Kotor, Medieval port city in Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor is a port town on the bay of the same name along the Montenegrin coast. Stone walls surround the old quarter and climb from the waterfront up the hillside, enclosing narrow alleys and old houses.
Roman settlers founded a trading post here in the first century before Christ, which later came under Byzantine rule. Serbian rulers took control during the Middle Ages before Venice governed the town for nearly four centuries and shaped its present form.
The name of the town comes from an Illyrian word for hill, reflecting the steep mountains that rise behind the harbor. Locals maintain Venetian buildings and old squares that serve as gathering places and shape social life today.
The old quarter is reserved for pedestrians, and narrow lanes lead to squares with fountains and cafés. Those planning to walk up to the fortress on the mountain should start early in the morning to avoid heat and allow enough time for breaks.
The fortress path passes through small chapels built into the wall at different heights, which once served as rest stops for defenders. Some of these chapels contain frescoes from the Middle Ages that remain visible today and depict religious scenes.
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