Uncovering Charms in Montenegro’s Capital - The New York Times The New York Times Travel |Uncovering Charms in Montenegro’s Capital Search Continue reading the main story Photo A scene at one of the many bars on Bokeska Street in Podgorica. Credit Djamila Grossman for The New York Times For more than a decade after the breakup of Yugoslavia, Montenegro — the smallest of the country’s six republics — seemed to hold no place in the traveler’s mind beyond that of Serbia’s little sidekick. Now independent since 2006, the Adriatic nation sandwiched between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania is quickly enticing Western travelers with a promising mix of history, beauty and culture. And for many English-speakers the country remains a largely unknown gem — a Croatia before Croatia was cool. It certainly has a lot to offer: a 180-mile-long coast whittled with spectacular ports like the walled towns of Budva and Kotor, immense valleys and dawdling rivers seasoned with wild water chestnuts. Few visitors spend much time in Podgorica, Montenegro’s pocket-size capital, because opinions like “not much there for tourists” creep into the reviews.

But during my two visits to Montenegro over the last year, I found Podgorica to be surprisingly pleasant, with lively cafes, intriguing neighborhoods and no shortage of charms and moving encounters. My connecting flight from Paris touched down on a sunny afternoon last fall at the Aerodrom Podgorica, code TGD, a reminder of Yugoslavia’s Communist days when the city was known as Titograd. From the air I had squinted through the piercing glare of Lake Skadar, a national park, to absorb the terrifying peaks of the 8,000-foot-high Prokletije mountains that marked the Albanian border. Montenegro, or Crna Gora in Montenegrin, means “black mountain,” and the rugged fastness of the landscape makes the name an obvious choice. Yet everything below me was so green, a patchwork of rolling farmland stitched together with rivers and creeks. It felt like flying into a Balkan Montana. Podgorica, pronounced PAWD-go-ree-tsa, was no Bozeman but a place burbling with progress all the same. NATO had bombed the areas around the airport in 1999 when Serbs used it as a regrouping area after raids into neighboring Kosovo.

Montenegro was largely spared much of the NATO wrath because Milo Djukanovic, who was president of Montenegro at the time, worked to distance his country from the Serbs during the war. By 2006, a majority of Montenegrins voted to part ways with Serbia for good, and the breakup happened peacefully. “It was like a marriage that just wasn’t working,” Ninoslav Markovic, a Podgorica native who studied tourism in the World Heritage city of Kotor, told me later. “There was some anger but no big fight.” Photo A view of Podgorica from Gorica, the hill that gives the city its name. Credit Djamila Grossman for The New York Times I struggled to spot any signs of the conflict on the ride into the city. Shiny BMWs and Mercedeses glided along a well-sealed road, past roundabouts, furniture stores and mechanic shops. Most of the buildings were squat, soulless apartment complexes with splashes of color from laundry draped over balconies. A donkey pulled a wood cart along the shoulder.

In searching for a place to stay I zeroed in on the Hotel Crna Gora, built in 1953, once the finest hotel in Podgorica. Back in the day it had been a place for the Communist Party elite. Looking at it now I saw little more than a drab concrete cube but quickly realized this was special in its own right. It had a bright lobby and dim hallways enlivened with long licks of red carpet. Over the decades the hotel had become a mini-repository for paintings by eminent Montenegrin and Yugoslav artists like Petar Lubarda and Milo Milunovic. My room had a creaky but comfortable bed next to an antique radio that probably wasn’t intended to be an antique. Advertisement Continue reading the main story The hotel will become a Hilton, and since my visit, construction crews have demolished large portions of the hotel as part of a $56 million renovation project. The new Hilton Podgorica Crna Gora is scheduled to open in May 2015 and will have 200 rooms, a spa and seven conference rooms.

The artwork and some of the original stone facade will all be preserved, Zarko Buric, the owner of the rebranded hotel, assured me in an e-mail. “The new hotel will maintain flair of old Hotel Crna Gora,” he wrote, but I couldn’t help but feel a little glum. Hiltons are everywhere. Communist throwbacks — even a “Stalinist dump” like this one, as one TripAdvisor user said — are disappearing fast. But some things are still the same. Podgorica is a fine place for walking: compact with about 185,000 people, leafy sidewalks and loads of cafes for people-watching. I dropped off my bags and headed out, passing by the 46-euro heels for sale in the Fancy Shop shoe store and the mini-mini-skirts that hung like party streamers in the window of Butik Diva. You can stroll along the Slobode, a street closed to cars come evenings, where families eat ice cream and prides of teenage boys prowl about in clouds of cologne.

Promenades meandered along the confluence of the Ribnica and Moraca Rivers, past the ruins of an old Turkish fort and beside a small stone beach. I spent one morning ambling through the hushed warrens of the Stara Varos, or Old Town, where men drinking brandy by pigeon coops waved and wished me well. The friendly secretary of Podgorica’s Muslim minority welcomed me unannounced into an 18th-century mosque. Empires have ebbed and flowed across the Balkans for centuries, and each passing tide has left its mark on the Montenegrin plate. I found Austrian-influenced strudlas and Greek baklava. I ate pizza in a Serbian Orthodox spiritual center that doubled as a restaurant where St. Simon judged me from his perch on a heavy stone wall. The Ottoman Turks ruled the Balkans for 500 years and left the most indelible impressions on the country’s cuisine. I stuffed myself into a near coma with a huge platter of roasted meats and cevapi sausages at Pod Volat, a restaurant with stone arches near a 17th-century Ottoman tower.

