Main Gate (Sea Gate), Kotor

The main entrance to the fortified city of Kotor is the Sea Gate. The city's walls extend around the town on three sides like a triangle. To the north, walls face the river Skurda. On the east, the mountain of Saint John (San Giovanni) protects the city. Finally, to the southwest, the town faces the Bay of Kotor.

Along this southwest wall, you will find the Main Gate. Logically, it is in this area that most visitors arrive in old town Kotor. The port is historically the most common entry point to the town. Each wall has a gate--the Gurdic Gate (or South Gate) is on the south wall, and the River Gate (or North Gate) is on the north side.

The gate was made in 1555 and is one of the newest additions to the Venetian-era city fortifications. The gate opens directly into Arms Square, the main square of the old town. Just outside the gate, you'll find a tourist information desk.

Above the gate is a post-World War II-era inscription that reads, "What belongs to others we don't want, ours we don't give." The Axis powers occupied Kotor during WWII. The date displayed is the day the city was liberated from the Nazis.

Also present are sculptures of the winged lion of Saint Mark and a 15th-century sculpture of Madonna and Child with Saint Tryphon and Saint Bernard. The winged lion is the symbol of Venice and is featured prominently on many structures from the time.

Interestingly, the gate's enormous and heavy stone blocks are so massive that the gate has sunk over 70 centimeters since the time it was built!