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ULCINJ - TOP 5 PLACES
TOP 5 PLACES - MUST VISIT
We suggest the following top 5 places in and around Budva that should definitely be visited:
THE OLD TOWN
Ulcinj`s Old town is a lot like many other medieval towns on the Montenegrin Coast. It is encircled by big stonewalls and fortresses, which for centuries have been the keepers of the Ulcin`s: history, culture, and tradition. For the Old town people from Ulicnj say that it is a fortress of a unique beauty. Bulwarks, which surround it, come out directly from the sea and their surface is 3 ha. They are composed of citadel – a part which is still called upper town an a fortress of a military character, which is located on a highest stone plateau, and city community which encircles the south area which is gird by the defensive walls. It is considered that the real builders of the Old town in Ulcinj were Greeks from Epir, who built the town at the end of the V and at the beginning of the IV century B.C. That that period can be considered as the time for which the genesis of the town can be tied with, testifies a record on the pedestal for the icon of a goddess Ara on which it is written: “The union of the stonemasons (erects) to Artemida Elafavoli (a goddess of hunt)”. That leads us to a fact that the “Cyclops” walls, as they are still called, the bulwarks of Ulcinj, were erected by the Greek masons. The town, which was made by the Greeks, was ruined in the earthquake in the V century, so for the now – day look of the Old town Ulcinj, the credit mostly goes to Romans, who built a new town in the VI century. With the Old town many stories are connected. Up to the year 19000 in Ulcinj 100 black people lived. For the arrivals of the first men of black complexion the most important is the period when Ulcinj, that is, at that time Port Valdanos was a pirate asylum. Because of the trading of slaves from the countries of the Mediterranean, the main square in Ulcinj even today carries a name Slave Square. Also, even today you can hear a story that the famous Spanish writer Miguel de Servantes was one of the imprisoned pirate captives and slaves in Ulcinj. In Ulcinj Servantes has spent 5 years. Later, on his returning to his homeland, Servantes writes his famous work named “Don Quixote”. It is supposed that the two female characters that are mentioned in that work are precisely inspired by the Servantes` imprisonment in Ulcinj.
The Old town represents a real nest of culturally -historical heritage of Ulcinj. Beside the North gate of the town, on the central plateau a museum complex is situated. There is also a church, a mosque, today a museum in which all relevant documents and discoveries are found. The exhibits that re worth of attention are some like: antique pedestal with a transcript to a Greek goddess Artemida, an antique cameo with the picture of a goddess with a helmet, 2 axes from the Bronze Age. In the collection of the stone objects ionic capital, parts of the Little Church form the IX century and abundance of objects from the Turkish era are being preserved.
Behind the old Ulcinj`s museum a “Tower Balsici” is located, whose space for one part was used as a gallery. “The Tower Balsici” is considered to be one of the most representative objects of the medieval architecture in Montenegro. In front of the Tower is a Little or Slave Square, enclosed by volts (casemates). In the nearby there is a high wall, better known as Balani, from the Venetian era. In front of the entrance into the museum is a ramp “ravelina”(outer part of the fortification, shaped like crescent or half – moon, which is usually situated in front of the middle bulwark and between parapets), and a Turkish drinking fountain from 1749.
Just few meters away from the main is the Ethnological museum of Ulcinj. It owns an extremely rich collection of exhibits. From it many alleys lead to the upper plateau of the old town fortress. In front of the South entrance in the town the foundations of a former Orthodox Church Holy mother of God, from the XII century, which later was turned into a catholic church of St. Marko, are found. In the vicinity of the church is also a big Venetian cistern. A little bit further is a Turkish powder magazine from the XVIII century. Nearby is an extremely luxurious building “Palata Venecija” (“Palace Venetia”), on whose place there used to be remains of an old building, so it is thought that in the building “Palata Venecija” at the time of Venetian Republic there used to be a residence of the administrators of the town.
Because of the beauty, luxuriousness and functionality the above mentioned the Montenegrin rulers Balsici used palace as a residence and a court. In the approximate vicinity of the Palace, there is a big Venetian building, “Dvori Balsica” from the XIV century – today a well-known hotel facility.
