Kotor, located in Montenegro, lies in the southeastern part of the Bay of Kotor, locally known as Boka Kotorska. This bay is a part of the Adriatic Sea, which, in turn, belongs to the Mediterranean Sea. The town itself, along with the bay, is surrounded by hills and the Lovcen mountain range. Neighboring towns include Dobrota, Tivat, Herceg Novi, Cetinje, Risan, Pričanj, and Perast.
The population of Kotor numbers just over 13 thousand people, with three-quarters of the residents being Serbs and Montenegrins.
Kotor boasts a history spanning over 2000 years. During the Roman Empire's rule of the Bay of Kotor, the city was known as Akruvium (also Askrivium or Askrujon). Throughout its history, Kotor has been under the governance of Byzantium (then known as Decateron), the First Bulgarian Kingdom, Serbia, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, France, the Russian Empire, Austria-Hungary, and even the Golden Horde at various times.
The name "Kotor," closely resembling the modern "Kattaro," was bestowed upon the city by the Italians. Among the neighboring states, the one that consistently failed to establish control over Kotor was Turkey. The resilient townspeople successfully repelled continuous Turkish raids, and in 1539, they even forced the retreat of Khairuddin Barbarossa's fleet, comprising 70 ships and around 30 thousand soldiers. Byzantium ruled over the city for the longest period.
Throughout Kotor's history, its populace actively participated in maritime trade, earning the city a renowned reputation for its formidable fleet. The necessity to defend against frequent attacks, both from the sea and land, led the city's residents to transform it into a fortress, surrounded by formidable walls standing at a towering 20 meters in height and stretching for a total length of 4.5 kilometers. Today, tourism stands as the central focus of the city's infrastructure.
