Description of the attraction
The Church of St. Ivan (John) is the oldest and most famous landmark belonging to the Catholic Church. The church was built in the 15th century on the site of another, even more ancient church, the foundation of which dates back to the 7th century. All fragments of the ancient masonry, as well as the foundation, preserved from the old church, are now kept in the city museum. Since 1867, a bell tower was added to the church ensemble.
Today, the exterior of the Church of St. Ivan is a laconic three-aisled basilica with a noticeable Gothic influence. The austere façade contrasts with the lavish decoration inside the church itself.
The church contains icons and paintings by masters of the period of the 15th-17th centuries, including the icon of the Mother of God with the Child - the Mother of God of Budva. Presumably this famous icon belongs to the hand of St. Luke. Also, in the Church of St. Ivan there are icons of Saints Paul and Peter, made by Byzantine artists. In addition, the church houses icons from the Greek and other schools.
The church is famous for its excellent library, which carefully preserves many rare volumes, archival documents and ancient incunabula. The rarest examples can be seen in a small exhibition at the church.
Tourists can climb to the top of the church bell tower to see the old Budva surrounding the church and stretching for several kilometers around.
