Podgorica
Podgorica is the capital city of Montenegro. With a population of around 130,000, it is a small city which offers one the opportunities to hike and ski in the vast mountains and relax on the beaches. Montenegro is bounded by Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Albania; it faces the Adriatic Sea. The city is built among five rivers: Cijevna, Moraca, Ribnica, Sitnica and Zeta. A Eurail pass can get one to Podgorica, through the Serbian capital. Although almost all of the architecture is new, the city is a multicultural experience.
History Of Podgorica
In this part of the Balkans, Podgorica is one of the old settlements. The name Podgorica appeared in 1326 in the archives of Kotor, a coastal town of Montenegro. Podgorica was a busy city with a very strong economy. In 1474, the Turkish occupied the city which stopped the development of the city in many aspects. The Turks built fortresses as a protection against rebellious tribes. In 1864, Podgorica officially earned the township title. It was given many titles, such as Bogurtlen and Burgurice. In 1878, through the Berlin Congress, the town of Podgorica was integrated to Montenegro. From there, without Turkish occupation, the town developed quickly. However in World War I, the town was occupied by Austria-Hungary. After the war, Montenegro merged with Serbia and became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During the World War II, it was bombed seventy times. On December 19, 1944, it was liberated. It was named Titograd and became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro in 1946. In 1992, the name Podgorica was reinstated. By then, the economy began to recover and by May 2006, it gained its independence and was made the official capital of Montenegro.
Things To Do In Podgorica
In Podgorica, since the city itself is rebuilding, only few places are worth visiting, like the National Theater, the Natural History Museum, the Republic Square, and some churches and mosques. But from the city, there are great places to visit which were untouched during the war. In Kotor, for instance, there is an old settlement Medun, an antique Roman area named Duklja, the monastery Dajbabe, Nemanjin Grad and Vranjina, a fisherman lodgment along the Skadar Lake.
Getting To Podgorica
Podgorica can be reached through its main international airport Podgorica Airport. If you are traveling by rail you can travel with a Eurail Select Pass. One can travel direct from Belgrade in Serbia.
