Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
even more elaborate plan: Place cannons on either side of the strait, with a clear shot at any
entering ships. Looking across the wide part of the bay, notice the town of Perast (by the
two islands). Perast—where we'll be stopping soon—was also equipped with cannons that
could easily reach across the bay. Thanks to this extensive defense network, Ottomans or
any other potential invaders were unlikely to penetrate the bay, either by sea or by land.
• Continue driving around the fjord. You'll pass through the village of...
Morinj
This town is known for two starkly different reasons: First, it's the home of a recommended
restaurant with fine food in a gorgeous setting (Konoba
Ć
atovi
ć
a Mlini); another, more cas-
tioncampforCroatprisonerscapturedduringthe1991-1992siegeofDubrovnik.Some300
civilians from in and near Dubrovnik were forcibly brought here, where they lived in hor-
rifying conditions. After the war, six of the guards from this camp were convicted of war
crimes.
• After going through Morinj and some other small villages, you'll pass through the larger
resort town of...
Risan
Back in Greek times, when the Bay of Kotor was known as
“Sinus Rhizonicus,”
Risan was
the leading town of the bay. Later, during the Illyrian Queen Teuta's brief three-year reign,
Risan was her capital. Today the town is still home to the scant remains of Teuta's castle
(on the hilltop just before town), but it's mostly notable for its giant communist eyesore
hotel—named, appropriately enough, Hotel Teuta.
Historiansmaywanttoturnofftotheleft(atthebrown
Roman Mosaics
sign)inthetown
centerforaquicklookatafewpartlyintactmosaicfloorsofthesecond-century
A.D.
Roman
Villa Urbana
(€2, daily 8:00-20:00). You'll enter through a small modern building to ac-
cess the large, covered footprint of the villa. Between the knee-high stone walls are mosaics
of checkerboards, stylized marine life (including calamari), and—most significant—a small
mosaic of reclining Hypnos, the god of dreams.
• Continue on to Perast. As you approach the town, take the right fork (marked with brown
sign) directly down into Perast; or you can first take the left fork to pass above town for
sweeping views over the bay, then backtrack down into the town center.
Perast
Thissecond-mostappealingtownonthefjord(afterKotor)isconsideredthe“PearlofVene-
tian Baroque.” It's worth taking some time to wander and explore its buildings and enjoy
