“At the birth of our planet, the most beautiful encounter between the land and the sea must have happened at the coast of Montenegro.” - Lord Byron

In Secret Montenegro, Ivana Maksimovic guides the reader through the country of her childhood summers, offering the insights of an insider and revealing its many treasures, from the soft green hills, quiet stone villages, and pristine beaches of the Lustica Peninsula to the spectacular Bay of Kotor, with its inky sea and dark, fairytale mountains. Along the way, we encounter medieval churches and hidden interiors, steeped in tradition and myth, and enjoy a touch of luxury in the coastal resort of Lustica Bay, the author’s home. Above all, Secret Montenegro is a love letter to the country’s landscape, architecture, design, delightful cuisine, and especially its people.

The tiny nation of Montenegro is an often-unsung gem of the Adriatic coast. Writers, poets, intrepid travelers, and adventurers have long been seduced by its mountains and monasteries, its secret beaches and medieval fortresses. This ancient country has been shaped by its seafaring past and touched by socialism, yet as an independent nation it remains rooted in the tenets of traditional Montenegrin life—agriculture, olive oil production, and fishing—which happily coexist with a more recent advent of cosmopolitan tourists.

Illustrated with stunning images, including the author’s own photographs and many specially taken by photographer Boz Gagovski, Secret Montenegro captures a deeply personal journey through a special and unique country, whose tranquil charm and unspoiled natural beauty are celebrated in its pages.