Montenegro is a kind of summary of Europe in miniature: beaches washed by the Adriatic Sea, mountains reaching almost 2,500 meters, medieval walled cities, monasteries carved into rocks, the deepest canyon in Europe and a gastronomy where Balkan, Italian and Ottoman influences intertwine, writes the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
The newspaper writes that Montenegro, a small country, occupies just over 13,800 square kilometers, but within that space it brings together surprisingly diverse landscapes and experiences. Unlike neighboring Croatia, it still offers a price-to-quality ratio that makes it one of the most attractive destinations in the Mediterranean.
In less than a three-hour drive, it is possible to have breakfast by the sea, lunch among forest-covered mountains, take an early evening stroll through a 15th-century Venetian town, and end the day swimming at a beach with crystal-clear water. It is difficult to summarize the country in just one image, although Kotor and the Bay of Kotor are its most recognizable postcard. The beaches of Budva and Sveti Stefan have gradually gained popularity, as well as the peaks of Durmitor National Park, but this young country — independent since June 2006 — still provides the feeling that it is a space yet to be discovered.
For years, Montenegro lived in the shadow of Croatia. While Dubrovnik received millions of visitors, many travelers did not continue just a few kilometers further south. However, that situation is changing. Flight connections are getting better every season, infrastructure is modernizing, and more and more Europeans are discovering that this small corner of the Balkans offers a lot at still reasonable prices. In a Europe where it is increasingly difficult to find destinations that combine authenticity, nature, cultural heritage, and affordable prices, Montenegro still has the advantage. It may be small, but few countries offer so much in such a small space.
Kotor: A bay reminiscent of a fjord
Most journeys begin in the Bay of Kotor, although even the word "bay" fails to fully capture this place. Four gulfs reach deep between limestone mountains, creating one of the most spectacular coastal landscapes on the Adriatic. Boka is often described as the southernmost fjord in Europe, although in a geological sense it is not. The comparison nevertheless helps to imagine the scene: rocks dropping almost vertically towards the water and small stone settlements that look as if they are floating between the sea and the mountain, states El Pais.
Kotor, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979, is the historical heart of this landscape. Protected by Venetian walls that climb the slope all the way to a fortress situated at nearly 300 meters above sea level, the city has preserved a maze of squares, Romanesque churches, Baroque palaces and narrow streets in which the centuries during which the Venetian Republic ruled a large part of the Adriatic still seem to echo. It is most beautiful to wander without a map. The streets are so narrow that in the hottest part of the day they barely let sunlight through. Suddenly, a tiny square appears with a tall bell tower, a courtyard where residents dry their laundry, or a terrace where coffee costs half as much as on the other side of the Croatian border.
The effort required to conquer more than a thousand steps to the San Giovanni fortress pays off multiple times over, because the top offers one of the most magnificent views in the Mediterranean. From above, the full geometry of the bay is revealed, with calm waters and mountains that change color as the day progresses. The climb is best started early, before it gets too hot and before the arrival of cruise ship passengers docking in Kotor.
Perast, Adriatic elegance
Just 20 minutes from Kotor lies one of the most photogenic places in the country — Perast. It has just over 300 permanent residents and has neither the dynamic nor the monumental walls of Kotor, but during the 17th and 18th centuries, thanks to maritime trade, it was one of the richest ports on the Adriatic. Today it acts as a backdrop stopped in time. Its Baroque palaces, built by families of captains and merchants, are reflected in the water on which small fishing boats still sway.
In front of the town emerge two islands. On one is the Benedictine monastery of St. George, which is not open to the public. The other, Our Lady of the Rocks, is entirely artificial. According to legend, sailors threw stones into the sea for centuries, until they created a small island on which a church was built that thousands of people visit today.
Few excursions are more pleasant than sailing from Perast at sunset, when the stone facades take on a golden color, and peace returns to the bay after the excursionists depart, writes the Spanish newspaper.
Budva and the coast where the Balkans vacation
Montenegro is not exclusively a cultural destination, and the best proof of this is Budva. A large portion of sun and sea-related tourism is concentrated in this city, so during the summer its population multiplies several times over. The old town has managed to preserve the charm of walled Venetian cities, but as soon as you step outside of them you come across a lively seaside promenade, modern hotels, restaurants, and beaches where Montenegrin families and tourists from Serbia, Italy, Germany or Poland mingle.
Just a few kilometers away is the most famous sight of the Montenegrin coast — Sveti Stefan. A small fortified island, connected to the mainland by a narrow sandy isthmus, was turned into a luxury hotel back in the days of Yugoslavia and has remained one of the symbols of the Adriatic to this day. Although the possibility of entering the complex depends on whether the hotel is open, the best view is still provided from the beach or from the panoramic road descending towards the coast.
Besides the most famous places, it is worth continuing the drive towards Petrovac or Ulcinj, where the beaches become more spacious, and the atmosphere once again takes on a much more relaxed rhythm.
The lake where two worlds meet: Lake Skadar
If there is a place that can surprise even those who know the Balkans well, it is Lake Skadar. Shared by Montenegro and Albania, it is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the most important wetland areas on the continent.
Boats depart from the small town of Virpazar, sailing through a labyrinth of channels covered with water lilies, between islets home to Orthodox monasteries and old Ottoman fortresses. More than 270 species of birds live in this national park. Dalmatian pelicans, herons, cormorants, and ospreys turn the lake into a small paradise for wildlife observation enthusiasts.
On the hills around the lake, some of the best Montenegrin wines are produced, especially from the indigenous Vranac grape variety, whose red wines perfectly accompany the local cuisine.
Durmitor: The biggest surprise
The biggest surprise comes when you leave the coast. It is Durmitor National Park, probably the most impressive natural area in the country. In just a two-hour drive, the landscape changes completely. Palm trees disappear, replaced by dense black pine forests, alpine meadows, and mountains over 2,000 meters high. Durmitor is one of the greatest natural treasures of the Balkans. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1980, and encompasses 18 glacial lakes, dozens of sharp mountain peaks, and an exceptional network of hiking trails. The most famous among these lakes is the Black Lake, surrounded by a coniferous forest, around which one can take a very easy stroll, notes El Pais.
However, the main attraction is the Tara River canyon. Deep over 1,300 meters in certain places, it is considered the deepest canyon in Europe. Its turquoise waters attract thousands of rafting enthusiasts every summer, while the bridge over the Đurđevića Tara provides one of the most spectacular views in the country. Even those who do not engage in adventure sports will find a surprisingly alpine landscape here, very far from the Mediterranean image usually associated with Montenegro.
Monasteries carved into the rocks Spirituality is an inseparable part of the Montenegrin landscape. The Ostrog Monastery, carved directly into a white cliff at nearly 900 meters above sea level, is the most important pilgrimage site in the country. Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Muslims come every year to bow before the relics of Saint Basil of Ostrog, in an atmosphere of interfaith communion that is not common in a region marked by the conflicts of the 20th century.
The access road climbs up through a series of almost unbelievable curves, but the reward comes the moment you catch sight of the building literally built into the rock.
Cuisine with a Balkan soul
Montenegro is also discovered at the dining table. On the coast, Adriatic fish, squid, mussels from the Bay of Kotor, and olive oil produced in the surroundings of Bar predominate. Inland, hearty mountain dishes are served, such as kačamak, which is prepared from cornmeal, cheese, and potatoes; Njeguški pršut, an exceptional prosciutto dried in the mountain air; or homemade sheep's milk cheeses.
Source: Vijesti