Description of the attraction
The beauty of old Kotor is dominated by the restrained splendor of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon. Saint Tryphon is a Christian martyr who suffered for his faith during the reign of the emperor Decius Trajan. Kotor residents consider Saint Tryphon their patron, tk. in Kotor his holy relics are kept, brought by a Venetian merchant from Constantinople and redeemed by a citizen of Kotor.
The construction of the cathedral began in 1124 on the site of a destroyed church; it was consecrated in the name of St. Tryphon in 1166. The cathedral was originally built in the Romanesque style with elements of Byzantine architecture, but not much remains of the original. The devastating earthquakes in 1667 and 1979 did not bypass the Cathedral of St. Tryphon. The destruction was so great that the building had to be rebuilt almost from scratch. During the restoration, the architecture of the cathedral changed according to the time, and some elements made in the Baroque style were added to the purely Romanesque style. For example, both bell towers were rebuilt and acquired quite pronounced features characteristic of the Baroque style. A wide arch connects the bell towers, forming a portico above the central entrance. Above the arch is a beautiful and rather large rosette window. In general, the Cathedral of St. Tryphon is one of the most beautiful and significant monuments of Romanesque architecture in Montenegro.
The interior design and content of the cathedral, in which there is also a mixture of styles, is no less interesting and valuable than the building itself. The carved canopy over the tabernacle is unique, a real masterpiece of the Gothic style, consisting of a three-tier structure on four marble columns, on each tier there are carved images of scenes from the life of St. Tryphon.
The building of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon is under the protection of UNESCO.
