Savina Monastery

The Savina Monastery complex stands on a wooded hillside above Herceg Novi, roughly two kilometres east of the Old Town. Three Orthodox churches share a walled…The Savina Monastery complex stands on a wooded hillside above Herceg Novi, roughly two kilometres east of the Old Town. Three Orthodox churches share a walled courtyard under a canopy of cypress trees. The oldest building, the Little Church of the Dormition, dates to the 11th century and retains original elements despite later renovations. The Great Church, also dedicated to the Dormition, was completed in 1799 by master builders from the Bay of Kotor. A third, smaller chapel was added in the early 20th century. The Great Church holds a museum of the monastery's manuscript collection, liturgical objects, icons and ceremonial vestments accumulated over the monastery's long history. Items on display include handwritten gospels, an 18th-century silver chalice commissioned by Russian Tsar Peter the Great, and an illuminated codex that survived Ottoman raids.

The museum operates during daylight hours with no fixed admission fee. Donations are welcomed. Visitors are welcome outside service times, and a modest dress code applies inside the churches: covered shoulders, knees and head for women (scarves are available at the entrance), trousers rather than shorts for men. The monastery remains an active religious community with resident monks; visitors should keep to the visitor paths and respect posted notices. Access from the Old Town is a 25 to 30 minute walk along the coastal path east, then uphill through the Savina neighbourhood. Limited parking is available at the monastery gate. The main courtyard is partially wheelchair accessible via a paved path; the Little Church and museum involve stone steps.