Situated on the beautiful Adriatic coast, Budva is one of the most popular summer resorts in Montenegro. Luxurious landscapes and Mediterranean climate, Old Town with picturesque narrow streets each year attract thousands of tourists from all over the World.
A variety of entertainments for every taste make a holiday in Budva not just pleasant, but also very fun and active.
Another important advantage of this town is a convenient location. The traveler needs to drive just 25 km from the airport in Tivat, 70 km from Podgorica airport and 80 km from Dubrovnik airport to be in the heart of the capital of Montenegrin tourism, in a place where unique historical monuments of 1000-2000 years are concentrated.
Budva is the center of the municipal district of the same name, which includes Budva, Petrovac, Sveti Stefan and Rafailovici in addition to Budva itself. Between the dense vegetation and sea are long, sandy beaches with comfortable hotels.
The quaintly rugged coastline from Budva to Petrovac, the main jewel of the Montenegrin coast, was affectionately named by the locals of Riviera. Coastal line extends in the length of 21 km, on which are located 17 luxuries Mediterranean beaches: well-known beach in Becici, Slovenska Plaza, Mogren, Jaz, Kraljicina plaza (Queen’s Beach).
During the month of July in Budva the sun, on average, shines for 332 hours and is the reason this town is said to be one of the sunniest places not only on the Adriatic Sea, but in the whole of Europe. Town has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild but rainy winters and very warm and dry summers.
Coastal region, protected by the high mountainous hinterlands, climate conditions are even milder and more pleasant. There are no great temperature differences, extreme rainfall or extremely strong winds, and the climate conditions are more balanced than in the neighboring regions.
The sea temperature ranges between 11.7°C in February and 24.7°C in August. The swimming season starts in early May and lasts for six months, until the beginning of November.
The attractive island of Sveti Nikola is popularly called “Hawaii” near Budva is another one of the many attractions of the Budva coast.
According to some sources the island was once connected to the town with an isthmus.
The easiest way to arrive on the island’s beaches or its many bays is by taxi-boat. Once you reach on the island, clear transparent seas await you with the blue skies, sunrays and the scents and tastes of the Mediterranean.
The title of one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic coast proudly carries just Budva with it attracts a great number of tourists.
The first mention of Budva is found in records dating back to the 5th century BC, which means that the city’s age is more than 2500 years! Current town walls were built in the 15th century.
During the construction of the Avala hotel in the center of Budva, the Roman necropolis was discovered, and under it the Greek necropolis. Were found rich gold and silver jewelry, glassware and ceramic vases. It was one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in this part of the world.
According to legend, Budva was founded by Cadmus, son of the Phoenician king, Agenor. Cadmus was the conqueror and ruler of the Greek province of Boeotia and, when he was exiled from the city of Thebes, together with his wife Harmonia, he found refuge with an Illyrian tribe called the Enchelei. According to the legend, Cadmus arrived with a team of oxen, which is where Budva got its name from (bous is Greek for ox).
The first settlement arose on the site of the old city and was located on a small island, which then turned into a protruding mainland cape. The city was laid by the Greeks, then the Romans and the Byzantines ruled here, and in the Middle Ages Budva became part of the Slavic state, later the Byzantine Republic.
In the XV century, the city fortress acquired modern outlines – powerful walls and reliable fortifications were erected to protect the city from the troops of the Ottoman Empire.
Since the XIX century the city was under Austro-Hungarian. After the First World War, Budva become part of Yugoslavia.
The complex of the Old Town is the main attraction of Budva. It is situated on a small peninsula, and is surrounded by a fortified wall with several towers and gates.
During the course of its history, the Old Town suffered the greatest damage in an earthquake in 1667, while the consequences of the 1979 earthquake were also serious. The city was rebuilt during the 8 years and he retained the original Venetian style.
Old Budva is an ancient district of the city in the heart of the tourist center, where the Venetian Mediterranean architecture is preserved.
A fortified defensive wall with powerful gates, narrow streets, small piazzas and squares, ancient churches and houses of hewn stone, a defensive citadel are elements of the ancient medieval architecture of Budva, carefully preserved to the present day.
Entrance in Old Town is allowed through one of the five gates, two of which are fully preserved ancient gates.
The fortress wall reaches a length of 450 meters and a thickness of about 2 meters. The soldiers led the defense of the city through loopholes, watchtowers that were on the fortress wall.
The town fortress of Castle – Citadel was mentioned for the first time in ancient chronicles in 1425. The Citadel most fortified part of the Old Town in Budva is located on the coast, in the southern part of the town, at its highest point.
In ancient times, local residents were hiding from enemies here. During the expansion and reconstruction of the fortress in the 19th century, the small church of Santa Maria de Castelo was torn down, and a larger army garrison was stationed in the fortress.
Now the Citadel is visited by numerous tourists.
Here are the library, Maritime and archaeological museums, as well as an exhibition of paintings.
After visiting the sights, guests of the city can relax in various cafes, visit theater performances or admire the picturesque surroundings, feel the aura of old architecture from the observation deck, which is equipped with telescopes.
Near the Citadel is the largest Catholic church of St. John. It was built in the 7th century in the Gothic style. Its bell tower, the highest in the city, raises above all the structures of the old city. The church includes also bishop’s courtyard and a bell tower.
The architecture and the spirit of a characteristic Mediterranean city – narrow streets, small squares and sacral monuments like as Saint John’s Church, the church of the Benedictine monastery Santa Maria in Punta from 840, and The Holy Trinity Church (with preserved fragments of frescoes from the 12th century).
All this make a single urban treasure and form the stage for many traditional cultural and artistic festivities, while the town becomes a genuine “Theatre City” during the summer months, thanks to the numerous plays, concerts and exhibitions it plays host to.
This is also the name of the festival which has been enriching this old costal town since 1987, lending it a special colour and charm.
Today the Old Town in Budva is a residential quarter. All buildings are a historical value, monuments of architecture of Budva, but life is still boiling in them.
On the first floors there are shops, cafes and restaurants, the rooms on the upper floors are used as residential or rented to tourists.
On the territory of this historic site, visitors of the city live and walk, they visit museums and shopping facilities, and in the evening sitting in a cozy cafe, admiring this beautiful old part of Budva.
In summer, in the height of the season, theater and poetry festivals are held in the city, an annual festival of classical music is held every year.
It is worth noting that the monuments of Budva and even such famous sights as a stone table and chair for the time of annual festivals become a kind of natural scenery, which undoubtedly adds even more charm and splendor to what is happening.
A lot of tourists will find entertainment for a different taste and color. Young people in Budva will like night bars and discos in the open air.
Older people will be able to enjoy high-quality wines, light music and delicious dishes of Montenegrin cuisine.
There are programs for young children. Adherents of cultural rest can visit various art exhibitions, enjoy musical and literary nights.
Budva is a city of holidays and festivals, a summer scene for cultural events. Discos and bars, fine restaurants and fast food, water sports and best tennis courts in the country…all this Budva is offered to his guest.
Montenegro is rightly proud of such a representative. You, on your side, you can only enjoy at the rest in one of the most beautiful places of the Adriatic.
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