CROATIA BOSNIA AND MONTENEGRO
PoÄ?itelj
P
očitelj is a village in the Čapljina municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The historic site of Počitelj is located on the left bank of the river Neretva, on the main Mostar to Metković road, and it is to the south of Mostar. During the Middle Ages, Počitelj was considered the administrative centre and centre of governance of Dubrava župa (county), while its westernmost point gave it major strategic importance. It is believed that the fortified town along with its attendant settlements were built by Bosnia’s King Stjepan Tvrtko I in 1383. The walled town of Počitelj evolved in the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Architecturally, the stone-constructed parts of the town are a fortified complex, in which two stages of evolution are evident: medieval, and Ottoman. The first recorded reference to Počitelj dates from 1444, in charters by Alfonso V of Aragon and Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. In the period between 1463-1471 the town housed a Hungarian garrison. In 1471, following a brief siege, the town was conquered by the Ottomans, and remained within the Ottoman Empire until 1878. From 1782 to 1879 Počitelj was the kadiluk (area under the jurisdiction of a kadija or qadi - judge) centre and it was the headquarters of the Počitelj military district from 1713 to 1835. Počitelj represents one of the few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina that were preserved in their integrity to the present times. It was also developed through the several things
Kotor Kotor the has been for- nearby Republic of Ragusa and of the tified since the Republic of Venice. early Middle Ages, when EmKotor has been fortified peror check Justinian the spread of BoVenetian fortifications of Kotor since the early Middle Ages,builtgomilism. a fortress The city was part of the Venetian Albania provwhen Emperor Justinianabove Acruvium in ince of the Venetian Republic from 1420 to built a fortress above AcruNemanjić dynas535, During after the expelling 1797. It was besieged by the Ottomans in 1538 vium in 535, after expelling the city was the ty-era, Ostrogoths; a autonoand 1657. Four centuries of Venetian domithe Ostrogoths; a second the fall of the secondmous. town With probably nation have given the city the typical Venetown probably grew upgrew on upSerbian city on the Empire, heights thetian architecture, that contributed to make the heights round it, forround Con- it,came under the Serbian for Constantine Kotor a UNESCO world heritage site.[3] stantine Porphyrogenitus, Despotate.inThethecity acPorphyrogenitus, In those centuries Renaissance-related in the 10th century, alludes knowledged 10th century, alludestheto suzeliterature enjoyed a huge development to Lower Kotor. The city wasKotor. rainty the Republic Lower Theofcity was in Kotor: the most famous writers were plundered by the Saracens of the Venice in 1420. plundered by Saracens Bernardo Pima, Nicola Chierlo, Luca in 840. Kotor was one of the Kotor In the in 840. was14th onecentuof Bisanti, Alberto de Gliricis, Domenimore influential Dalmatian ry, commerce the more influential Dalma-in co and Vincenzo Burchia, Vincenzo city-states of romanized IllyKotor (as the city tian city-states of romanized Ceci, Antonio Zambella and Francrians throughout Illyrians the Middle was called until throughout the Middle esco Morandi. Ages, and until the 11th Ages, andcenuntil 1918) the 11thcompetcentury In the 14th- and 15th centuries, tury the Dalmatian language language ed withwas thatspothe Dalmatian there was an influx of settlers was spoken in Kotor. of the nearken in Kotor. from the oblasts of Trebinje by Republic (the region around forts In 1002, theIn city of Ragusa 1002,suffered the city suffered damage Klobuk Ledenica and Rudidamage under the occupation and of of the under the occupation the First na) and the Hum lands of the First Bulgarian Empire, Republic Bulgarian Empire, and in the follow- (Gacko and Dabar) to and in theing following yearceded it ofto Serbia Ven- by the year it was Kotor.[4] was ceded to Serbia by the Bulice. Bulgarian Tsar Samuil. However, the garian Tsarlocal Samuil. However, population resisted the pact and, While under Venetian the local taking population resisted advantage of its alliance with the rule, Kotor was bethe pact and, taking Republic ofadvantage Ragusa, only submitted in sieged by the Otof its alliance Republic its republican in1184, with whilethemaintaining toman Empire in of Ragusa, only submitted stitutions and its rightinto conclude treaties 1538 and 1657, 1184, and while maintaining its already an episcoengage in war. It was endured the republican institutions and its century, Dominican pal see, and, in the 13th plague in 1572, right and to conclude and were established Franciscantreaties monasteries and was nearengage in war. It was already to check the spread of Bogomilism. ly destroyed an episcopal see, and, in the by earth13th century, Dominicandynasty-era, and During the Nemanjić the city was au- quakes in Franciscan tonomous. monasterWith the fall of the Serbian Empire, the 1563 and ies were estabcity came under the Serbian Despotate. The city ac- 1667. lished to the suzerainty of the Republic of Venice knowledged in 1420. In the 14th century, commerce in Kotor (as the city was called until 1918) competed with that of
Forts within walls he fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottomans was a clear sign to the cautious citizens of Dubrovnik that ample defensive measures were quickly needed, the strengthening of its defensive structures the foremost of the issues. The fall of Bosnia, which followed soon in 1463, only hastened the works. As a result, the Republic invited the architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo of Florence to direct the improvement of the city’s defences The Minčeta Tower was built by a local builder named Nicifor Ranjina and Italian engineers sent by Pope Pius II in 1463, at the height of the Turkish threat.Originally as a strong four-sided fort, it is the most prominent point in the defensive system towards the land. The tower’s name derives from the name of the Menčetić family, who owned the ground upon which the tower was built. By its height and impressive volume, the tower dominates the nor thwestern high part of the city and its walls.In the middle of the 15th
centur y, around the earlier quadrilateral fort, Michelozzo built a new round tower using new warfare technique and joined it to the new system of low scarp wallshe full six-meter (20 feet) thick walls of the new tower had a series of protected gun ports. The architect and sculptor Giorgio da Sebenico of Zadar, continued the work on the Minčeta tower. He designed and built the high narrow round tower, while the battlements are a later addition.
