Visit-Montenegro.com: Sophia Loren, Rockefeller, Gagarin, and Madonna ...

Confusion caused by the sudden arrival of the most popular Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in Becici Splendid ", when the front pages of all print and electronic shock news media in the background put the economic crisis, the cries for a long-awaited wage workers, in fact only showed where Montenegro and its tourism.

Although with all the tourist address came only praise that Mr. and Mrs. Smith, deceiving their hosts in Dubrovnik Having determined that yet, "instant " in Montenegro, reminded us, sank in the localism, that 'wild beauties " truly an elite destination. At the same time, the whole event has once again confirmed that Montenegro is still far from a position which is on the tourist map had reached its peak, before the two and a half decades, and even earlier. A long time ago, and seem to have forgotten many of our former trademark, city-hotel Sveti Stefan, almost every summer was visited by the biggest stars of show-business people from the world of politics and sports, but without any fanfare and euphoria, that these week led to heated Jolie and Pitt and before them, "Rolling Stones", Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Madonna or Pamela Andreson.

Located on the rocky peninsula that connects to the mainland Sand Cay, the former exclusive hotel, travel rarity that was recognized in the world, is considered a favorite tourist destination for domestic and world jet set. On Saint Stefan, coming for holidays, popular celebrities and statesmen from around the world. Among them the legendary La Pasionarija, numerous Soviet Marshals - Timoshenko, Grechko, Kiriljenko, Jakubovski. From the world famous writers have enjoyed the Holy One of Andre Malraux, Alberto Moravia and his then-friend, a famous actress Monica Vitti, led by Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin, the famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, film stars Sophia Loren and her husband, film director and producer Carlo Ponti, Gina Lorobriđida, Marina Vladi, Kirk Douglas, Sergei Bondarchuk, Sylvester Stallone, Jeremy Irons ... and chess players Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. The last decade and a half before closing, because of war conditions and sanctions, the Sveti Stefan was a haven for folk diva and fierce guys.

Of famous people at that time Montenegro was visited Deutsch super model Claudia Schiffer, who was a protective figure advertising campaign for Montenegro, and which, according to the story hotel staff, so enjoy your ham Njegus that wanted to stay. Among the VIP guests of the recent closure of St. Stephen, and since it started its reconstruction was the Eduardo Ponti, son of legendary Italian diva Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, who was on the recommendation of his parents came to this vacation. This is, of course, only part of the list of all those famous people who are worshiped to spend their vacation on the island of unusual dreams.

The famous Italian comedian Walter Kijari He is remembered as a regular visitor of a local casino. It is not known how many times in the same place tried themselves lucky Geraldine Chaplin, as well as the actress Maria Schell. On Sveti Stefan spent the night at the deposed Italian king Umberto, the grandson of King Nicholas.

Sveti Stefan did not bypass any Deutsch Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, the Italian president Sandro Pertini with Prime Giulia Andreoti, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and unparalleled ballerina Maya Pliseckaja. There is a resident and Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth of England, which was later induced Margaret's tales about the city-hotel, when she was on an official visit to our country, wished to visit him and herself. Saint arrived in campaigns and the famous parajlije Maknamara and Rockefeller, the presidents of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The best witness to the city-hotel really a fashionable summer resort, confirmed by long-time director Pero Radjenovic, who has just earned the Holy One, and retirement. Radjenovic, who was manager of the hotel since 1984. to 1991, said:

- The public knows for certain that they were, and there are many famous men of the period for which it is not known to have been - said Radjenovic, which to our question and who are the ones who do not know, once again confirmed the " old school Montenegrin hospitality "to the discretion of the law.

- E that you can not say, you must not speak - said Radjenovic and adds:

- It was a lot of famous people and it was normal. They all came. These are some loans that Montenegro nikda can not return. Then all the tourist workers from Portorož, and south, Croats, Slovenes, or from other parts of the state then brought celebrities to see Sveti Stefan - Story Radjenovic.

According to him all these celebrities were "normal people ", but there are those who would like to "iznaode ".

He remembered well spread and capricious director - Klaus Kinski.

- Came the "Rolls-Royce" of Dubrovnik, macadam road to St. Stephen, as furious, came out into the parking lot and threw the keys into the sea. He is very spoiled, but in the end everything went well-said Radjenovic.

Vuksan-Vuko Mitrovic doyen of superior cuisine, which is since 1973. 1991. chef at the Hotel Sveti Stefan "whose gastronomic specialties of the famous guests have enjoyed numerous statesmen, led by Josip Broz Tito, he believes that it is not clear that it is now rising about someone so much pomp.

-It is quite normal that Stallone, as well as any other guest rooms and vacation pay in Sveti Stefan, So there were a lot of famous politicians, statesmen, businessmen, all of this time was normal and no it is not attached great importance. They were our guests and each other, because St. Stephen was offered for the price of quality that is sought. If you pay for a villa of 1188 1000 dollars for the night, of course you'll have the best service, food and of course discretion. So it is no wonder that the St. Stephen received the highest award in the tourism industry of the world 'Golden apple ". We then city was full of such celebrities - said Mitrovic who claims that St. Stephen had that quality as a small hotel on the Mediterranean.

Stories and anecdotes about famous certainly the best known city hotel staff, including Blažo Nikic which is almost four decades working on the Holy One, in the bar at the pool on the south side.
- No Who has not wished to swim in this pool, with crystal clear water, and shoot you look out to sea, a welcoming and discreet staff make drinks. Ma was a lot of celebrities, some of them who were billionaires, and no one is heard. There were industrialists, Sheikh, bankers, such as Maknamara, athletes, as Ingemar Stenmark, the statesman Sandra Pertinija. All these were normal guests and so we treat them, because we had been usual to serve this clientele-story Nikic.

In particular, he remained in the memory of anecdotes when he reported to the reception to the pool to get wealthy sheik who has rented the villa, and that it must accommodate it.
- Taman as we reported, there is a story of women in our language and keep a young child whose feet were dusty. She began to wash the feet of the child in the pool and I tell her not to do so. Then she started to cry and tells me, "Do you know who I am, I am a mother in law Sheikh. And it is from Banja Luka, her daughter married the Sheikh. He soon joined her daughter, who continued to argue. All this is watched from the balcony of Sheikh who shouted that he bring the two of whiskey. I bring him and wonder who is the second, and he says to serve and not to be upset because what women say - remember the Nikic.

The stories and anecdotes about famous who have stayed at the St. Stephen has a lot and listening to them, be nice to nostalgia for a time when Montenegro was really undiscovered, mysterious, wild and irresistible destinations, what is the actual spots and campaigns are now aggressively promotes the global and regional TV networks.

Saint has been the brand

Gap that was created in the Montenegrin tourism after the events of war and a general decline, then certainly has filled only a new five-star hotel on the Adriatic - Becici Splendid ". Does not wanting to take the place of Saints, they and not the goal, "Splendid " is less than four years to create the name of the hotel for VIP guests.

From Madonna, Mick Jagger, Julio Iglesias, Ralph Fiennes, Kevin Spacey, Gaddafi the Younger to Angelina and Brad, "Splendid" is a very short time gained a name.

- It does not matter whose Splendid ", it is important that there are in Montenegro. We are building a brand, thereby helping the entire Montenegro. We are aware that nobody in Montenegro did not come because of "Splendid ", but because of Gore. Sveti Stefan can only say that because it came to Montenegro, because he was a brand for yourself. Saint was and still is, and must be brand - says co-owner "Splendid " Zarko Radulovic.

V.L.