Mamula
Also! Unique outpost Mamula - an island lost in time...
The peninsula Lushtica (Luštica) on the southern coast of Montenegro at the very entrance to the Bay of Kotor is full of lush Mediterranean vegetation and attracts tourists from touristy Budva!
From Zhanitsa beach on a pleasure boat it is worth getting to the island of Mamula. The uninhabited and colorful island is located between the peninsulas of Prevlaka (Prevlaka) and Lustica on the border with Croatia at the beginning of Boka Kotorska - the popular resort of the Bay of Kotor. The island is known for its rich history, including military history - for several centuries it was used as a fort. This place attracts tourists with its indescribable mysterious atmosphere of antiquity.
Historical fact: the fortified fortress-fort on the island was built in the middle of the 19th century by the ruler of Dalmatia, Lazar Mamula.
The
monumental structure of stone occupies 3/4 of the island and is clearly
visible from two similar outposts, presumably also erected by Lazar on
the Oshtro cape of the Prevlaka peninsula, and on the other side on the
Arza cape of the Lustitsa peninsula. It is not surprising that at the
beginning of the 20th century during the First World War, an impregnable
fortress, located historically in the center of the strait, was a
prison — the Austrians kept and cruelly tortured prisoners on this
island. By order of Benito Mussolini during World War II, the prison was
transformed into a concentration camp, which functioned not long before
the liberation of the territory of Montenegro.
Today
this outpost is a monument of culture and history of the country. You
can get here by pleasure boats from the nearest Herceg Novi or from beaches of Mirišta — an artificial beach of the same name in the valley
of the same name behind Cape Arza surrounded by dense forest — chic fish
in a local restaurant — and from the beach of Zhanitsa.
The
beaches with large white pebbles will appeal to beach lovers on the
pebble beaches. There are numerous cafes near the developed coastline
where you can grab a bite to eat before heading out on a pleasure boat
to the island. Mamula himself is perfectly visible from the coast in
Zhanets. An old bakery building and a headquarters tower have been
preserved inside the fortress. Despite the fact that the pier on the
island is destroyed, tourists always have the opportunity to come here
and plunge into the centuries-old history of this large island. The
highest point of the fortress offers a beautiful view of the emerald
bays of the Bay of Kotor.
Interesting
fact: the island was chosen by the Yugoslav director Velimir Stojanovic
for the WWII war drama Campo Mamula due to its color, and the horror
film Mamula was recently filmed here by the Serbian director Milan
Todorovic.
Ancient Mamula
continues to be an abandoned island, its age-old walls are completely
untouched by civilization and can become a special summer vacation spot
for anyone looking for something frozen in time.
Choose a convenient spot to start your journey!
In Herceg Novi you can find a hotel to your liking, and this city will be a convenient starting point for your trips to the surroundings.
Having rounded the Lustica peninsula, you can visit the popular Blue Cave or the grotto of Plav Spiel, which is popular with tourists, it is located 9 km from Herceg Novi. Take a boat trip to a cave with clear turquoise water and swim in the echoing black grotto. Boats depart to the grotto from all seaside towns, Kotor, Bijela, as well as from the beaches of Mirishta and Zhanitsa.
The Blue Grotto is located on the opposite side of Boka Bay. This natural underwater formation has two entrances with a vault height of up to 15 m. Thanks to this, boats can freely swim into the cave. The grotto got its name due to a unique natural effect: due to the special refraction of the sun's rays, the water becomes turquoise and glare of rich color falls on the rocks. For maximum visual impact, sunny, cloudless weather is a must when visiting! The water in the cave is especially salty due to the presence of underground springs.
The depth here is shallow, mostly 4 meters, but some areas are suitable for diving. Diving enthusiasts can see fish at a depth of 40 meters, although the marine life of the Andriatic is not as rich in inhabitants as other warmer seas. Also, divers can do underwater exploration of cave systems, because a popular legend to attract attention says that ancient pirate treasures are hidden in their depths.