Ethno collection Radimir - a step back into the history of Kotor Bay

Even though small, Montenegro can often surprise even the most knowledgeable people who are greatly interested in its history and culture, and who believe that they have already met it well. I was surprised as well when thinking that I know Kotor and the settlement Dobrota excellent, I got attracted by the beautiful illumination and glittering from the inside of the small St. Michael's Church, located in Dobrota, along a narrow street with a beautiful promenade just right by the sea. Inside the church, the Ethno collection Radimir, formed by one of the locals - Zoran Radimir, is an impressive selection of the items used on this locality centuries ago. When you enter inside, it’s like a step back into the history of Kotor Bay. The collection is separated into several thematic sections: kitchenware, arms and tools, musical instruments, national costumes, the lace of Dobrota, jewellery, etc.

Ethno collection Radimir - St Michael Church, Dobrota

Dobrota, 2, Dobrota, Montenegro

Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor

Kotor, Monténégro

Radimir family and their heritage

As for the things showed here, one can see the most representative items of each section, as the church is very small and not everything can fit in this place. However, this collection is diverse and rich as well as unique because that unfortunately, not many museums in Boka Bay have similar presentations. The Radimir family preserved all of the ethnological material, and after the earthquake in 1979 formed this rare ethnographic collection.

All of the items exposed here can tell us a lot about the way of living along the coast - from the practical objects like various old ceramic pottery, wood and metal dishes, weapons, tools for woodworking to the beautiful handmade lace that Dobrota was once widely known for, traditional costumes and antique jewellery. Besides all of this, there are also some parts of the civilian clothing, handcrafts of textiles, parasols and walking sticks, marine navigation instruments, fishing equipment, as well as many documents and archival materials.

Vintage jewellery and handwritten poems

As for me, a lot of items draw my attention but what I liked the most was the vintage-look jewellery and the lace items characteristic for this area, as well as old the notebooks and handwritten poems. Not to forget the musical instruments which are very well preserved, and one can only wonder how they sound now after all these years.

This ethno collection Radimir was, for the first time, exhibited in the Maritime Museum of Montenegro in Kotor, in 2008. Since then, the collection is occasionally presented to the foreign and domestic public. During the summer, it has its place in a small St Michael’s Church, which, with its romantic lights and a unique scent, attracts the passengers who are entering inside and actually making a step back into the history of Kotor Bay. The church is open in the evenings, and the entrance is free of charge.