AREA OF PROTECTION OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
The next series of questions were aimed at raising awareness of the protection of cultural landscape in settlement of Prcanj which is very endangered by non-planned and commercial development that threaten to invade cultural landscape of the entire UNESCO Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor . In answer to the following question : “ Do you believe it ’ s urgent to introduce in Prcanj ’ s area ’ s planning map a special zone aimed at preserving the cultural landscape and in which specific areas ?” 75.4 % of the respondents clearly agreed that it should be introduced in all of the following zones .
THE UPPER MEDIEVAL PATH OF PRCANJ FROM GLAVATI TO SPILLE WITH OLD CHURCHES ON THE HILL AND RUINS OF MEDIEVAL HOUSES , AUTHENTIC FARM ESTATES AND TERRACED GARDENS PLANTED WITH OLIVES AS WELL AS WOODED AREAS BETWEEN THEM
The area of the medieval path represents one of the few coastal areas in the interior of the Bay of Kotor , where the cultural landscape has not been attacked yet by commercial construction and where there is continuity from the sea Glavati ) to the top of the mountain ( Spille River Canyon ). The pathway is a proof of Prcanj ’ s historical development , of the time when the settlement was located on the upper levels of the Vrmac hill , resting on agriculture . A special way of treating the soil , preserving fertile humus layers , was achieved by the dry-stone wall techniques on terraced levels along Vrmac slopes . Moving from the sea to the hill , ancient varieties of Mediterranean fruit , such as citrus , grapes , olives , figs , are still present . These authentic sloped terraces of autochthonous agricultural varieties are still preserved below the area of the upper medieval path connecting the Church of St . Anna with the church of St . Peter on the way to the Old Parish church toward Spilla river . There are also centuries old oaks and pine forests in the zones between the agricultural estates , which are also planted as old villagers can tell . On the top , this zone of settlement also shows several foundations of ancient family homes that date back to the Middle Ages , and in addition to the medieval paths , numerous ruins of churches and dry stonewalls are the material evidence of the medieval village of Prcanj which was located on the hill . The most beautiful monastic complex on the upper medieval path of Prcanj is the Old Parish Church . Today , the major part of the church is in ruins because it suffered tremendous devastation during the earthquake which occured in 1979 . The church ensemble consists of an old cemetery , a monumental stone wall towards the sea which was laid down as a foundation of the whole complex , a unique octagonal dome , and the church building together with the residence of the parish palace , which is now completely in ruins . This church was mentioned for the first time in the documents dated 1399 as Ecclesia Sctae Mariae de Parzana . It was reconstructed in 1672 and after that , an octagonal chapel with a dome was built in 1740 . In the night of December 5 1703 , a miraculous vision occurred in this church described by the process in the records of Marin Drago , a Kotor bishop , ‘ vol . 24 ’. In 1806 , Papa Pio VII issued the Breve , by which the Old Parish Church in a question of absolution was joined and levelled as being of the same importance as the church of St . Maria Maggiore in Rome . After that , Pope Pius X transferred this important privilege to the New Parish Church of Prcanj . In the past , as recorded at the holy feast of the Birth of Mary in the 19th century , this church was visited by up to 6,000 people in a day . For a long time , the residents were buried in the church cemetery , and most of them were ship captains with great achievements during their service at the sea , ship-owners and priests . The church ensemble was guarded by armed men during the periods of conquests . After the New Parish Church was built in 1909 , all the precious things , relics , furniture and frescoes were moved from the Old Parish Church to the New Parish Church and consequently , the upper church in the hill had lost its religious significance .
an integral approach towards protection of cultural landscape in Prcanj , Montenegro
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