During the feast, in the no-smoking section, my waiter stood four feet away smoking a cigarette. It was so absurd I could only laugh. My wallet was certainly giggling. I spent a whopping $25 at Pod Volat. That delicious pizza with a drink and coffee totaled $3.79. Hotel rooms clocked in around $75 a night. I never paid more than $1 for coffee. Photo People cool off in the Moraca River. Credit Djamila Grossman for The New York Times Toward the end of my trip I met Fetah Mahmutovic at his bakery in Zabjelo, a neighborhood on the southern flank of a hill called Gorica that gives Podgorica its name. Mr. Mahmutovic, 28, has an eponymous band called Fetah Vibration, which he said was Montenegro’s first and only reggae band. That seemed believable in a land where turbo-folk is far more popular. “Turbo-folk makes me puke,” he said. When Yugoslavia was falling apart, Mr.

Mahmutovic declared Zabjelo’s independence and joked that his bakery, which specializes in burek, fried pastries stuffed with cheese or any other ingredient, was something like the White House. It was satire, of course, but his shop, Burekdzinica Zabjelo, has since become the undisputed capital of Podgorica burekdom thanks to a recipe passed down through at least four generations. We sat for more than an hour talking music and Montenegro over a burek packed with spinach followed by another one drizzled in chocolate. A glass of runny yogurt was the perfect accompaniment. I felt the need to walk a little more vigorously, given how much I’d been eating, so on my last day in the city I headed north along Slobode with plans to hike a few miles to the top of the Gorica. There the city’s fit run on trails that circle under the pines and offer views of the high-rises below. I’d eventually make it to the top, where I’d sit on a bench and watch the sun settle into an unmade bed of mountains rumpling toward the horizon. But I was distracted.

There at the foot of the hill sat a squat chapel tucked against a clutch of olive trees and cypresses. This was the 16th-century St. George Church, the city’s oldest, a dark and moody bunker with an overgrown cemetery out back. The tombs had been vandalized and forgotten, and were now blanketed by enormous mounds of thick ivy. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Inside the chapel I stared at John the Baptist, St. George and Petar of Cetinje. There was nothing magical about the place for a nonbeliever. There was no organ music, no vaults to admire. The air was stale without a swinging censer. It was just me and a guy sweeping the floor. “Would you like to see something?” the church’s guardian, Radovan Mitrovic, asked when he saw my interest in the saints. He put down his broom and removed the icon screen to show me the chipped remains of the church’s original frescoes. There were deep reds and navy blues. A forehead. A halo. They were ancient, he said, maybe the oldest in the Balkans. I felt no need to verify that but was content to accept it for what it was.

Maybe that same thinking helped me like Podgorica as much as I did. Photo An Ottoman clock tower. Credit Djamila Grossman for The New York Times I bought a small icon of St. Nicholas from the chapel’s modest gift shop and left for my hike. “Wait!” Mr. Mitrovic hollered, running outside after me. “Here, a gift for you,” he said, handing me an icon of St. Basil, one Montenegro’s most popular saints. “Maybe he will bring you back.” IF YOU GO BEDS Hotel Ambasador (Vaka Djurovica 5; 382-20-272-233; hotel-ambasador-podgorica.montenegro365.com ) has nine rooms and a restaurant terrace overlooking the Moraca River. It sits within easy walking distance of downtown, St. George Church and Gorica park. Doubles start at 90 euros, about $116, at $1.29 to the euro.

The Hotel M Nikic (Kralja Nikole; 382-20-220-292; hotelmnikic.com ) opened earlier this year on the banks of the Ribnica River and offers a contemporary setting with 71 rooms, walk-in showers and windows of blue mirrored glass. Doubles from 84 euros. EATS AND DRINKS A stroll down Bokeska and Njegoseva Streets near the city’s center square, Trg Republike, will bring you to dozens of cafes and nightclubs that are popular with the city’s fashionable youth just about any time of day. The Mojito Cocktail Bar (Bokeska 6; 382-69-222-579) serves many variations of its namesake as well as stiff coffee. Pod Volat (Trg Vojvode Becir Bega Osmaagica 1; 382-69-618-633). Burekdzinica Zabjelo (Vaka Djurovica; 382-67-881-269).

Spiritual Center (Duhovni Centar in Serbian, Njegoseva 27; 382-20-665-519). Correction: September 15, 2013 An article last Sunday about Podgorica, Montenegro, misspelled the name of a restaurant in two references and on the map. It is Pod Volat, as it is spelled elsewhere, not Vod Polat. A revised map can be found at nytimes.com/travel. A version of this article appears in print on September 8, 2013, on Page TR5 of the New York edition with the headline: Bright Lights, Balkan City. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Capital of Montenegro - definition of Capital of Montenegro by The Free Dictionary Capital of Montenegro - definition of Capital of Montenegro by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Pod·go·ri·ca (pŏd′gə-rēt′sə) The capital and largest city of Montenegro, in the southern part of the country near the Albanian border.

From 1946 to 1992, it was known as Titograd. Podgorica Podgoritsa n (Placename) the capital of Montenegro: under Turkish rule (1474–1878). Pop: 230 000 (2005 est). Former name (1946–92): Titograd Pod•go•ri•ca n. the capital of Montenegro, in SW Yugoslavia. 132,290. Formerly (1945–92), Titograd. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Titograd References in periodicals archive ? In the diplomatic reshuffle, former National Intelligence Organization (MyT) staffer Serhat Galip has been appointed to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, the Cumhuriyet daily reported on Friday. United Arab Emirates : H.H.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed meets Montenegro's Parliament Speaker Visitors from Britain will be encouraged by the fact that budget airline Ryanair announced its first route from London Stansted to the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica, from April 1. Join the club at the next holiday home hot spot; Montenegro is the Adriatic's best kept tourism secret and could be a smart investment, writes Alison Jones Summary: The first meeting of the UAE-Montenegro Joint Economic Committee, which concluded in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, focused on laying the foundations for a new start of economic relations between the two countries in trade, agriculture, investment, food industries, transport, tourism and SMEs in particular. Podgorica | Define Podgorica at Dictionary.com Podgorica [Serbo-Croatian. pawd-gaw-ree-tsah] /Serbo-Croatian. ˈpɔd gɔˌri tsɑ/ Spell [mon-tuh-nee-groh, -neg-roh] /ˌmɒn təˈni groʊ, -ˈnɛg roʊ/ Spell noun 1.

