[Montenegro] 🇲🇪Citadel of Kotor(8/22/2024)

Montenegro is a country in the western Balkans, facing Italy across the Adriatic Sea. Kotor is a port town located at the far end of the Bay of Kotor, a complex inlet formed by the shoreline of Montenegro's coastline encroaching into the land. Surrounded by steep mountains on three sides, Kotor was a strategic location and a good natural harbor. Remnants of the past can still be seen today.
The history of Kotor dates back to Roman times, when the city was either self-governed or ruled by the Byzantine Empire, the Kingdom of Serbia, and other powerful nations. In the 15th century, when the Venetian Republic took control of Kotor, it built a 4.5-kilometer-long fortress wall extending into the mountains behind Kotor and fortified it with an iron wall to prevent the Ottoman Empire from invading the city. The city has been influenced by various cultures and rulers, and both Catholic and Orthodox churches coexist in the city, including St. Tryphon's Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century, and St. Luke's Church, built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style.
After enjoying a stroll through the central square with its 17th century grand clock and the cobblestone-paved old town, climb up the ramparts that lead to the mountain behind the city. From the highest point, about 260 meters above sea level, you can see the red tile-lined houses and the calm blue waters of Kotor Bay below. Kotor, a strategic point on the Adriatic Sea, has continued to develop despite being at the mercy of powerful nations fighting for control of the region. The town, which stands quietly with its tumultuous history behind it, is a place you will never get tired of looking at.