Be my guest Podgorica. The Montenegrin mosaic

Montenegro, located in the Balkans, is the perfect place to visit at any time of the year. This diverse country is worth slowly exploring every nook and cranny. And where is the best place to start sightseeing? Of course from the capital.

Author: Magdalena Delkowska. Avid traveller and blogger. Shares her time between Kraków and her family city – Kościelisko. Lover of mountains, addicted to coffee, good wine and kabanos. Her travel adventures can be followed at:  w10inspiracjidookolaswiata.pl.

If Montenegro were compared to taste, it would definitely be an aromatic herbal infusion that should be slowly brewed in a brass crucible. Just fill a cup, close your eyes and take the first sip. You will feel the waves of the Adriatic gently carving into inland, creating picturesque bays along the way. You will see the beaches stretching for several kilometres, imperceptibly passing into rocky hills and deep gorges, just to fall on the gentle slopes of olive groves. Another sip will take you into the world of narrow streets and mysterious alleys that you will be looking for while walking on hot cobblestones of the port towns. The third sip is a colourful mosaic of culture and religion. Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque? Montenegro has all.

SPIRIT OF THE CAPITAL

Podgorica is called the ugliest capital in Europe and many people will advise you that the only thing that you should there is to run. What advice can I give? Stay. Because if someone claims that there is nothing interesting in Podgorica, then it is more than certain that this is not true. Podgorica does not have epic monuments and romantic alleys. Instead, it has charming buildings and winding streets in the oldest part of the city – Stara Varoš. There is also a clock tower from the 18th century, and the mosque towering over the old town adds a pinch of oriental flavour. You will not experience the metropolitan atmosphere and the modern spirit of the metropolis here. In return, you can find a place where the Ribnica River flows into the other – Morača. There are the remains of embankments, towers of the medieval Ribnica fortifications and the old river bridge. You can take a break there and have a picnic. City residents often relax there, so why not join them?

AT THE TOP OF THE HILL

A must see place in the capital is the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. This richly decorated temple will enchant every visitor with its colours and ornaments. For those who like active sightseeing, I recommend a walk to Gorica Hill, which lies north of the city centre. After climbing to the top, you can admire Podgorica from above. In the background there will be wonderful landscapes that will make you feel a craving to explore Montenegro. Before you leave the city, take a look at its suburbs, where the Dajbabe Monastery from 1897 was built in a rock cave. And then let’s go further, as Montenegro hides attractions out of this world just around the corner!

OVER WATER

Lake Skadar is the largest water reservoir in Montenegro, which in a small part also belongs to Albania. It is 50 km long and 14 km wide. Its unique feature is that the bottom of the lake is below sea level. To get to know all its picturesque features, you must go on a trip by car along the Vladimir – Ostros – Virpazar route. It will be not only the most beautiful, but also the most exciting tour. I have not seen so many switchbacks, narrow crossings and bends over precipices in the entire Montenegro. Frequent stops are recommended for drivers, as the number of great views outside the window significantly reduces the level of concentration on the road.