a republic in S Europe since 2006: formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia, in the SW part (1918–2006); an independent kingdom 1878–1918. 6333 sq. mi. (13,812 sq. km). Capital: Podgorica. [mon-tuh-nee-grin, ‐neg-rin] /ˌmɒn təˈni grɪn, ‐ˈnɛg rɪn/ (Show IPA), adjective, noun Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Podgorica Expand Historical Examples Then he rose up and walked back to Podgorica rejoicing, with those who had carried him the day before. British Dictionary definitions for Podgorica Expand noun 1. the capital of Montenegro: under Turkish rule (1474–1878). Pop: 230 000 (2005 est) Former name (1946–92) Titograd Montenegro noun 1.

a republic in S central Europe, bordering on the Adriatic; declared a kingdom in 1910 and united with Serbia, Croatia, and other territories in 1918 to form Yugoslavia; remained united with Serbia as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia when the other Yugoslav constituent republics became independent in 1991–92; Union of Serbia and Montenegro formed in 2003 and dissolved 2006. Mainly mountainous. Language: Serbian (Montenegrin). Religion: Orthodox Christian majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Podgorica. Pop: 653 474 (2013 est). Area: 13 812 sq km (5387 sq miles) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for Podgorica Expand Montenegro Adriatic coastal nation, from Venetian Italian (Tuscan monte nero), literally "black mountain," a loan-translation of the local Slavonic name, Crnagora. Related: Montenegrine. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Podgorica - definition of Podgorica by The Free Dictionary Podgorica - definition of Podgorica by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Pod·go·ri·ca (pŏd′gə-rēt′sə) The capital and largest city of Montenegro, in the southern part of the country near the Albanian border. From 1946 to 1992, it was known as Titograd.

Podgorica Podgoritsa n (Placename) the capital of Montenegro: under Turkish rule (1474–1878). Pop: 230 000 (2005 est). Former name (1946–92): Titograd Pod•go•ri•ca n. the capital of Montenegro, in SW Yugoslavia. 132,290. Formerly (1945–92), Titograd. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Titograd References in periodicals archive ? International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was in focus of the press conference organized by the OSCE Mission and its partners on 25 November 2015 in Podgorica, which marked the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence in Montenegro.

Abu Dhabi investors launch Montenegro's largest mixed-use real estate development, The Capital Plaza Within the framework of Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov's visit to Montenegro, a business forum was held in Podgorica at which the conditions for investment and the regulations for starting up businesses in Macedonia were promoted to representatives of 45 companies of both countries. President Ivanov promotes Macedonia as business destination in Montenegro Within the official visit of Montenegro, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov attended the Macedonian-Montenegro Business Forum organized in Podgorica where opportunities for investing in Macedonia, favorable environment and regulations for starting a business were presented before representatives of 45 companies from both countries. Podgorica – Letsgotomontenegro Rental Urban, vibrant and a city of many talents. Podgorica is not only the capital of Montenegro, this city is also the capital of education of the young montenegrin population. Podgorica is a city best known for its vivid nightlife and hence became known as the party place for young people. Podgorica (former names Titograd and Ribnica) is the capital and largest city of Montenegro. It is located in the central part of the valley of the River Moraca.

According to the official census in 2011 Podgorica had a population of about 160,000, while the metropolitan area of the city recording in 190,000 inhabitants. The capital of Montenegro has a lot to offer to all generations. People who like the surroundings of greenery will enjoy taking a walk in the city center park. For those who like to intermingle with people will love the Delta City shopping center that is only a few minutes away from the city center and in which you can enjoy the comfort of different shops, cafes and restaurants which cover all your daily likes and interests. As one of Europe’s best kept secret, the canyon of the river Morača is another attraction that every visitor should see. The incredible scenery and unrealistic clear water of the Morača river will definitely take your breath away. History of Podgorica Podgorica was established in Roman times as Birziminium, later as a Roman town called Doclea. In the Middle Ages the Slavs settled in these areas and called it the Ribnica. The name Podgorica was used in 1426 for the first time in its history.

From 1478 Podgorica was under Turkish rule, only to be freed in 1878 by Montenegrins. It was formally ceded to Montenegro Berlin Congress. From 1916th to 1918th Podgorica was ruled by Austria, only to be to be occupied by Serbs who held a so-called “Grand National Assembly” which forcibly annexed Montenegro to Serbia. Between the two wars Podgorica had a population of about 15,000, but after the war, that number has been reduced to less than five, because the city suffered more than any other in Europe: it was bombed 72 times and almost razed to the ground. With the return of Montenegro’s sovereignty during the presidency of Josip Broz Tito both Yugoslavia and Podgorica (August 1, 1946 – Podgorica was called called Titograd) have prospered. On the 31 st December 1946 Titograd became the capital of Montenegro, replacing Cetinje. Podgorica regained it’s current name on a referendum held in 1992.

With the transition process and preparations for Montenegrin independence Podgorica is developing into an important regional center. Transformers defend Podgorica That creativity has ho limits and that an individual can make the difference can be found in the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica. Thanks to a young artist Podgorica became the “Talk of the town” but not just on a local but a global scale. The young artist Danilo Baletić, created seven transformer statues from scrap metals and car parts, hence emphasizing the importance of not only recycling but also that young and creative people do have a place in Podgorica. Each of the seven transformers were placed on a different location in Podgorica making the capital of Montenegro a better, safer and more beautiful place. Visitors and locals are enjoying the company of the TRANSFORMERS and more and more people rush to Podgorica to take photos of the defenders of the capital of Montenegro. It is always the actions and efforts of the minority that affect and change the lives of the majority – in that light we would like to say; Thank you Danilo for making Podgorica and Montenegro a better place.

