- Location: Tivat municipality, Montenegro
- Area: 34 hectares
Near the coast of Montenegro , right in the middle of the Tivat Bay, is the green island of St. Mark, striking with its pristine beauty. It is covered with olive groves, dense subtropical vegetation, flowers and cypresses. Come here to enjoy exclusive rest and incredible scenery.
St Mark's Island History
According to local legends, in the 7th century this area became a refuge for Greek soldiers, tired of long and exhausting battles. Originally it was called the island of St. Gabriel. When the country was under the rule of the Venetian rule, the camps of Greek army units were located here. It is because of them that the island was named Stradioti, that is, "soldier".
In 1962, the island was given the name of St. Mark, who is especially revered by the Christians of the Mediterranean. Beautiful landscapes, diverse nature and interesting history became the reasons for the fact that the island became one of the protected objects of the UNESCO organization.
Geography and climate of St. Mark's Island
In the Tivat Bay there are several islands of different size and comfort. St. Mark's Island is the largest and most beautiful island of Montenegro and the entire Adriatic Sea. It is surrounded by a beach strip, the total length of which is 4 km. But not only this attracts tourists. Thanks to the average annual air temperature of + 30 ° C, you can swim here for 6 months a year. This is how long the swimming season lasts.
Tourist potential of the island
Initially, it was bought by a French company, which planned to create on it all the conditions for an exclusive holiday . There were built 500 Tahitian huts without running water and electricity. Such ascetic conditions attracted many tourists. But as soon as war broke out in Yugoslavia, St. Mark's Island was again abandoned.
Recently, the rights to build and improve the island were purchased by the international corporation MetropolGroup, which plans to build an integrated spa resort on it. According to the business plan, soon on the island of St. Mark will be erected:
- more than 70 luxurious cottages;
- 100 tourist bungalows;
- modern hotel;
- first-class beaches;
- berth for private yachts;
- SPA-center;
- a network of cafes and restaurants;
- commercial network.
At the same time, only 14% of the territory will go under construction. One of the priorities of the company is the preservation of the unique nature of St. Mark's Island. Electricity will be supplied here, on which all vehicles, primarily golf carts, will operate. According to the plan of MetropolGroup, construction work and the further operation of the tourist zone will be carried out through environmentally friendly technologies.
All objects on the island of Stradioti will be made in accordance with the Venetian architectural style. Between them will be laid walkways that will connect residential areas with restaurants, piers and beaches . The construction of the spa resort on St. Mark's Island is attended by companies with a worldwide reputation that design and manage resorts around the world. Among them:
- Woods Bagot;
- Banyan Tree;
- Savills;
- EDSA.
While building and improvement of the island of St. Mark is going on, you can visit other tourist sites in Montenegro, located nearby. For example, monuments of the times of the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, as well as the island of St. Stephen .
How to get to St Mark's Island?
In order to visit this tourist attraction , you need to go to the south-west of the country. St. Mark's Island is located in Kotor Bay, 23 km from Budva and 47 km from the capital of Montenegro - Podgorica . From the capital, you can get there in 1.5 hours, following the routes M2.3, E65 or E80. With Budva it connects road number 2.
The easiest way to get to the island from the city of Tivat , next to which is the international airport . From Moscow to Tivat you can get in just 3 hours, from Paris - for 2 hours, from Rome or Budapest - for 1 hour. From the mainland to the island of Stradiitis the easiest way to swim by boat or boat.