Before the entrance in the Old town there is a burial chamber, which is a specific mark of the period of Otoman`s Empire reign.
According to a legend, the burial chamber testifies about the duel of two brothers or friends, for the love of a woman. According to that story, two men have fought to death so that the winner in that duel would win the love of the beloved woman. Unable to make a decision, and not even capable of watching their fight to death, according to the legend, the young woman jumped from the house and put an end to her life. Still, the duel of the young men who at that time were highly respected in former Ulcinj was continued. One of them died in the fight, and the other not longer after the first died too. The burial chamber – on the place of their fight, represents a sanctity, which – according to the folk belief radiates and heals.
Numerous people from Ulcinj and also tourists that pass through the Old town, which even today has bars with which the burial chamber is fenced, throw in a coin for the luck.
Ulcinj`s Old town despite of the numerous damages on the South side and of low quality communal infrastructure, remains a I category monument and a candidate for the protection of UNESCO.
OLD ULCINJ
Old Ulcinj emits a real Oriental spirit. It is 2 km away from the center of the new town. Narrow, steep, twisting, and layered with the threadbare cobblestones streets, still faithfully testify about all the epochs that have marked this town: reign of the pirates, Byzantium, Venetians, Turks… When you walk down the streets of the Old Ulcinj, it looks as if for a moment you're going back to the time of the sultans, pashas or aga (despots), in the centuries when except by the sabers, yataghan (s), the events were remembered by beautiful slave women, or the sounds of the wooden slippers which were an unavoidable elements of the folk female Islamic costumes. Small and low buildings, family houses in a district style, are situated along the narrow city nest. However, there are various souvenir shops, barbershops, pastry shops, market stores and many other similar shops, which emit the spirit of Orient. The visit to Old Ulcinj simply has to be an obligatory part of your tour around the narrowest part of the Montenegrin coast. The singing of the Muslim priest in the noon, in the nearby mosque, and the sounds of the folk songs which are heard from the cafes or ethno restaurants in the vicinity, will remind you on the fantastic scenes from various films which for the topic had the culture of Islam. And when in the small handicraft shop you notice some silver or copper souvenir, some nice scarf or a blouse interweaved with the threads a lot like gold, to a skillful tradesman or the owner of a shop will not take much time to persuade you to immediately buy that thing. Beside the Montenegrin, Albanian language has equal rights in the official communication, but especially during the summer period through Old Ulcinj you can hear also: English, German, Italian, Russian, and French… Especially in Jun July and August Ulcinj is full of domestic and foreign tourists, people who come for an excursion and many other visitors.
When you get tired of a long walk, or you desperately need a rest to collect all your emotions, it is best that you cool yourself by drinking lemonade, eating some fruit desert, drinking Turkish coffee or if it's time for lunch to try out the Ulcinj specialty “small grilled meat in a round loaf of bread”.
Whatever plan of touring of Ulcinj that you make, you will not make a mistake, because everything that you see, hear or experience in Ulcinj, a deeply inscribe memory of the Oriental town from the Montenegrin South will stay in your mind. In Ulcinj you will definitely fell the connection of civilizations, nations, languages, young and old people, old and new, urban and archaic…all in one place, and on a not so big space – of Old Ulcinj.
ADA BOJANA
That naturalistic complex is located in the farthest South of Montenegro, in the mouth of the River Bojana in the Adriatic Sea. The island Ada Bojana ensued in artificial way in such a manner that in the XIX century in the place of the present Island a ship called “Merito” came aground. The years of the sedimentation of the river alluviums have sculptured Ada Bojana, which today is considered to be a paradise on earth.
Ada is the most famous tourist gem of Montenegro. The nudist place on Ada with the specific ambience is skillfully hidden from the curious looks, which from two sides is surrounded by a beautiful River Bojana, and from the third with the clearest seawater. Many people say that the best recommendation for tourists that wish to come to Ada is an advice: “If at any point of your life you wish to have a summer vacation from your dreams, in the costumes of Adam and Eve, Ada Bojana is definitely the right choice”.
