Located in the heart of Kotor’s Old Town, on the Square of the Bokelian Navy, Grgurina Palace is one of the most valuable and best-preserved examples of Baroque architecture in the city. Unlike many other palaces in Kotor, which evolved through gradual additions over centuries, this palace was built almost entirely as a unified structure in the mature Baroque style at the end of the 17th or the beginning of the 18th century, following the devastating earthquake of 1667.
The palace belonged to the noble Grgurina (Gregorina) family, who moved to Kotor from Koper in the 17th century and became part of the local patriciate. It was commissioned by Count Marko Grgurina, a prominent merchant and sea captain, who also played an important role in bringing the Italian sculptor Francesco Penso Cabianca to Kotor.
Over time, the palace passed through generations of the family. A notable figure was Marko Anton Grgurina, a canon and later bishop, who played a role in important political negotiations in the early 19th century. In his will from 1814, he left the palace to the Municipality of Kotor for charitable purposes.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the palace served various public functions, including the seat of municipal authorities and military administration. In 1938, part of the building became home to the Bokelian Navy Museum. After World War II, the palace was fully restored, and in 1952 it became the Maritime Museum of Montenegro, which remains there today.
Architecturally, the palace reflects harmony and grandeur. It consists of a ground floor and two upper levels. The main façade is distinguished by its symmetry and two large central balconies with stone balustrades. The central axis is emphasized by a composition of openings resembling a trifora.
The structure was built using high-quality stone from the island of Vrnik, known locally as “Korčula stone.” Decorative elements and façade details showcase refined Baroque craftsmanship.
On the northern side, a spacious terrace features a rare Baroque garden, one of the few preserved in Kotor. The terrace façade includes a coat of arms of the city of Koper held by two angels. A finely crafted marble basin, attributed to Cabianca, is also located here.
The interior follows a clear and elegant layout centered around a large main hall, with symmetrically arranged side rooms. Original elements such as wooden ceilings, diagonally laid stone floors in white and red tones, and richly decorated interior portals have been preserved. Some of these portals bear the family coat of arms featuring a bird on a branch.
One room still retains an original parquet floor made of inlaid wood, reflecting the refined lifestyle of the palace’s former residents.
Today, Grgurina Palace is not only an architectural masterpiece but also an important cultural institution, housing the Maritime Museum of Montenegro and preserving the rich seafaring heritage of the Bay of Kotor.