| Budva Riviera | |
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| State | Montenegro |
|---|---|
Budva Riviera is the main tourist region located on the coast of Montenegro.
To know
Geographical notes
It is a 35 km long strip of the Adriatic coast that surrounds the city of Budva in western Montenegro. It is part of the geographical region of the Montenegrin Littoral. It is located approximately along the Montenegrin coast and is a center for Montenegrin beach tourism. There are 12.5 km of beaches found along the Budva Riviera.
When to go
The climate of the area in question is Mediterranean, with mild winters and sultry, hot summers. It is advisable to go, for limited costs, in the September or late spring period, paying attention to weather forecasts, or those related to the melting of snow at high altitudes.
Background
Numerous archaeological evidences place Budva among the oldest urban settlements on the Adriatic coast. Substantial documentary evidence provides historical references dating back to the 5th century BC.
A legend has it that Bouthoe (Βουθόη - Vouthoe) was founded by Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, Greece, when exiled from Thebes, finding a refuge in this place for him and his wife, the goddess Harmonia.
Greek colonization of the Adriatic began in the 4th century BC, when an emporium was established on the site of Budva. In the 2nd century BC, the Budva area became part of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Empire and its division into east and west, the defensive barrier that separated the two powers crossed this area, resulting in a lasting impact on the history and culture of this city. In the 6th century, Budva was part of the Byzantine Empire, and in the following two centuries, the Slavs and, to a lesser extent, the Avars began to arrive in the area, mingling with the native Roman population. Budva bay was known as Avarorum sinus (Avar bay ') during the Avar raids. In 841, Budva was sacked by Muslim Saracens, who ravaged the area. In the Middle Ages, Budva was reigned by a succession of doClean kings, as well as Serbian and Zeta nobles.
About 1200, it became the seat of a Roman Catholic Diocese of Budva, which lasted until 1828 and was nominally revived as a titular Latin bishopric. The Venetians ruled the city for about 400 years, from 1420 to 1797. Budva, called Budua in those centuries, was part of the Venetian region of the Venetian Republic of Albania and was fortified by powerful Venetian walls against the Ottoman conquests. According to the historian Luigi Paulucci in his book "Le Bocche di Cattaro nel 1810" (The Bay of Kotor in 1810), most of the population spoke the Venetian language until the beginning of the 19th century. One of the most famous librettists and theater composers, Cristoforo Ivanovich, was born in the Venetian Budua. With the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, Budva came under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy. During the Napoleonic wars, Montenegrin forces allied with Russia took control of the city in 1806, only to cede the city to France in 1807. French rule lasted until 1813, when Budva (together with Boka Kotorska) was ceded to the Austrian empire, which remained in control of the city for the next 100 years. A union of Boka Kotorska (and Budva) with Montenegro took place for a short time (1813-1814), but from 1814 until the end of the First World War in 1918, Budva remained under Austria-Hungary. The southernmost fort of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Fort Kosmač, was built near guarding the road from Budva to Cetinje. After the war, the Serbian army entered Budva after being abandoned by the Austrian forces and re-entered the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1941, with the beginning of the Second World War, Budva was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. Budva was finally liberated from Axis rule on November 22, 1944 and incorporated into the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (which was part of the Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia).
A catastrophic earthquake struck Budva on April 15, 1979. Much of the old town was devastated, but today there is little evidence of the catastrophe - almost all buildings have been restored to their original shape. Montenegro became an independent country in 2006, with Budva as the primary tourist destination.
Spoken languages
The majority language is Montenegrin, associated with Serbian and Albanian. English it is spoken in tourist areas.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Bečići - Its 2 km beach covered with fine sand is surrounded by numerous hotels and tourist villages. The beach is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in the southern Adriatic. It is a sandy beach, 1,950 m long and stretches from Zavala to Djevištenje. In 1935 it won the "Grand Prix" in Paris as the most beautiful beach in Europe. It is perhaps the best equipped beach on the Riviera, with sports fields and all other services.
- Budva (Budva) - The main seaside resort with great beaches and a vibrant nightlife.
- Petrovazzo (Petrovac) - Small city on a human scale with excellent beaches. It is a sandy beach of about 600 m in length, with reddish colored sand. The beach is bordered by the Petrovac promenade, full of cafes, restaurants and shops.
Other destinations
- Jaz beach (Јаз) - It is located with Mrčevo Polje and its hinterland. The beach is 2.5 km from Budva in the direction of Tivat. It consists of two parts, one 500m long and the other, formerly a 300m long nudist beach. It is a pebble beach, with a campsite along most of the beach (capacity of 2,000 lots). The beach is a protected natural heritage site. It hosted a show by The Rolling Stones on July 9, 2007, as part of their A Bigger Bang Tour.
