Castle of San Giovanni, Kotor

Castle of San Giovanni, Kotor (must see)

The mountain behind the city of Kotor is Saint Johns mountain. Atop the mountain is the San Giovanni Castle, 280 meters above the bay. The hike to the top is scenic but a bit of a workout. Proper footwear is a must! There are many stairs and ladders.

The fortifications that protect the old town of Kotor use Saint Johns mountain to their advantage. The terrain is rugged and easily protected. The city is situated on a triangular peninsula, protected on two sides by fortified city walls and by the mountain on the other.

Old walls snake their way up the mountain to the fortress. You can access the trails either through the old town where you can pay the entrance fee. If you want to hike the mountain, you can access the trails on the north side of town.

The views from the fortress are stunning, and there is no better place to take in the historic town.

The mountain top was fortified in Illyrian times. Emperor Justinian I reconstructed the fort in the sixth century. The ramparts, towers, gates, bastions, citadels, and forts that make up the fortification system around the old city are Venetian in origin, erected in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The fortified city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Kotor. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Castle of San Giovanni on Map

Sight Name: Castle of San Giovanni
Sight Location: Kotor, Montenegro (See walking tours in Kotor)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Kotor, Montenegro

Create Your Own Walk in Kotor

Create Your Own Walk in Kotor

Creating your own self-guided walk in Kotor is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Kotor Old City Walking Tour

Kotor Old City Walking Tour

Nestled on the shores of the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of the surrounding mountains, the beautiful fortified city of old town Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While it receives less attention than many other settlements from the same period, Kotor is visited by more tourists every year.

The port here has been in use since Ancient Roman times, but most of the fortifications were built...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Kotor's Historical Churches Walking Tour

Kotor's Historical Churches Walking Tour

Kotor, a picturesque coastal town in Montenegro, albeit small, nonetheless, boasts a surprising number of historical churches that beautifully reflect its centuries-old heritage. Many of these temples are richly decorated with frescoes, some dating as far back as the 1300s.

At the heart of the town lies Saint Tryphon Square dominated by the eponymous cathedral, an iconic landmark from the 12th...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Kotor Palaces Walking Tour

Kotor Palaces Walking Tour

This magnificent historic city is home to a number of wonderful palaces. Many of these beautifully ornamented mansions belonged to wealthy and influential families. Visitors can trace the history of each building by looking at the coats of arms of noble families and the paintings on the walls. Take this self-guided tour to see these beautiful historical palaces in Kotor.

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles