Herceg Novi
A piece of heaven for health and family tourism
Founded in 1382 as a fortress town Herceg Novi has been ruled over the centuries by the Ottoman Empire, Spain and Venice, as well as more recently by Russia, France and Austria. The result is a divergent blend of architectural styles including everything from a neo-classical clock tower in the old town erected by the Austrians in the 1900's to the Kanli Kula (Blood tower) a 15th-century amphitheatre built by the Turks, now used as a summer stage.
The town is easily explorable on foot, though due to being built on steep slopes be prepared for a few steep paths and steps along the way. The Old Town is well worth a visit containing several intriguing places of interest.
Now the spiritual part - Monastery Savina. This Monastery was founded by Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca, the Duke of Saint Sava. The Monastery has a large number of relics from the time of Nemanjic Dynasty. On Saint George's Day (Djurdjevdan) in 2005, famous director Emir Kusturica was baptised in this monastery.
The region around Savina Monastery is also known for the wine industry. Greaps in this place are amazing for vineyards and good wines are made there every year.
The local inhabitants are aware that absolutely breathtaking views of Herceg Novi can be afforded from the viewpoint of Mount Orjen. As well as a stunning way to see the whole of Montenegro, the mountain is a site of many herbal remedies and beneficial plants and mushrooms, making it a highly spiritual location that is walked by healers and holistic therapists to gather their wares.
Private medical institution Meljine Hospital is located on the coast, 3 km from the centre of Herceg Novi in a beautiful park of 50.000 square meters with 19 facilities of about 20.000 square meters. It has 92 beds in the hospital part and 150 in the area of rehabilitation.
This all means that Herceg Novi is really popular in terms of health tourism and when we say popular that does not mean only during summer. A lot of Scandinavians and other western Europe tourists visit Herceg Novi just for this kind of health tours during the winter, spring and autumn too.
Another popular beach is Žanjic, on the Lustica Penisula, it is surrounded by old olive trees and has a splendid beach with seafood restaurants nearby making it a favourite excursion spot for tourists and locals alike, particularly during the main summer months.
Three other highlights well worth a visit nearby are the Blue Cave, the small village of Rose and Mirišta, a small cove on the Lustica Penisula.
The Blue Cave is one of the most attractive caves situated on the Lustica peninsula around 5-7 nautical miles from Herceg Novi. It has two holes, 9 metres high and 4 metres deep. It gets its name from the deep blue colour created by the suns reflection on the sea's surface inside the cave. Small to medium sized craft are able to enter the cave.
The village of Rose which used to be an old Greek settlement 'Porto Rose' is a Mediterranean style village with traditional old houses, seafood restaurants and surrounded by cypress, pine and olive trees with a pretty sandy beach. Finally, Mirišta - is a small cove situated between the Zanjic and the foreland at Arza. It is well known for the Roman fortress on Mirišta cove which the Romans built as an entrance to the Boka Bay.
- Visit the Blue Cave by boat situated on the Lustica Penisula, 6 nautical miles from Herceg Novi
- Visit the nearby island of Mamula 3.4 nautical miles from Herceg Novi
- Spend a day visiting the many fortresses nearby
- Visit the City Park - situated in the centre of town with over 80 plant varieties.
- Explore the city museum founded in 1949 by Mirka Komnenovic
- Luxuriate in the healing sea mud and mineral water springs in neighbouring Igalo