Drago Palace – A Layered Story of Nobility and Architecture in Kotor
Located in the northeastern corner of St. Tryphon Square, near Katedrala Svetog Tripuna, Drago Palace is one of the most important examples of noble residential architecture in Kotor’s Old Town. It belonged to the prominent Drago family, which played a significant role in the cultural, artistic, political, and economic life of the city from the 13th to the 18th century.
Historical records from the First Book of Kotor Notaries (1326–1337) mention Jelena Drago, daughter of the merchant Medoš Tomin Drago. In her will, she donated a large family house (domus maior) near the cathedral to Bishop Raymond, while another house on the square (domus de platea) was left to the Franciscan friars. This second property is believed to be the present-day Drago Palace.
The palace consists of two parts: the older northern wing, built in the 14th and 15th centuries in the mature Gothic style, and the younger southern wing facing the square, later remodeled in the Renaissance-Baroque style. This architectural layering reflects the historical development of Kotor and the evolution of artistic influences over time.
The building is constructed of finely cut stone blocks with narrow joints, and its floors are divided by Gothic cornices. The façade features monofora and trifora windows with pointed arches. On the first floor of the northern wing, near the main entrance accessed via an external staircase with ochre and red stone slabs, there are two monofora windows bearing the coat of arms of the Drago family – a dragon, derived from the Latin draco.
On the second floor, trifora and additional monofora dominate, while a richly decorated bifora combining Gothic and Renaissance elements stands out on the façade facing the square. Above the street passage, a Renaissance-style rectangular window is adorned with the family coat of arms, supported by stone consoles shaped like lion heads, and topped by a tympanum with an angel and Christ’s monogram.
A particularly notable feature is the vaulted passage beneath the palace, built of tufa stone with three cross vaults, resting on richly decorated capitals, some featuring dragon motifs. The southern wing also includes a stone balcony with a balustrade and decorative lunette elements.
After the extinction of the Drago family in the early 19th century, the palace became municipal property and was used for public purposes. It later served as a kindergarten and residential building. Following the devastating earthquake in 1979, it was carefully restored and now houses the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments.
The interior features a large Gothic hall with a reconstructed wooden ceiling, while traces of wall paintings survive only in one room above the passage.
Today, Drago Palace stands as a remarkable cultural monument and an essential stop for visitors exploring the rich heritage of Kotor.