Podgorica

Podgorica (Подгорица) (formerly Titograd and Ribnica) is the capital of Montenegro, located at 42.47° North, 19.28° East ^{(The World Gazetteer)}. In 2003 it has a population of 139,500. Its name literally means 'under the Gorica' in Serbian where Gorica is the name of the mount overlooking the town, meaning 'little mount'. Between 1945 and 1992 the town was also known as Titograd, in the Middle ages as Ribnica. In Podgorica there are several theatres, libraries and a university.

Table of contents

1 Economy 2 Traffic 3 Sights 4 History

Economy

Traffic

• Rail links:
  • Belgrade-Bar
  • Nikšić
  • Shkodër-Tirana, Albania (now defunct).

• International Airport: TGD / Golubovci

Sights

St. George's church (10th century), clock tower, old bridge, citadelle, old mosques.

History

Ribnica was the birthplace of Serb prince Stefan Nemanja born in 1132. In 1326, Ribnica became Podgorica. It became part of Serbia and Venice. 1466-1878 it was part of the Ottoman Empire, later of Montenegro. In 1918 it was the site of the Grand National Serb Assembly which voted for the inclusion of Montenegro in Serbia in November of that year. Later, along with Serbia, Podgorica and Montenegro joined the new state of Yugoslavia. The town was occupied by Italian fascist forces in 1941 and by the Nazis in 1943. The Communist leadership of Josip Broz asked for Allied bombing of the town in 1944 which completely ravaged the city and killed many of its residents. The Communists then rebuilt the town and changed its name to Titograd in 1945 and transferred the capital of Montenegro from Cetinje to Podgorica in 1946.

See also: List of cities in Montenegro