Cultural heritage under seismic threat: risk awareness and preparedness in the Bay of Kotor and Dubrovnik Littoral

Abstract This study examines residents’ perceptions of cultural–historical heritage and seismic safety in two Adriatic regions – the Bay of Kotor (Montenegro) and the Dubrovnik Littoral (Croatia). A cross-sectional survey ( N = 540; 270 from the Bay of Kotor and 270 from the Dubrovnik Littoral) used 5-point Likert items to assess heritage valuation, personal and community earthquake awareness, institutional readiness, and community practices. The analytical framework combined descriptive statistics, independent-samples t -tests (gender; place of residence), one-way ANOVA (education), Pearson correlations (age), and multiple linear regression on a composite index (“Cultural-Heritage and Seismic Preparedness Attitudes”). Respondents strongly endorsed the importance and tourism value of monuments ( M ≈ 4.6–4.7) but expressed low confidence in institutional protection and local preparedness ( M ≈ 2.0–2.4). No gender differences emerged (all p > 0.05). Place-based differences were limited: residents of the Bay of Kotor reported more frequent citizen training ( p = 0.005) and greater adherence to seismic construction rules ( p = 0.003). Age correlated positively with heritage valuation and risk awareness, and negatively with willingness to attend training and confidence in institutions. Education showed consistent effects; more-educated respondents valued heritage and risks more but were more critical of protection systems. In the regression, education was the only significant predictor of the composite index ( B = −0.346, β = −0.134, p = 0.002), while overall explained variance was modest ( R 2 = 0.022). Findings reveal a gap between strong cultural attachment and limited practical preparedness, underscoring the need for stronger intersectoral coordination, enforcement of seismic regulations, and systematic public training.