At first glance, the city looks picturesque, to say the least, of the visual imagery available. The architecture of the place is dynamic and exciting and speaks of historical and cultural depth. It is strategically placed in the mountains and surrounded by water, which the city outlines and hence pertains to various invasions that have indelibly influenced and driven its architecture, including Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. Fortified by long and expressive walls, the city housed within at the time has now extended out with expansion. Also, as a center for seismic activities in the past, its architecture has been significantly impacted. To preserve their structures, the city has been repaired with newer and different ideas that juxtapose styles, weaved together. An amalgamation of geography, demography, and socio-cultural factors make Kotor a dynamically strong city that reflects on these attributions through its design and planning.
With a varied set of unique names, Kotor has been called Acruvium and Cattaro under Byzantine and Venetian domination, respectively. Originated by the Roman empire, Kotor fell into Venetian domination post that, which ruled for more than three centuries and therefore, greatly influenced its architecture. After their fall, it was taken over by four other foreign forces. Picking up elements from Byzantine architecture, one of the important sacral monuments in the city- St. Luke’s church exhibits the attributes through a square plan base and central dome which spans the area and symbolizes classical cosmology. The physical translation of these ideas is through shapes and forms in plan and volume, wherein the square plan is the imperfect earth and the circular dome is the supremal heavens. The masonry facade of this single-nave church has alternate layers with a recess, and the inside has a barrel vault. Elements from Romanesque architecture are evident through the arched windows on the western facade and ornamented moldings surrounding the window and the door.
St. Luke’s Church
Though briefly, Kotor also expresses Gothic influence through pointed Gothic arches, especially in the windows, ornamented colonettes, and mullions. The Beskuca Palace, Dominican Monastery, and Drago Palace are examples of the same with subtle references. Figures of saints and lions are Gothic portals, as seen in these structures.
Sea Gate
One of the gates of entrance to the old town is the Sea Gate, which speaks of Renaissance architecture. The semi-circular arched gate has columns on the side with Corinthian capitals that carry the weight of the entablature, which runs parallel to the cornice. On top is a triangular pediment with the winged lion – an extravagant symbol of Kotor and has an engraving.
Pima Palace
Pima Palace is an example of Renaissance-Baroque architecture, with its distinctive long Baroque balustrade. The perfect symmetry and proportions with semi-circular arches in the loggia with outlines geometry to highlight the capitals, and equal windows opening outside. The ashlar masonry on the facade is also prominent of the time. The frieze between the architrave and the cornice is decorated with a stone relief of angels around the family crest. (“Spot the Historical Architecture of Kotor in Churches, Palaces And Buildings,” n.d.).
Grgurina Palace
Grgurina Palace also carries the Baroque style, with its stone balconies placed centrally along a perfectly symmetrical facade. The expressive vase-shaped balustrades infer a post-Renaissance style, and the curved corbels running underneath carry the weight of the jutted balcony, which is also visible under the roof structure in smaller proportion. The green-colored windows have a stone lintel carved to accentuate the horizontal, balanced by the vertical alignment of the balcony. Parallels can be drawn from these two palaces by their overall placement and proportions.
Kotor Cathedral
One of the iconic structures in Kotor is St Tryphon’s Cathedral, which stood the test of time after earthquakes and subsequent renovations. After the destruction, the new bell towers were made in the Baroque style. The rosett windows indicate a Gothic revival style of architecture but the semi-circular arches and barrel vault in the porch are typical of Romanesque architecture. The interiors display Byzantine-style frescoes. The cathedral’s gently hued interior is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture: slender Corinthian columns alternate with pillars of pink stone, thrusting upwards to support a series of vaulted roofs (“St Tryphon’s Cathedral,” n.d.).
Conclusion
Kotor exhibits examples that do not explicitly speak of only one architectural style but they have been weaved together through restoration and otherwise to highlight how transitioning can also be possible. While certain elements are common, certain blend into each other and becomes an interpretive architectural style, overall. The old town preserves these structures and narrates a strong story of transition and subtle representation that the city encompasses through its architecture. The construction over the Baroque and Renaissance periods prevails as a prominent style of architecture in Kotor. Numbered invasions and earthquakes have also reduced evidence of the originally built spaces and data to confirm its establishment. The interiors are not indicatory subjects to further the discussion on architecture and design styles.
References
Lonely Planet (n.d.). St Tryphon’s Cathedral: Kotor, Montenegro: Attractions. [online]. Available at: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/montenegro/coastal-montenegro/kotor/attractions/st-tryphon-s-cathedral/a/poi-sig/460179/360156
Adria Line (n.d.). St Triphon’s Cathedral Kotor [online]. Available at: https://www.adrialine.me/_en/saint_tryphon.html
Euscentia (2023). Spot The Historical Architecture of Kotor In Churches, Palaces And Buildings [online]. Available at: https://euscentia.com/historical-architecture-kotor-churches-palaces-buildings/
Visit Montenegro (n.d.). The History of Kotor [online]. Available at: https://www.visit-montenegro.com/destinations/kotor/info/history/#:~:text=Kotor%20is%20more%20than%20two,Greece%20katareo%20%E2%80%93%20meaning%20HOT).
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2017). Kotor. Encyclopedia Britannica [online]. Written 8 December 2017. Available at:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Kotor
Nadezhda, B. St. Luke’s Church. [Photograph].
Avvinti, G. Pima Palace. [Photograph].
Sea Gate. [Photograph]. (Wikimedia Archive).
