St. Nicholas Island Ranked Among the Top 9 Most Beautiful Beaches in Europe

Forbes magazine compiled a ranking of the best tourist destinations of the Old World. The list also features beaches in England, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Spain. St. Nicholas Island or Sveti Nikola is located just a kilometer from Budva. The island got its name from the church that Crusaders built in the 11th century during their campaign against Byzantium. Forty years ago, the church was destroyed by a powerful earthquake, but it was later restored. The island also has a second name — Školj. Most likely, it comes from the Italian word for “wall.” Interestingly, the island is connected to the town by a small sandbar, and at low tide it is easy to reach on foot. This is linked to an ancient legend. Saint Sava could not board the ship sailing to Mount Athos because of a strong storm. Then he asked for several large stones to be placed in the water, and he walked across them to the galley. In addition to the church, Sveti Nikola has several beaches, a pier, and a restaurant. The latter gave the area another name, but a popular one — Hawaii. Before the island was developed for vacationers, it was a reserve with a huge number of relict plants and unique animals. However, this area is now closed to visitors.