Kotor Cathedral, Kotor, Montenegro

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor is one of two Roman Catholic cathedrals in Montenegro. It was built in honor of Saint Tryphon, the patron and protector of the city, on the same site where an older church had already existed long ago. That earlier church was built in 809 by Andrija Saracenis, a citizen of Kotor, where the remains of the saint were kept after being brought from Constantinopole.

The cathedral was consecrated on 19 June 1166. Compared to other buildings, the Kotor Cathedral is one of the largest and most ornate buildings in Kotor. The cathedral was seriously damaged and rebuilt after the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake, but there were not enough funds for its complete reconstruction.

The April 1979 Montenegro earthquake, which completely devastated the Montenegro coast, also greatly damaged the cathedral. Luckily, it has been salvaged and the careful restoration of parts of its interior has not been completed until a few years ago. The Romanesque architecture, contains a rich collection of artifacts. Older than many famous churches and cathedrals in Europe, the cathedral has a treasury of immense value. In its interior there are frescoes from the 14th century, a stone ornament above the main altar in which the life of St Tryphon is depicted, as well as a relief of saints in gold and silver.

The collection of art objects includes a silver hand and a cross, decorated with ornaments and figures in relief. It is only a part of the valuable objects of the Treasury of this unique sacral building which was the City Hall in the past. Today, it is the best known tourist attraction in Kotor and a symbol of the city: the Saint is depicted in the city's coat of arms, along with a lion and the Mount of San Giovanni.

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User Reviews

razorrau1 (3 months ago)
Saint Tryphon's Cathedral Катедрала Светог Трипуна is another one of the beautiful churches in the area. We didn't get to go inside but it is a very beautiful from the outside.

Dani Baal (6 months ago)
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in Kotor is a historic gem, showcasing Romanesque architecture with stunning twin towers and intricate stonework. Dating back to 1166, it houses impressive frescoes, relics, and a collection of religious artifacts that reflect Kotor’s rich cultural heritage. Climbing to the upper balcony offers panoramic views of the old town and bay. It’s a peaceful, awe-inspiring site and a must-visit for those interested in history and architecture in Montenegro.

Soudamini Mohapatra (6 months ago)
Saint Tryphon's Cathedral is located in the v center of the Kotor Old town. It was built in 1166 and one of Montenegro's picturesque sites. It has been reconstructed several times after several earthquakes. In the earthquake in 1667, the entire frontage was destroyed, it was reconstructed with addition of the baroque bell towers. Worth visiting it.

Peter Thompson (6 months ago)
Lovely little cathedral with a small museum upstairs and a view of the square below. The cathedral is fantastic from the outside but paying to view this I would suggest is a nice to have rather than a must do, but still a 4/5. Interesting place to visit but with the rest of Kotor to enjoy this is worth going into if you enjoy religios buildings.

jon zapanta (9 months ago)
I had to give this a 5 star even though I hate the idea of churches with entrance fee. Why 5 stars? Because this is probably an exception and my reason was when I was entering, the guy in the black shirt on the entrance told me it was free for crew so I did enter, many thanks to that guy. On my way out I was giving money for church donation but they were refusing, I had to persuade them to accept my small donation which was more than the entrance fee of 4 Euros. I had donated because I really like it inside. Aside for being a church, they also got a lot of relics on the second floor and truly I am blessed to see such collections on display. I apologize for taking pictures and videos of the inside of the church, I just want to share it to people who does not have the chance to see it and also I do not profit for any reviews I ever made on Google maps, I just really want to share my experience. I have purchased candles and lighted it on the altar too, it was cheap compared to other church I have been to here in Europe. I must say that most country here in Europe the cost of living is high.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Klearchos Kapoutsis

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