Owing to its location at the top of the hill, the so-called Spanish (or Španjola) Fortress is the least visited of the three main fortresses in Herceg Novi, but definitely worth making the effort to reach, as it offers the most eye-catching panoramic views and an intriguing history over its five centuries.

Most first time visitors to the area (ourselves included) will be surprised to learn that the Spanish were one of the many empires that came to rule over Herceg Novi. However, their occupation was also the shortest lived, capturing the settlement from the Turks in a surprise attack in 1538, only to lose it back to the Ottomans some nine months later. During that time they laid the foundations for the fortress that bears their name to this day, although it was only finished by the Turks a decade later.

Nowadays, the fortress is partially in ruins and is slowly being reclaimed by nature, offering unique photo opportunities and lots of hidden corners to explore. Then of course there are those glorious views. While it's best to visit with a guided tour, if you come on your own look for the signposted road opposite Kanli Kula on the Adriatic Highway, it's about 10-minute walk to reach the top.