What to see in Podgorica Doclea Only four kilometers away from the center of Podgorica are the remains of ancient Doclea, set on a wide plateau between the rivers Moraca, Zeta and Širalija,in the first decade of the first century AD. From the 4th century AD, on the eastern side of the city, an area where Christians lived sprang up,giving rise to churches, and a large Episcopal basilica. Some valuable examples of found grave inventory – vessels of pottery and glass, jewelery parts, tools, weapons and money, are part of the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the city. Ancient Doclea was introduced in world archeology by discovery of the famous Podgorica glass, which is now kept in the Hermitage, the Russian Museum. The first archaeological investigations began in the late nineteenth century and still are going. Old Town and Clock Tower The Old Town and Clock Tower are among the oldest and most important symbols of Podgorica. The finest example of architecture from the Turkish period is certainly the Sahat kula(Clock Tower). It still dominates the area of Stara Varoš with its height (16 m).

It was built in the 18th century by Hafis Pasha. Extremely significant examples of oriental architecture, which form and primary purpose slightly changed over time, are the mosques of Osmanagic and Glavatovic, then the old Hamam, later turned into a public bathroom, and today is below the newly built bridge over the river Ribnica (Banja -Spa), and finally Turkish jail, and then the Montenegrin state prison, which was named Jusovaca after Podgorica`s recluse, Jusa Mucin Krnjic. Ribnica Fortress The oldest source that mentions the name Ribnica is ” Life of St. Simeon “, written in 1216 , which says that Stefan Nemanja was born in Zeta on Ribnicia. Ribnica probably was not a town at the time of Nemanja’s birth, but a small village – a temporary residence of Nemanja`s father Zavida. Existence of the St George Church from that period confirms that there was some kind of settlement at the mouth of Ribnica, at the end of XI or XII century.

The existing fortress was probably built by Turks between 1474 and 1478 To see more sites worth visiting in Podgorica visit: podgorica.travel Loading Maps Titograd | Article about Titograd by The Free Dictionary Titograd | Article about Titograd by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Wikipedia . Titograd: see Podgorica Podgorica , city (2011 pop. 185,937), capital and largest city of Montenegro, SE Montenegro, at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers. A commercial center, it has industries producing aluminum, furniture, tobacco, and foodstuffs. ..... Click the link for more information. , Montenegro. Titograd (until 1942, Podgorica), a city in Yugoslavia; capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. Situated in the basin of Lake Scutari, near the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers. Population, 60,000 (1974).

Titograd, a major transportation junction, is linked by railroad to the ports of Bar and Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea; it also has an airport. It has an aluminum combine and enterprises of the metalworking, furniture, textile, tobacco, and food-processing industries. A university is located in the city. In antiquity, the Roman settlement of Birziminium (Berzumno, Burzumon) was located on the site of present-day Titograd. When Slavic tribes moved into Montenegro in the seventh century, the settlement became known as Ribnica. From the 1180’s until 1360, Ribnica (renamed Podgorica c. 1330) was ruled by the Serbian Nemanja dynasty. Podgorica was ruled by Montenegrin princes of the Balšic family from 1361 to 1421 and later by the despot Stefan Lazarevic. From 1427 it was ruled by the despot D. Brankovic.

Podgorica was one of the centers of the Zeta principality and the seat of the vicegerent- vojevoda; it became the seat of the velikāś of Zeta in 1452. In its struggle against the Ottoman Empire, Podgorica concluded a treaty of alliance with Venice in 1455. Podgorica became part of the sanjak of Skadar after the establishment of the district by the Turkish sultan Mehmed II in 1479. Podgorica eventually became an important fortified strategic point. Under Ottoman rule from the late 15th century, it was returned to Montenegro by a decision of the Berlin Congress of 1878. It was occupied by Austro-Hungarian troops in January 1916, during World War I, and was liberated in November 1918. On Nov. 26, 1918, the Great National Assembly in Podgorica adopted a resolution calling for the overthrow of the Njegos dynasty and the unification of Montenegro with Serbia under the rule of the Serbian king.

In the newly united Yugoslavian state, Podgorica was one of the centers of revolutionary struggle in Montenegro. Podgorica was occupied by Italian troops in April 1941 and became one of the centers of armed struggle against the occupying forces. The city was freed by the National Army of Liberation on Dec. 18, 1944. In April 1945, Podgorica became the capital of the People’s Republic of Montenegro. In 1952 it was renamed Titograd in honor of J. Broz Tito. Since 1963 it has been the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. Architectural monuments in Titograd include the remains of a Turkish fortress (1474–77); erected on the site of a mid-15th-century fortress, the structure was severely damaged in 1879. The Old Town of Podgorica, located near the ruins of the fortress, has houses dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. Podgorica’s New Town, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was destroyed during World War II.

Since the 1950’s, modern residential blocks and public buildings have been constructed, for example, the Crna Gora and Podgorica hotels and the Beko Department Store. Notable architecture in the vicinity of Titograd includes the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Doclea, with the remains of a forum, temples, thermae, and villas, and the Church of St. George (early 12th century), which has frescoes from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Podgorica - 必应 Sign in Podgorica Podgorica (/ˈpɒdɡəriːtsə/ POD-gorr-ee-tsə; Montenegrin Cyrillic: Подгорица; pronounced [pǒdɡorit͡sa], lit. "under the small hill") is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.

