Church of the Holy Trinity
Crkva Svete Trojice
Small church by the citadel walls with a distinctive façade.
The church is marked by a dome and a rose window on the façade. The square in front lies on the main Old Town route.
How to Get There
On foot from Budva center ~15-22 min.
From TIV airport (Tivat) by taxi/transfer ~26 min.
From TGD airport (Podgorica) by taxi/transfer ~52 min.
Description
What this place is
The Church of the Holy Trinity in Budva is the principal Orthodox church of the Old Town, built at the turn of the 19th century on the central square. Its striped masonry of white and red stone, crowned by a dome and a western belfry, makes one of Budva’s signature silhouettes.
Key features
- Erected 1798–1804 with Austrian permission and under Metropolitan Petar I of Cetinje – the long-sought Orthodox temple for Budva’s faithful.
- “Serbo-Byzantine” architectural language: alternating white/red ashlar bands, a large dome and a west-end bell tower.
- The belfry holds three bells; red roof tiles accentuate the striped façades.
- The iconostasis and wall painting were executed by Greek icon painter Naum Zetiri (1833) – a tall Baroque screen with major icons.
- Survived the 1979 earthquake: façades were damaged but most interior painting remained; the church was restored promptly.
What to see
- The interior painting cycle and the Baroque iconostasis by Naum Zetiri (1833).
- The striped façades in white/red stone, the dome and the three-bell belfry.
- The square in front with the grave of Stefan Mitrov Ljubiša, Budva-born writer and statesman.
History
After Venice withdrew and following years of petitions, permission to build was granted in 1797–1798; construction lasted until 1804 under Petar I of Cetinje. The design echoed the Dormition church of Podostrog Monastery: white and red stone bands, a west belfry.
In 1833 Greek painter Naum Zetiri created the iconostasis and murals; later, a mosaic of the “Holy Trinity” after Rublev was set over the entrance. The 1979 quake damaged the envelope, but most painting survived; restoration returned the church to service as the Old Town’s main Orthodox sanctuary.
Practical information
Location: Budva Old Town, central church square, near the Citadel and the churches of St John and the Virgin.
How to get there: on foot through the Old Town; nearest parking by the marina and outside the gates.
Access: free entry; services may limit visiting; modest dress and quiet required.
Visiting hours: year-round, daytime.
Visit duration: 15–30 minutes.
Best time: morning or golden hour – softer light and fewer tour groups.
Notes: no flash photography; no beachwear; respect Ljubiša’s tomb at the entrance.