- Kraljičina beach (Краљичина) - whose name translates as "queen", it is located near Miločer beach. It is a 200m long beach surrounded by cypresses and olive trees. Its name derives from the fact that it was the favorite place and belonged to Queen Marija Karađorđević. The Communist regime in 1945 nationalized the Karađorđevićes property which they bought and developed in the 1920s and 1930s. This beach may not be open to the public at any time, or its entry may be charged, because this is Montenegro officials' favorite location.
- Mogren Beach (Могрен) - One or two beaches extend from the promontory called Mogren to the viewpoint of the Avala Hotel. Their natural environment places Mogren in the category of the most attractive beaches, with medium-sized sand, both on the beach itself and in the water. The beach is well exposed to the sun and the south wind. From the back, it is protected by the Terme hill covered with dense pine and oak woods. The beach is accessible by a narrow path that runs through the Avala hotel complex. It is no more than 150m from the old town of Budva. Mogren consists of two sandy beaches with a total length of 350m, connected by a tunnel in the rock. They are named after the Spanish sailor Mogrini, who landed on the beaches after a shipwreck. As a sign of gratitude, he built the church of Sant'Antonio. A small fee (one euro as of 2005) is collected at the entrance to Mogren, to keep the beaches not too crowded for Avala hotel guests. On the narrow path leading to the beach, there is a section completely dedicated to divers and risk takers. Almost in the middle point of the route, there is a small outlet into the sea, squeezed between the rocks, which offers those at risk about 3 m wide to dive safely into the water. This area is called by people from Budva, Kanal, which has no meaning, but in English it literally means Canal. These divers have earned an excellent reputation in Budva due to their turbulent and hilarious acts.
- Ploče beach (Плоче) - 2 km from Trsteno beach, is another attractive place for swimming - pebble beach of Ploče. Incredible purity of water clarity that exceeds 35 m. A café, restaurants, unspoiled nature. The quality of the sea water is not comparable to other beaches. Wonderfully equipped, with excellent parking, excellent restaurant with sun beds and umbrellas against the sun. There are swimming pools for adults and children, large parking spaces.
- Slovenska beach (Словенска) - It stretches from the Budva marina to the hotel Park, at 1,600m in length. It was declared a beach since 1920 and the Slovenian architect who designed this part of the city gave its current name to Slovenska Plaža (Словенска Плажа, 'Slovenian beach'). It is a pebble beach and has a large hotel complex with the same name at the back. Budva's main promenade, where most of the nightlife and shopping takes place, runs alongside this beach.
- Trsteno beach (Трстено) - 100 m long, deeply pulled into the mainland. It has perhaps the finest sand on the Budva Riviera. It is accessible from the same road that leads to Jaz Beach.
- Sveti Stefan - Small island south of Budva, Sveti Stefan is surrounded by walls and connected to the mainland by a short isthmus.
How to get
By plane
You can use thePodgorica Airport (in Serbian: Аеродром Подгорица / Aerodrom Podgorica) (IATA: TGD) is an airport located 10 km south of Podgorica, Montenegro. It was opened in 1961 and is the main hub for Montenegro Airlines. It can be reached from Rome Fiumicino. Alternatively, you can use Dubrovnik International Airport (Croatia) or Tirana International Airport (Albania).
By car
The area is accessible from Croatia to the north, from crossings along the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, or from Serbia via Bijelo Polje.
During the summer, numerous shipping companies dock at the ports of Bar, Ulcinj, Budva.
On the train
The railway leads to Podgorica, Bar, Niksic. From these railway stations it is necessary to proceed by road transport.
By bus
Several private companies offer routes at advantageous prices, especially to the beaches from Budva.
How to get around
By car
Pay attention to driving, especially in the high season. Do not take solitary and impractical paths. Pay attention to any fires, especially in the summer.
By bus
Going to the Budva Bus Station, it is possible to view the various timetables, fares and routes available to tourists.
What see
Numerous seaside attractions (Trsteno, Budva, Ploce, Jaz, Mogren, Slovenska, Kralijcina) and urban (Budva, Sveti Stefan, Becici, Petrovazzo).
What to do
It is possible to enjoy bathing, sports (in the numerous centers), cultural (urban centers), naturalistic-excursion activities.
At the table
The typical Balkan-Mediterranean cuisine is in force, with Greek, Turkish, Serbian and Albanian influences. Typical dishes based on local goat cheeses, fruit and vegetables, liqueur wines, extra virgin olive oil.
Safety
The area is free from particular problems of public order. Obviously, it is advisable to avoid crowds and to use common sense, especially in tourist areas.