The city was also called Titograd [tîtoɡraːd] from 1946 to 1992 during the existence of SFR Yugoslavia, and before that Duklja (Cyrillic: Дукља), Doclea or Diocleia (Greek: Διοκλεία, [Diokleia]) and Zeta (Cyrillic: Зета, pronounced [zêta]). Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelop ... (展开) pavlići Valley has encouraged settlement. The city is close to winter ski centres in the north and seaside resorts on the Adriatic Sea. The city's population was 204,877 in the 2011 census. The Podgorica Municipality contains 10.4% of Montenegro's territory and 29.9% of its population. It is the administrative centre of Montenegro and its economic, cultural and educational focus. Podgorica Etymology The name Podgorica means 'below Gorica' in Montenegrin.

Gorica (meaning 'little hill' or 'hillock') is the name of the cypress-covered hill that overlooks the city centre. Some three kilometres (1.9 miles) north-west of Podgorica lie the ruins of Doclea, a town known in Greek, pre-Roman and Roman times. The Roman Emperor Diocletian came from this region. In later centuries, Romans "corrected" the name to Dioclea, guessing wrongly that an "i" had been lost in vulgar speech. "Duklja" is the later (South Slavic) version of that word. When founded (before the 11th century), the town was called Birziminium. In the Middle Ages, it was known as Ribnica (pronounced [rîbnit͡sa]). The name Podgorica was used from 1326. From 1946 to 1992, the city was named Titograd in honour of Josip Broz Tito, the former President of Yugoslavia.

Podgorica History Podgorica is at the crossroads of several historically important routes, near the rivers Zeta, Morača, Cijevna, Ribnica, Sitnica and Mareza in the valley of Lake Skadar and near the Adriatic Sea, in fertile lowlands with favourable climate. The earliest human settlements were in prehistory: the oldest physical remains are from the late Stone Age. In the Illyrian age, the area between the Zeta and Bjelopavlići valleys was occupied by two Illyrian tribes, the Labeates and the Docleats. The population of the city was 8,000–10,000, in which all core urban issues were resolved. The high population density (in an area of about 10 km (6 mi) radius) was made possible by the geographical position, favourable climate and economic conditions and by the defensive positions that were of great importance at that time. From the 5th century AD, with the arrival of the first Slavic and Avar tribes and the beginning of the break-up of the Roman Empire, the area bore witness to many noteworthy events.

With time, the fortifications ceased their function and new towns were built. Slavic groups in the area were in constant war with Byzantium and tended to establish a new state. The result was establishment of a new settlement that was probably named after the Ribnica River on whose banks it was built. The first mention of Ribnica is during the rule of the Serbian royal family of the Nemanjići. The importance of Ribnica was its position as crossroads in communications with the west. In occupying these areas, the Slavs created a new state and developed their own culture and art, acceptable to the mediaeval church and feudal class. The name Podgorica was first mentioned in 1326 in a court document of the Kotor archives. The city was economically strong: trade routes between Dubrovnik and the State of Nemanjici, well developed at that time, were maintained via the road that led to Podgorica through Trebinje and Nikšić. As a busy crossroads, Podgorica was a vibrant regional centre of trade and communication. This boosted its development, economic power, military strength and strategic importance.

The Ottoman capture of Podgorica in 1474 interrupted its economic, cultural and artistic development.[citation needed] Podgorica became a kaza of the Sanjak of Scutari in 1479. The Ottomans built a large fortress in Podgorica, and the existing settlement, with its highly developed merchant connections, became the main Ottoman defensive and attacking bastion in the region. At the beginning of 1474 there were informations about intention of Ottoman sultan to rebuild Podgorica and Baleč and settle them with 5,000 Muslim families (most of Slav or Albanian origin) in order to establish an additional obstacle to cooperation between the Principality of Zeta and Venetian Shkodër. The fortified city, with towers, gates and defensive ramparts, enabled the Ottomans to resist all attacks. In 1864, Podgorica became a kaza of the Scutari Vilayet called Böğürtlen 'blackberry'. It was also known as Burguriçe in Albanian.

The Berlin Congress in 1878 annexed Podgorica to Montenegro, marking the end of four centuries of Ottoman rule, and the beginning of a new era in the development of Podgorica and of Montenegro. The city developed quickly and became a strong marketplace.[citation needed] The first forms of capital concentration were seen. In 1904, Zetska savings bank, the first significant financial institution, was formed. It would soon grow into Podgorička bank. Roads were built to all neighbouring towns and, in 1902, a tobacco plant became Podgorica's first significant commercial company. World War I marked the end of dynamic development for Podgorica, by then the largest city in the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Montenegro. Podgorica was occupied, as was the rest of the country, by Austria-Hungary from 1916 to 1918. After the liberation by the allies in 1918, a controversial Podgorica Assembly was held at Podgorica Tobacco Monopoly building. The assembly marked the end of Montenegrin statehood, as Montenegro was merged with Serbia and incorporated in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Between the two world wars, the population of Podgorica was about 13,000. Podgorica suffered heavily during World War II; the city was bombed over 70 times throughout the course of the war and razed to the ground, causing the deaths of over 4,100 people. The city was liberated on 19 December 1944. Under the name of Titograd, the city became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro on 13 July 1946. A period of unprecedented expansion followed, which marked the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) era: the population increased dramatically, the city was heavily industrialised, infrastructure was improved, and health, educational, and cultural institutions were founded. The city rapidly became the commercial, socio-economic, and cultural centre of the country. The progress halted again when the break-up of SFRY began in the 1990s. The name of Podgorica was reinstated on 2 April 1992. The destructive Yugoslav wars bypassed Montenegro, but the entire country was greatly affected economically. A period of severe economic stagnation lasted throughout the 1990s.

