Trg od Oruzja (Arms Square), Kotor (must see)

As you pass through the Sea Gate, you’ll find yourself in Arms Square, the largest and most open space within Kotor’s walled city. This square has long served as the city’s civic and military center and today remains busy with cafes, shops, banks, and public buildings arranged around its edges.

Facing back toward the Sea Gate, look slightly to your left to locate the Clock Tower, built in 1602. Its noticeable tilt is the result of earthquake damage rather than age alone, and its form blends Baroque features with older construction traditions. Nearby, close to the base of the tower, stands the medieval pillar of justice, once used for public punishments and official proclamations.

Now go toward the western side of the square. Here you’ll see the Prince’s Palace, historically the seat of Venetian administration and now incorporated into Hotel Cattaro. Adjacent to it is the former Arsenal, where weapons were produced and stored during Venetian rule. This area was the operational heart of Kotor’s defenses, and soldiers once gathered here to collect arms and prepare for battle.

As you look toward the western side of the square, on your right you’ll come to the building that houses the Napoleon Theatre. . Originally constructed in 1762 as a military warehouse for supplies and food, it was converted into a theater during the French administration in the early 19th century, becoming one of the earliest theaters in the Balkans.

From this square, the events of 1539 still resonate. It was here that defenders organized their resistance when Kotor withstood a siege by the Ottoman admiral Hajrudin Barbarossa, holding out for more than a week until his fleet withdrew.