The Wall
On the Wall
Fort Bokar[ The Fort Bokar, often called “Zvjezdan”, is considered to be amongst the most beautiful instances of harmonious and functional fortification architecture. Built as a two-story casemate fortress by Michelozzo from 1461 to 1463, while the city walls were being reconstructed, it stands in front of the medieval wall face protruding into space almost with its whole cylindrical volume. It was conceived as the key point in the defense of the Pila Gate, the western fortified entrance of the city; and after the Minčeta Tower, it is the second key point in the defense of the western land approach to the city.[13] It is said to be the oldest casemented fortress in Europe, which contains a small lapidary collection and numerous cannons. St. John Fortress[The St. John Fortress (Croatian: Sveti Ivan), often called Mulo Tower, is a complex monumental building on
the southeastern side of the old city port, controlling and protecting its entrance. The first fort was built in the mid 14th century, but it was modified on
several occasions in the course of the 15th and 16th centuries, which can be seen in the triptych made by the painter Nikola Božidarević in the Dominican monastery. The painting shows Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik.[13] Dominant in the port ambiance, the St. John Fortress prevented access of pirates and other enemy ships the painter Nikola Božidarević in the Dominican monastery. The painting shows Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik. [13] Dominant in the port ambiance, the St. John Fortress prevented access of pirates and other enemy shipsominant in the port ambiance, the St. John Fortress prevented access of pirates and other enemy ships
Kotor Bay
Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of Kotor Municipality. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called it the southern-most fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive and picturesque Mediterranean landscape Kotor is connected to the Adriatic Motorway and the rest of the coast and inland Montenegro by Vrmac Tunnel. Inland is reachable by detouring from Adriatic motorway at Budva or Sutomore (through Sozina tunnel). There is also a historic road connecting Kotor with Cetin-
je, which offers spectacular views of Kotor bay.Tivat Airport is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away, and there are regular flights to Belgrade, Moscow and Paris and dozens of charter Planes land daily on Tivat airport during the summer season.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia (Croatian: Republika Hrvatska, About this sound listen (help·info)), is a sovereign state at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean. Its capital city is Zagreb, which forms one of the country’s primary subdivisions, along with its twenty counties. Croatia covers 56,594 square kilometres (21,851 square miles) and has diverse, mostly continental and Mediterranean climates. Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coast contains more than a thousand islands. The country’s population is 4.28 million, most of whom are Croats, with the most common religious denomination being Roman Catholicism. The Croats arrived in the area of present-day Croatia during the early part of the 7th century AD. They organised the state into two duchies by the 9th century. Tomislav became the first king by 925, elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom. The Kingdom of Croatia retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries, reaching its peak during the rule of Kings Peter Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvo-
nimir. Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, faced with Ottoman conquest, the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg to the Croatian throne. In 1918, after World War I, Croatia was included in the unrecognised State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs which seceded from Austria-Hungary and merged into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. A fascist Croatian puppet state existed during World War II.
After the war, Croatia became a founding member and a federal constituent of Second Yugoslavia, a constitutionally socialist state. In June 1991, Croatia declared independence, which came into effect on 8 October of the same year. The Croatian War of Independence was fought successfully during the four years following the declaration.
Dubrovnik The Roofs
The Buildings
The Walls With the fall of Austria–Hungary in 1918, the city was incorporated into the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Dubrovnik became one of the 33 oblast of the Kingdom. In 1929 Yugoslavia was divided among 9 Banovina the city became part of the Zeta Banovina. In 1939 Dubrivnik became part of the newly crowned somethign