The economy began to recover in the early years of the 21st century, when Podgorica began to emerge as a modern, pro-western city. Following the successful independence referendum in May 2006, Podgorica became the official capital of an independent state, boosting its status as a regional centre and raising its economic prospects. Today Podgorica is the seat of Montenegro's Parliament and government, but not of the country's President, who resides in the former royal capital Cetinje. Podgorica Geography Podgorica is located in central Montenegro. The area is crossed with rivers and the city itself is only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of Lake Skadar. The Morača and Ribnica rivers flow through the city, while the Zeta, Cijevna, Sitnica and Mareza flow nearby. Morača is the largest river in the city, being 70 m or 230 ft wide near downtown, and having carved a 20 m or 66 ft deep canyon for the length of its course through the city. Save for the Morača and Zeta, other rivers have an appearance of small creeks.

The richness in bodies of water is a major feature of the city. In contrast to most of Montenegro, Podgorica lies in a mainly flat area at the northern end of the Zeta plain, at an elevation of 40 m (130 ft). The only exceptions are hills which overlook the city. The most significant is 130.3 m (427 ft) high Gorica Hill, city's namesake, which rises above the city centre. The other hills include Malo brdo ("little hill", 205.4 m or 674 ft), Velje brdo ("big hill", 283 m or 928 ft), Ljubović (101 m or 331 ft) and Dajbabska gora (172 m or 564 ft). In the main, these are too steep for development and thus limit the city's expansion, especially to the north. However, urbanization has been encroaching on the lower slopes of the hills since 1990s.

Podgorica city proper has an area of 108 square kilometres (42 sq mi), while actual urbanized area is much smaller. Climate Under the Köppen climate classification, Podgorica has a borderline Mediterranean climate (Csa) and humid subtropical climate (Cfa), since there is only one summer month with less than 40 millimeters (1.6 in) of precipitation, with hot, moderately dry/wet summers and cool winters. Although the city is only some 35 km (22 mi) north of the Adriatic Sea, an arm of the Mediterranean, Rumija mountain acts as a natural Dinaric Alps barrier, separating Skadar Lake basin and Podgorica area from the sea, thus limiting temperate maritime influence on the local climate. The mean annual rainfall is 1,600 mm (63 in). The temperature exceeds 25 °C (77 °F) on about 135 days each year and the median daily temperature is 15.6 °C (60.1 °F). The number of rainy days is about 120, and those with a strong wind around 60.

An occasional strong northerly wind influences the climate in the winter, with a wind-chill effect lowering the perceived temperature by a few degrees. Podgorica is particularly known for its extremely hot summers: temperatures over 40 °C (104 °F) are common in July and August. The highest temperature recorded in Montenegro was 45.8 °C (114.4 °F), on 16 August 2007. Snow is a rare occurrence in Podgorica: it rarely snows more than a few days per year. In February 2012, Podgorica had a snow cover for a record 25 days. The all-time maximum snowfall record was beaten on 11 February, when 58 cm (23 in) of snowfall were measured. Before that, the biggest snowfall in Podgorica was in 1954, when 52 cm (20 in) of snowfall were recorded. Podgorica Cityscape See also: List of Podgorica neighbourhoods and suburbs Podgorica's mixture of architectural styles reflects the turbulent history of the city and country: as one régime replaced another, the corresponding style was introduced.

As part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878, Podgorica has many examples of Turkish architecture. The oldest parts of the city, Stara Varoš (Old town) and Drač are typical of this, with two mosques, a Turkish clock tower and narrow, winding streets. When the city was incorporated to Montenegro, the urban core shifted to the other bank of the Ribnica River, where the town developed in a more European style: wider streets with an orthogonal layout. This part of the city is today traditionally regarded as city centre, and is called Nova Varoš (New town) During World War II, Podgorica was almost razed to the ground, being bombed over 70 times. After liberation, rebuilding began as in other cities of the communist-ruled SFRY. Mass residential blocks were erected, with basic design typical of Eastern bloc countries. All that part of the city on the right bank of the Morača River was built this way. Even the empty spaces in the city centre were filled with near-brutalist structures, resulting in an unfortunate fusion of old and new.

The residential and business blocks of the SFRY era provided ample housing but have been much criticized for their uninventive and grey appearance.[citation needed] The main contemporary traffic arteries were laid out during this period, which extended the orthogonal street layout of city center, to the south and west. Residential and infrastructural developments in the SFRY era have mostly shaped the layout of today's Podgorica, and accommodated the unprecedented population growth that followed World War II. However, in area surrounding residential blocks, the city expanded in a form of often chaotic urban sprawl, with densely built private lowrise dwellings leaving little space for streets and sidewalks. The trend of sprawling informal settlements was at peak during the 1990s. Efforts have been made since to improve the infrastructure of those settlements, but many problems remain, especially in large lowrise neighbourhoods in north and northeast Podgorica. A major advance in Podgorica architecture began in the late 1990s and, since then, the face of the city has changed rapidly. Residential and business construction are proceeding rapidly, incorporating contemporary glass-and-steel architectural trends.

In an effort to create a recognizable and modern state capital, city officials are routing significant investments in city's public spaces. Thus, the city has gained entirely new squares, parks and monuments. New landmarks include the Hristovog Vaskrsenja orthodox temple and the Millennium Bridge, the main feature of the Podgorica skyline. Podgorica today is transforming from a featureless town to a modern European capital. Entertainment and performing arts Podgorica is home to many Montenegrin cultural institutions and events. It hosts the Montenegrin National Theatre and a number of museums and galleries. The Montenegrin National Theatre is the most significant theatre not only in Podgorica but in all of Montenegro. Podgorica is also host to the City Theatre (Gradsko pozorište), which includes the Children's Theatre and the Puppet Theatre. Although not as rich in museums and galleries as the historic royal capital Cetinje, there are several noteworthy museums: The Podgorica City Museum (Muzej grada Podgorice) preserves Podgorica's rich heritage. Founded in 1950, it has four categories: archaeological, ethnographic, historical and cultural-historical.

