Along with nearby Forte Mare, the Citadela was once part of the imposing defensive fortress that protected Herceg Novi from seaborne invaders. However, little remains of the structure nowadays, aside from a reconstructed stone bridge spanning the waterfront promenade and a large pile of ruins that photogenically spills over and tumbles into the sea. Originally constructed during Italian occupation at the beginning of the 1700s, the Citadela was given its final death knell by the massive earthquake that his the area in 1979. The small hill to which the stone bridge leads and the partially submerged ruins are still a popular spot for selfies and watching the sunset, just be careful not to slip.