When you decide to spend your vacation on Ada Bojana, then for sure you'll be charmed by the kilometers of the long sandy beach, which like a skillfully drawn painter's line merges with the crystal clear sea. The beach and the sea bottom are covered with petty sand. On the very beach the parasols made from the reed and coll are lined. Ada is most beautiful in the sunset – when while the sun is setting the amazing game of colors, which merges the sea, the sand and the sky in a unique picture. Beside the tourists, and especially nudists, on Ada in summer period come all those who wish to unite their personality with the intact nature, expecting everyday the most beautiful sunsets and its reflection on the blue sea. From summer to summer numerous poets, literates, singers, moviemakers, journalists, businessmen, bohemians and eccentrics return to it.
The space of the beaches on Ada Bojana is the real place for the complete privacy. Luxurious and comfortable bungalows are situated next to the very beach, surrounded by beautiful flower arrangements and Mediterranean vegetation, so those details too will make you vacation on Ada Bojana unusual, and for sure a summer vacation that you couldn't even imagine.
For those who like to rest a lot and let themselves to the vacation maximally, the information that the bungalows are only 100 meters away from the beach, and that they have separate entrances and beautiful little terraces with the view towards the sea, will sound marvelously. In the vicinity are the restaurants, sport terrains and parking lots.
For Ada Bojana people say that it is a play that draws out negative thoughts. With the fact that over the entire area which Ada Bojana encompasses is unusually silent, after several days of your staying here it will be clear that that silence can convert and tranquil people, to give them back their enthusiasm, will life energy and the strength for new zeal. How can it not, when besides the singing of the birds, hiss of the waves, comfort that the sea wind creates or the buzzing of the crickets in the noon or while the sun is severely burning there is nothing that can disturb that peace. Apart from the intact nature the sports offers is very diverse and rich: from horse riding, sailing, to paraglide, kite riding and windsurfing.
On Ada Bojana there is a windsurf school which owns the newest, top-notch gear. The potentials of Ada Bojana satisfy both amateurs and the high criteria of the professionals. The flat line of the lake water on which first steps of this sport are learned is suitable for the beginners. After only 7 days of training at the professional trainers allows you enjoyment in the waves, and after a one-month training the winds in the open sea are available. The salable winds that blow on the Ada beaches, make excellent waves, which allow high quality windsurf.
The shores that Bojana splashes are well known by the wooden houses, from which local people on a traditional and specific way hunt fish which you can immediately try in the fish restaurants, built also in the attractive ambience. The Island Ada Bojana is full of subtropical and Mediterranean vegetation. As the naturalistic place with its complex was built at the beginning of the 1970`s, Ada has been recognized for many years as the destination of hippie generation.
SASKO LAKE
Is situated in the vicinity of Ulcinj. To Sasko Lake the easiest way to come is by using the taxi transport or your own car. That lake is unique by its beauty; it's transparent and calm, but also very rich with fish. The surface of Sasko Lake is 364 ha. The surrounding ambience has diverse flora and fauna. Beside the reed, and the willow trees the lake is a unique residence of diverse birds. On the very island and in the surroundings there are 240 various kinds of birds, while in Europe according to some records there about 400 kinds. The permanent residents of Sasko Lake are storks, herons, guises, wild guises, cormorants… Driving in the plastic or wooden barge a lot like canoe, you can observe the beauties of Sasko Lake and its surroundings. If you take binoculars, video or photo camera with you those colorful details you can record on a tape.
In the colorful surrounding of Ulcinj in the winter period woodcocks are hunted. Most often those birds are the reason for the arrival of the great number of hunters from Italy to Sasko Lake. Especially well know domicile and residence of the migratory birds are water surfaces so called Sonanski bazen and the thick shrubbery around them. Numerous migratory birds linger on Sasko Lake, in order to rest on their long journey to the Southern areas. Their coming there lurks ornithologists from all parts of the Europe which stare at them to take a photograph, shoot them with their cameras, admire their beauty, put rings on them and hope that the next year they'll meet them again in Ulcinj. So, on Sasko Lake another among tourists and devotees of nature favorite kind of fun, which is bird watching, is in its prime. On Sasko Lake there are the remains of the town Svac, today a “dead city” which in the ancient past was conquered by the Mongolians. Svac was known by the 365 churches, the same as there are days in a year.