It houses artifacts which date back to the Roman and Illyrian eras. The Archaeological Research Centre (Centar za arheološka istraživanja) was founded in 1961. Its mission is to gather, classify, restore and display archaeological sites. The Marko Miljanov Museum (Muzej Marka Miljanova) in Medun shows life in 19th century Montenegro. It is the most significant Montenegrin memorial museum of its kind. The Natural History Museum (Prirodnjački muzej) displays specimens of Montenegrin flora and fauna. This museum has no exhibition space of its own, despite many proposals and initiatives to build one. There is a notable art gallery in the Dvorac Petrovića (Petrović Castle) complex in Podgorica's largest public park. King Nicholas's castle, Perjanički Dom (House of the Honour Guard), castle chapel and surrounding buildings were converted to an art gallery in 1984. Since 1995, it has been part of the Modern Arts Centre (Centar savremenih umjetnosti) and houses approximately 1,500 works of art.

The historic Cinema of Culture (Kino Kultura), which was founded in 1949, was closed in November 2008 due to continuous financial losses it generated. It was the only cinema in the city for 6 decades. The building of the former cinema will be converted to host the Podgorica City Theatre. Shortly after its closure, a Ster-Kinekor (later acquired by Cineplexx) 6-screen multiplex cinema opened at Delta City shopping mall. A significant cultural institution of over fifty years' standing is the Budo Tomović Cultural-Informational Centre (KIC Budo Tomović). It is a public institution which organizes various artistic events, including Podgorica Cultural Summer (Podgoričko Kulturno Ljeto), FIAT – International Alternative Theatre Festival (Festival Internacionalnog Alternativnog Teatra), DEUS – December Arts Scene (Decembarska Umjetnička Scena). KIC Budo Tomović was a host for such names as Tony Parsons or Brooklyn Funk Essentials during their visits to Podgorica. Sports The most popular sports by far are football and basketball.

Basketball became especially popular with the success in the late 20th and early 21st centuries of KK Budućnost Podgorica, both in Yugoslav and European competitions. Football in Podgorica has a long tradition associated with FK Budućnost Podgorica. World-famous players Predrag Mijatović and Dejan Savićević were born in Podgorica and made their debut in that team. FK Zeta (from the Podgorica suburb of Golubovci) has also reached the former first league of Serbia and Montenegro. These clubs, along with FK Mogren of Budva, usually compete with each other for leading position in the First League of Montenegro. Other clubs from Podgorica and its surroundings play in the Montenegrin First League e.g. FK Dečić (Tuzi), FK Kom and FK Mladost. One of the most popular clubs from the suburbs is FK Ribnica from Konik. The volleyball team OK Budućnost Podgorica and the women's handball team ŽRK Budućnost T-Mobile have had significant success in European competition.

Budućnost Podgorica is the most important sports club in Podgorica. Its name means Future. Chess is another popular sport and some famous global chess players, like Slavko Dedić, are born in Podgorica. Sporting events like the annual Podgorica Marathon and the Morača River jumps attract international competitors. Podgorica was the host of 2009 FINA Men's Water Polo World League. Podgorica Economy Podgorica is not only the administrative centre of Montenegro but also its main economic engine. Most of Montenegro's industrial, financial, and commercial base is in Podgorica. Before World War I, most of Podgorica's economy was in trade and small-scale manufacture – an economic model established during the long rule of the Ottoman Empire. After World War II, Podgorica became Montenegro's capital and a focus of the rapid urbanization and industrialization of the Yugoslav era. Industries such as aluminium and tobacco processing, textiles, engineering, vehicle production, and industrialized wine production were established in and around the city. In 1981, Podgorica's GDP per capita was 87% of the Yugoslav average.

In the early 1990s, the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav wars, and the UN-imposed sanctions left Podgorica's industries without traditional markets, suppliers, and available funds. This, combined with typical transition pressures, led to a decline of the industrial base. Many industries collapsed, leaving thousands of citizens unemployed. However, some of the industries, including Podgorica aluminium smelter and Plantaže, managed to survive the turmoil of the 1990s, and are today major contributors to Montenegrin export and industrial output. As Montenegro began its push for independence from Serbia in the late 1990s, Podgorica greatly benefited from increased concentration of government and service sector. In addition to almost the entire country's government, Podgorica is home to the Montenegro Stock Exchange and other major Montenegrin financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, media outlets, Montenegrin flag carrier airline, and other significant institutions and companies. The large presence of government and service sectors spared the economy of Podgorica from prolonged stagnation in the late 2000s recession, which hit Montenegro hard.

Although, in mid-2014, some 30% of Montenegro's citizens live in Podgorica, the municipality accounted for 44% of the country's employed. Out of the entire mass of paid nwt salaries in Montenegro in that year, some 47% was paid in Podgorica. The average monthly net salary in May 2014 was €509 in Podgorica municipality. Podgorica is home to three main religious groups: Orthodox Christians, Sunnite Muslims and Catholic Christians. Dajbabe Monastery Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus Starodoganjska mosque Orthodox Christian population mostly originates from the local Montenegrin and Serb population, which accepted Orthodox Christianity in Middle Ages after a major split during The Great Schism. They represent the major religious group. There are various Eastern Orthodox churches in the City such as St. George Church which originates from the 13th century, or Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ which is largest church in the city to have been recently erected. The Muslim population mostly originates from local Bosniaks, as well as Albanians. There are several mosques in Podgorica and Tuzi.

Catholic population mainly consists of local autochthonous Albanian minority. The main religious site for the Catholic population located in the Konik neighbourhood is the Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus constructed in 1966, in Brutalist style which makes this object unique. Other Catholic objects are located in eastern suburb Tuzi. Podgorica Demographics Further information: Demographics of Podgorica Although medium-sized by European standards, Podgorica is by far the largest city in Montenegro: almost one third of Montenegrin citizens live there. According to the 2011 census, there are 185,937 people in Podgorica Capital City, which is analogous to metropolitan area, and includes the small towns of Tuzi and Golubovci, while 150,977 people live within the city proper. Out of total population of Podgorica Capital City, 48,73% are male, while 51,27% are female. Average age of Podgorica population is 35,7. Montenegrin is the most spoken language, with 42,4% of Podgorica citizens declaring it as their first language.

