WELCOME TO BUDVA, WELCOME TO THE COAST OF PEARLY SAND BEACHES

There is beauty one can never have enough of. It is the same, but yet ever different: each time looks very familiar, and yet appearing mystical and elusive. It relaxes, rests, lures and seduces you. It is the kind of beauty one constantly seeks and keeps returning to.

Such is Budva, the capital of the Montenegrin tourist industry, situated on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. As the legend has it, it was founded some 2500 years ago by Cadmo (or Cadmus), son of the Phoenician King Agenor, together with his beautiful wife Harmonia (daughter of Ares and Aphrodite): the hearts of both throbbed before the beauty of the Budva Riviera!

Great civilisations have been present in these parts leaving deep traces behind. Therefore Budva came to be a city of rich cultural heritage, an eventful history and striking beauties.

The heart of Budva is its Old Town – a unique monument of culture and history comprising ancient gates dated to the 6th century B.C., pylons, antique necropolises, Roman capitals, early-Christian basilicas (late 5th c. A.D.), the Church of Santa Maria in Punta (840 A.D.), St. Sava’s Church (12th c.), the remains of Santa Maria de Castello (14th c.) or “Our Lady Of Budva” – the patron of the city. Here one also finds eight monasteries – including Podlastva (14th c.), Praskvica (15th c.), Podostrog (17th c.). Podmaine (18th c.) – as well as other historic sights.

The present-day Budva, with the population of around 20,000 and the territory of 122 sq. kilometres, is a worldknown tourist resort offering to visitors its 35 beaches – “the pearls of nature” – in the length of 25 km., eighty hotels – including those of de lux category, such as Sveti Stefan, Splendid, HIT Maestral, Avala – with the capacity of over 13,000 beds, and additional 60,000 beds in holiday centres, camps and private houses. The daily number of visitors in the high season and the annual overnights are around 100,000.

It is also the city of cultural events, of entertainment and supreme enjoyment: the annual Theatre City Festival, Song of the Mediterranean Festival, Days of Horse Mackerel Fishermen’s Festivities; the grand concerts organised here included those of Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Julio Iglesias, Lenny Kravitz, Goran Bregovic… In 2009, the city expects to host Tina Turner, Depeche Mode, Robbie Williams… Of particular interest one may find the power boat race taking place just of shore. And numerous discos, bars and restaurants, as well as its galleries and the museum, additionally make the city worth visiting.

To put it simply: Budva is an elite destination, a symbol of a modern Montenegro – the youngest member of the United Nations Organisation. It is the promoter of the world events in Montenegro, that made our country a world’s brand.

The BUDVA RIVIERA – a coast of dreams, of pearly beaches, the shore of returning to the nature – expects you to visit it and experience its charms!