Herceg Novi is a port city at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. It belongs, alongside Budva and Kotor, to the most important tourist resorts of the Montenegrin coast. Around the city there are pebble and rocky beaches, and the historic Old Town has a friendly, Mediterranean atmosphere.
The history of the city of Herceg Novi dates back to the 14th century. For centuries, due to its strategic location, it changed hands, and each subsequent ruler left something of its heritage there. Hence the oldest part of the city is a mixture of Byzantine, Slav, Venetian, Turkish and Balkan influences.
The city is described as the most Mediterranean of the entire Montenegrin coast. This is mainly due to the lush vegetation and growing hillsides of poppy thickets falling into the sea. In the center there are also plenty of greenery and flowers, and even palm trees grow here.
Due to its location at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, Herceg Novi has been fortified since the Middle Ages. To this day, fortresses from the Turkish era, Kanli Kula, Jaka Kula and a seaside citadel have survived. Above the buildings, on the rock is the Španjola fort from the 16th century, which was used by the army until the 20th century.
The Old Town of Herceg Novi is narrow streets, squares planted with trees and palm trees, and stone houses covered with tiles. Among the lower buildings stands the monumental church of St. Archangel Michael from the early twentieth century. Its interior is decorated with colorful polychromes, and above the corners of the building hang towers reminiscent of minarets. Outside the Old Town there is the Savina monastery, which dates back to the 11th century. It consists of several churches with interiors that have interesting painting decorations.