It is followed closely by Serbian, at 41,17%. Other significant languages spoken in Podgorica are Albanian (5,53%) and Romani (1,81%). The majority of Podgorica citizens are Orthodox Christians (78,27%), while there are significant minorities of Muslims (11,23%) and Catholics (4,27%). Podgorica Administration The city administration consists of mayor, city assembly and a number of secretariats and administrative bodies which together act as a city local government. The city assembly has 59 members, elected directly for four-year terms. The mayor used to be directly elected for five-year term, but since the new law was introduced in Montenegrin municipalities mayors will be elected by the city assembly and will have to maintain its support during his term. Separate elections are held for local sub-divisions of Golubovci and Tuzi since it is part of their administrative autonomy inside Podgorica municipality.

Constant questions are raised by various politicians over gaining separate municipality status for Golubovci and Tuzi On local elections held on 25 May 2014, the Democratic Party of Socialists won 29 seats in the municipal assembly, one short of 30 needed to form a majority. Democratic Front won 17 seats, SNP won 8 seats, while coalition made of Positive Montenegro and SDP won 5 seats. After lengthy negotiations, SDP dissolved coalition with Pozitivna, and made arrangement on forming majority with DPS, similar to one they have in national government. While SDP is longtime partner of DPS at national level, it has been in opposition in Podgorica municipal assembly in 2010-2014 period. Since October 2014, position of the mayor is held by DPS official, Slavoljub Stijepović, replacing Podgorica mayor od 14 years, Miomir Mugoša. The university's scientific research institutes are in the city: Institute of Foreign Languages Institute of Biotechnology Institute of History The Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts is in Podgorica, as is the DANU cultural organization.

The Mediterranean University was founded 2006 as first private university in Montenegro. In the meantime, the number of private institutions for higher education has increased, like UDG - University of Donja Gorica. The municipality of Podgorica has 34 elementary schools and 10 secondary schools, including one gymnasium. The first secondary school established in Podgorica is Gymnasium "Slobodan Škerović". The rebuilt economic high school offers new features and higher quality education. The Radosav Ljumović National Library is considered the most comprehensive in Montenegro. Public transport Public transport in Podgorica consists of 11 urban and 16 suburban bus lines. City owned AD Gradski saobraćaj public transport company used to be the sole bus operator, until the 1990s, when private carriers were introduced. The city-owned company went bankrupt in 2001, and buses were since operated solely by private carriers. Public transport faces competition from very popular dispatched taxi services. Deregulation and stiff competition has made taxi services very affordable. Over 20 taxi companies are operating in Podgorica with a total close to 800 vehicles in service.

Usually, taxi companies provide a high level of service, with relatively new and uniform car fleets and GPS-tracked vehicles. Road Podgorica's location in central Montenegro makes it a natural hub for rail and road transport. Roads in Montenegro (especially that which connects Podgorica to northern Montenegro and Serbia) are usually inferior to modern European roads. Both major Montenegrin motorway projects, Bar – Boljare motorway and Adriatic Ionian motorway, will pass near Podgorica. Those roads are currently in planning stages. The newly built Sozina tunnel (4.2 km) shortened the journey from Podgorica to Bar (Montenegro's main seaport) to under 30 minutes. Also a new road bypass has been constructed in 2011, to remove transport routes from north to south of the country out of the city centre. A south-western bypass has also been planned, with same goal of moving heavy transport out of the city core. Podgorica is also characteristic for its extensive network of multi lane boulevards which make inner city transport quick and effective.

Traffic over the Morača River also goes fluently since river banks are very well connected with 6 vehicular and 3 pedestrian bridges. The current main transit connections of Podgorica are: north (E65, E80), towards Belgrade and on to Central Europe west (E762), towards Nikšić, Bosnia and on to Western Europe south (E65, E80) towards the Adriatic coast east (E762), towards Albania ^ "Montenegrin 2011 census". Monstat. 2011. ^ Wells, John C. Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Pearson Longman. ISBN978-1-4058-8118-0. ^ Božić, Ivan (1979). "Nemirno pomorje XV veka" (in Serbian). Beograd: Srpska književna zadruga: 295. OCLC5845972. почетком 1474 ...

о султановој намери да обнови Подгорицу и да је насели са пет хиљада турских домаћинстава, а исто тако да подигне из рушевина стари град Балеч ^ Ćorović, Vladimir (2005). Istorija Srba (in Serbian). Zoograf. p.357. Retrieved 21 January 2012. ...очвидно из разлога да спрече везе између Зећана и Албанаца ^ Peel, M. C. and Finlayson, B. L. and McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. ISSN1027-5606. ^ "Climatology".

Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro. Retrieved 2012-10-13. ^ Mugoša: Podgorica dobija svoju televiziju ^ Radovinović, Radovan; Bertić, Ivan, eds. (1984). Atlas svijeta: Novi pogled na Zemlju (in Croatian) (3rd ed.). Zagreb: Sveučilišna naklada Liber. ^ "Monthly Statistical Review, no. 6/2014" (pdf). Monstat. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2014-10-13. ^ "Saobraćaj". Podgorica.me. Retrieved 2013-03-12. ^ U Željeznicu ulažu 52 miliona eura ^ "Yerevan - Partner Cities". Yerevan Municipality Official Website. © 2005—2013 Retrieved 2013-11-04. ^ "Official portal of City of Skopje – Skopje Sister Cities".

2006–2009 City of Skopje. Retrieved 2009-07-14. External link in |publisher= (help)

Question: Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, was known by what name when it was part of Yugoslavia?
Answer: Titograd