In the vicinity of the lake there is River Bojana. After the crazy nightlife spent in the Ulcinj restaurants, cafes or after a beautifully spent day on the Ulcinj beaches we suggest that you go fishing. In the mouth of the Rover Bojana to the Sea, fishing of the fish “lica”, a great predatory and a passionate fighter, is very attractive, and sometimes their weight can be even 20 kg. Kind hosts will always gladly take you with themselves with their barges in hunting and lead you in to little secrets of hunting or fishing. If you're a hunter, and underwater fisherman or fisherman etc. on River Bojana, and on Porto Milena you can see numerous "calimeras". "Calimeras" are ancient houses with attractive devices for a specific way of hunting fish, which has effectively kept until nowadays in this area.
If you're not a fisherman, and you like fish, then in the mouth of the River Bojana you have a wide choice of fish restaurants on water in which you can taste various sea specialties, fishes, crabs, shells…
COVE VALDANOS
One or several days of your vacation you have to dedicate to your visit of cove Valdanos and here are the reasons. Cove Valdanos is only five kilometers North West from Ulcinj. It used to be a main harbor of the Ulcinj pirates and the place of many sea battles. Well-informed people claim that that cove hides the remains of sank ships from the Greek and Roman period and medieval period also.
Situated between two hills Mavrijan and Mendre, Cove Valdanos is a real den of olive trees. Because of the fact that in that cove there are 80.000 olive trees, for Ulcinj it is often said that it has olive climate. Compared to other coves, this one is protected from the South and North winds, and it has often served as a shelter. The cove from all sides is surrounded by olive groves. Good connoisseurs of this area say that some olive trees origin from the time of Ancient Greece, while for the majority of the trees it is thought that they are up to 300 years old. The olives have forever in these areas represented goods equal to gold. Olive oil from the area of Ulcinj in amphorae and jugs has reached by trading canals Venice, Rome, Cairo, Skadar, Skopje, Duklja, and Prizren…
From the seastrand to the very town, Cove Valdanos is 5 kilometers long. Along the edge of the cove is a pavement road, which on one side is connected to the highway Ulcinj – Bar and on the other it is connected with city streets. In the South east corner of the cove is a smaller pier for the boats, yachts and rowboats. There are traces of the urbanization, but so far there weren't any archeological researches. Next to the very shore are the remains of a smaller church, for which people believe that the Greeks built it.
Capes, which protect Cove Valdanos suddenly, droop and sink deep into the sea. There is situated a very beautifully arranged beach, made out of bigger pebbles. In the back the beach is overgrown with maquis, and pine forest. It is 600 meters long and averagely 20 meters wide. Beside the beach there are a restaurant, sport terrains, and a beach bar. Those tourists whom because of the peace and the call of nature decide to spend a part of their vacation in the Cove Vladanos, surely won't make a mistake, because beside swimming, sunbathing, resting in the shadows of the 100 years old olive trees, they can easily come an opportunity for camping, touring of the surrounding capes, researching of the entire cove like real: archeologists, mountain speleologists, botanists… Besides enjoying in the ideal shadow of the olive groves, swimming in the clear, azure blue water, in Cove Valdanos you can, just as a real “antique hunter”, research underwater, looking for the shipwrecks or admiring the diverse sea world. Also, if you wish you could go to Cape Mendre, on which the oldest lighthouse in Montenegro is located.
In the little house made 20 years ago for the old lighthouse keeper and his wife, you can with the attentiveness of the host find out some detail about the life of the lighthouse keeper, about the sea, emotions, which the look onto the “open blue sea” awakens…
Any way we wish that your one-day or several days of rest in the Cove Valdanos becomes an experience which you'll gladly remember.Go To - Ulcinj Photo Gallery , Go To - Ulcinj Video Gallery
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