.
The name derives from Saint Stephen, whose veneration spread along the coast. Visitors notice the chapel inside, which still preserves the religious character of the former fishing village.
The site is accessible only to hotel guests, while the surrounding beaches remain reachable from outside. Early risers enjoy quieter moments by the water before day visitors arrive and enliven the beach.
Former inhabitants built the walls from stones they wrestled from the sea, creating a protected living space on bare rock. Today the old houses contain hotel rooms that preserve the original stonework and narrow lanes.
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