Kamenarović Palace

Kamenarović Palace is situated within a group of houses that belonged to the family clan Kamenarović, at the site called “Kamenari”, in the central part of Dobrota. It is supposed that the palace and some other houses of the ensemble were built in the second half of the 17th century. The Kamenarovićs are one of the most famous seafaring families of Dobrota. Between the 18th and 20th century the family had 109 seamen, including 69 captains. The Kamenarovićs are the descendents of the famous family Krasojević from Herzegovina, which was mentioned as early as 1480. In 1560, they changed the surname into Kamenarović. Pavo Đurov Kamenarović (1696-1787), the founder of St. Mathew’s church, was the first distinguished member of the family. Captain Vido Božov Kamenarović (1827-1911), was one of the founders and the first president of the “Slavic Reading Room” opened in Dobrota. After he moved to Venice, he became president (guardian) of the Confraternity of Boka Seamen, whose patrons are Saints George and Tryphon. The complex of houses they possessed shows the importance and influence of the family. According to the 1808 land register, they had nine houses, mostly situated at the Kamenari site.

Besides the palace, the Kamenarović complex consists of a villa situated to the north and one probably older house with a small belvedere to the south. Adjoining the complex is the church of St. John, founded by the Kamenarović’s. The church was begun at the end of the 18th century with the aim to replace an older and smaller church of St. John that had been built in the hill. Because of the unfavourable economic situation after the fall of the Venetian Republic, the church remained unfinished. In front of the complex is a large ”ponta” and ”mandrać” (a quay and an enclosure for boats), and behind are the terraced gardens.

Kamenarović Palace is a four-storey structure with a belvedere subsequently added. On the belvedere there is a centrally set balcony, windows with Baroque frames and the coat-of-arms of the Kamenarović family.

The villa situated within the complex has a specific architectural concept which consists of two units and two symmetric vaulted passages on the ground level. The main façade is decorated with two late Renaissance balustraded balconies. Above the windows on the villa stand two consoles with holes in them, the so-called “auricolae” (Latin ears). Before the appearance of wooden shutters, the consoles were used to pass a curtain pole through, with curtains attached to provide shade.

There are two preserved coats-of-arms of the Kamenarović family. One is above a portal leading to the palace courtyard and the second is on the villa’s front, above the vaulted passage. On the south side of the palace stands a house which has preserved a coat-of arms painted on the ceiling of its salon. This is the only coat-of-arms of this kind preserved in Boka Kotorska.