Discover Bjelila: Fishing Village Traditions and Island Views

Bjelila is known as a fishing village; old wooden boats, fishing nets, oars, anchors, hooks, and traditional Boka fishing gear give this character a tangible presence. A local story links the freshwater spring of Frutak with the traditional washing of clothes; this tradition is also associated with the origin of the name Bjelila. From Bjelila, you can see the Islands of Flowers, Sveti Marko, and Gospa od Milosti. Fishing traditions, the story behind the name, and island views thus offer three distinct points of interest when choosing a destination.

Nature in the wider destination of Tivat

In the wider destination of Tivat, the city park and coastal wetland offer two distinct nature experiences. Tivat City Park has been a nature reserve since 1968 and was declared a natural monument in 2015. Visitors can stroll in the shade of mature, partly exotic trees; some are up to 130 years old and 25 metres tall.

Solila is a coastal wetland of about 150 hectares, opposite Tivat city centre in the Bay of Krtole. Since 2013, it has been listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention and designated an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). Solila is also a candidate for Emerald Area status under the Bern Convention.

Architecture and museum history in Tivat

The historic Buća Luković summer house dates from the 14th century and is considered the most monumental and best-preserved historic summer house of its kind in Tivat. The fortified 15-metre-high tower of Buća Luković dates from 1548 and is now used as an art gallery. The “Ethnographic Heritage of Tivat” collection presents exhibitions on art, ethnology, archaeology, and documentary subjects in the museum and gallery spaces of the medieval Buća complex.

In Porto Montenegro, the Maritime Heritage Collection presents Tivat’s maritime traditions and the Adriatic’s nautical past. The submarine museum there includes the P-821 Hero submarine, regarded as a former flagship of the Yugoslav Navy. The “Jadran” is also closely associated with Tivat and is considered a symbol of the city and its maritime tradition.

Activities and summer events in Tivat

Kayaking is offered as a leisure activity on the calm waters of the Bay of Tivat. Tivat’s “Neptun-Mimoza” diving club offers diving courses, organised dives, and rentals of complete diving equipment; the club was founded in 1993.

The PURGATORY Festival takes place in Tivat in summer, from mid-June to the end of August; most performances are staged at the summer theatre in the Buća summer house. Dates and venues may change in future editions, so check the details for the relevant edition. The Tivat Bowling Olympics is a traditional summer event, usually held in July or August. It is played according to old folk rules, and participants from other Montenegrin cities and abroad also take part. The timeframes differ: the festival runs over a longer part of the summer, while the bowling event is usually described as taking place in July or August.

Discover more destinations: Krašići, Mrčevac, Tivat, Donja Lastva, Kavač, Gošići, Lepetane, Radovici.

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