Budva has a history of over 2500 years. The city was mentioned by Sophocles in the 5th century BC. e. In the III century BC, the Romans built their villas here, and the emperor Justinian built a Christian basilica.
In the ninth century Slavs are baptized here and erect a fortress and build temples.
From 1420 to 1797, the Republic of Venice ruled this seaside town, which at that time belonged to Venetian Albania. It was during the reign of the Venetians (approximately in the 15th century) that the city fortress acquired its current form with massive fortress walls and reliable defensive fortifications, which were later used to defend against Turkish troops.
From 1815 to 1918 the city was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, Budva became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (future Yugoslavia).
In April 1941, Budva was occupied by Italy, the occupation lasted until 1944, when the city was liberated by the armed units of Yugoslavia.
Since 2006, the city has been part of Montenegro (an independent state).
On April 15, 1979, a strong earthquake occurred in Budva, and most of the old city was destroyed, and then skillfully restored.
You will be transported to the world of Mediterranean and Venetian architecture
The old city is located behind a massive fortress wall and you can get inside only through the same old gates as the fortress itself. Most of the gates have been standing here for several centuries and still perform their main function.
In the Old Town, you will have the opportunity to visit the archaeological museum and the ancient necropolis, which was discovered before the Second World War, when the Avala Hotel was being built. During the excavations, it turned out that the ruins belong to different eras. Part refers to the Illyrian-Greek period of the VI-IV century BC, and part to the Greco-Roman era (III centuries BC)
Within the city walls are the Church of St. John the Baptist, founded in the seventh century, the Church of the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Punta built in 840, and the Church of the Holy Trinity with a bell tower of three bells, built in 1804.
At the same time, citizens still live behind the fortress walls, shops and restaurants work in narrow streets, and guests rest in hotels. Here, as many centuries ago, the usual city life flows. A special charm of the Old Town are numerous restaurants and street cafes, where it will be nice to take a break over a cup of coffee, drink local wine or beer, and at lunch or dinner, taste local specialties in an authentic setting.
Near the old town, on the way to Mogren Beach, there is a local attraction – the sculpture “Dancer from Budva”, depicting a gymnast. Locals claim that by touching the sculpture, you can make a wish that will surely come true.
All the streets of the Old Town lead to one place – to the old fortress of St. Mary, the simple name is the Citadel.
The fortress began to be built in the 9th century, the walls protected the townspeople from the enemy, who came from the sea. In the 15th century, with the arrival of the Venetians, the Citadel was radically rebuilt and additionally fortified.
On the territory of the fortress there were weapons and food depots, which made it possible to withstand long sieges and feel in perfect order. Today, the entire space of the fortress has the status of a museum. Inside there is a restaurant and an excellent viewing platform for all 360 degrees. On the territory of the fortress, the remains of another ancient church of St. Mary have been preserved. Almost the entire perimeter of the Old City can be walked along the fortress wall, which is equipped with loopholes, watchtowers and platforms for guns. The length of the fortress wall is more than 450 meters, in the widest places the width of the walls reaches 2 meters.
Budva is the most noisy and cheerful city in Montenegro.
The embankment of Budva stretches from the Old Town along the entire coast of the resort. This is the main party place of the Montenegrin town, where during the holiday season it is always crowded and noisy.
Popular restaurants and cafes, bars with live music, shops with souvenirs and bathing accessories are concentrated along the embankment in Budva. On the paved area there are benches overlooking the sea – you can relax after a walk, enjoying the views. There is also a green park area with flower beds and palm trees for walking with children or just relaxing.
On the territory of more than 41.5 thousand square meters there are more than 50 attractions for children of all ages, swimming pools, water slides of various levels of complexity. There is free parking, a photo studio, a souvenir shop, a cafe for children, bars for adults, a huge restaurant with panoramic windows through which you can watch the city and the Riviera.
The trendy club-bar is located on the top of the mountain. The only club in Budva that works all night.
The giant dance floor is located right in the open air. Several times a week, the most famous artists of the country and world-famous DJs perform at Top Hill.
Zelena Pijaca – a market in the city center selling prosciutto, cheeses, olive oil, vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, mushrooms, honey and herbs.
A stone temple, in the history of which there were both heroic moments and tragic events. The Orthodox building was repeatedly attacked and looted. The exact year of foundation is unknown. Restoration work began in 1995. Now the monastery is a functioning abode of male monks. In addition, cultural and religious events are regularly held here.