Risan, Perast and Kotor by car from Herceg Novi

The Roman mosaics belong to the remains of an urban villa from the second century AD. In Roman times, Risan was Rhisinium, a settlement that developed in the innermost part of the Bay of Kotor. Foundations and floors survive at the site, allowing you to follow the rooms around the central space and the corridors connecting them.

In one room, a medallion depicting Hypnos, the god of sleep, occupies the center of the floor. He appears as a reclining young man, with crossed legs and folded wings. Geometric panels and stylized plant motifs surround him, while other rooms have floors decorated with circles, diamonds, rosettes and vine patterns. Comparing the floors within the layout of the house reveals their differences most clearly.

Archaeological and art-historical studies also record later interventions in the mosaics. Additions made with colored stone pieces and pottery fragments show that the floors changed over the building's lifetime. As you explore, look at both the individual motifs and the places where the materials and workmanship differ.

Perast developed its maritime importance beside the Verige strait, at the entrance to the inner Bay of Kotor. Captains and merchant families built the town under Venetian rule, and their homes still line the waterfront. Palaces, family coats of arms and the tall bell tower of Saint Nicholas reflect a town shaped by seafaring and its prominent households.

Bujović Palace, built in the late seventeenth century, now houses Perast Museum. Among its portraits is Vicko Bujović, a seafarer, soldier and town captain, painted by Tripo Kokolja. On the ground floor are young women's chests, traditional dress, needlework and photographs, while the captain's salon brings portraits together with navigation instruments and ship equipment.

A model of the sailing ship Adriana recalls the last vessel in Perast's fleet, while displays of flags and weapons reveal the seafarers' military role. Perast was also a center for maritime training, particularly associated with Captain Marko Martinović.

Smekja Palace stands on the waterfront beside the Church of Saint Mark. From Saint Nicholas' Square, the view opens towards the two islands, Our Lady of the Rocks and Saint George.

Kotor's Old Town retains a network of streets and squares within its defensive walls. The Sea Gate opens onto the Square of Arms, where the clock tower and the long facade of the former Prince's Palace define the main public space.

Pima Palace stands on Flour Square, its balcony supported by stone corbels, opposite Buća Palace. Saint Tryphon's Cathedral dominates the next square. It was consecrated in 1166, and its older Romanesque bell towers were replaced by Baroque ones after earthquakes. The facade reveals how rebuilding changed one of the town's principal churches.

Saint Luke's Square takes its name from the church built in the late twelfth century, beside the much later Church of Saint Nicholas. Saint Mary's Collegiate Church, in the northern part of town, was built in 1221 on the site of an earlier pre-Romanesque church.

Saint John's Fortress, also known as San Giovanni, stands about 260 meters above sea level. Kotor's walls were built and extended from the ninth to the eighteenth century. Their course links the waterfront town to defenses on higher ground, following the steep slope behind the houses.

The Church of Our Lady of Health stands on the path to the fortress and dates from the fifteenth century. After plague epidemics, it became a votive church.

From the top, Dobrota extends along the eastern shore, while Vrmac rises across the water. The walls descending towards Kotor show how the fortress was connected to the town and harbor it defended.