Podgorica at the Confluence of the Moraca and Ribnica Rivers

A beautiful country in southeastern Europe, Montenegro is part of the Balkans. To the west, it has a coastline with the Adriatic Sea. Podgorica isn’t one of the capitals which tourists usually choose to visit but it does have its charm and the beaches are great for taking a break in traveling and just relaxing. Its name translates to “under small hill”. It sits on the confluence of two rivers – the Moraca (to the west of it is the business district) and the Ribnica (dividing the east side of the city into two parts).

The Millennium Bridge is the city's most prominent landmark. The cable-stayed bridge spans the Moraca River.

On the south bank of the Ribnica is Stara Varos, the heart of the Ottoman town, and on the north bank is Nova Varos where you can see lovely late 19th and early 20th century buildings among them many different shops and bars. The main symbol of Stara Varos is the Clock Tower on Becirbeg Osmanagic Square. The clock was originally made in Italy.

At the heart of it all is the main square Trg Republika. The city is also the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlici Valley. It has a great location as it is close to winter ski centers in the north and seaside resorts along the Adriatic Sea.

Nearby the Clock Tower is the oldest “surviving” old townhouse, the House of Cubranovic. It was built in 1630.

You’ll find the ruins of Ribnica Fortress at the confluence of the two rivers. It was built by the Ottomans at the time of their conquest in 1474. Here the best preserved element is a little arched bridge that crosses over the Ribnica.

In the Petrovic Palace, you can now find The Contemporary Art Center with two galleries. On the lower two floors of the former palace, tourists can see high-profile exhibitions and on the top floor, there is an unusual collection of traditional and modern art. This collection includes an Indonesian batik, a metal palm tree from Iraq, and revolutionary-themed paintings from South America. It is devoted to art from countries that belong to the Non-Aligned Movement. On the grounds, you can see interesting sculptures, a tiny church, and an exhibition in the former guardhouse – Perianicki Dom. There is also a small Galerija Centar which offers temporary exhibitions.

Sastavci is a popular romantic spot. The Skaline Stone Bridge is the city's oldest stone bridge at the mouth of the Ribnica.

Gorica Hill is a popular park for recreation. Among the highlights is the Mediterranean garden, a Partisan Fighter memorial, and an adventure park. There are trails for hiking, biking, and running.

Ljubovic Hill is another park on Ljubovic, a conical limestone hill. It rises 101 meters above sea level and is covered with pine trees, wild grasses, and medicinal plants. People enjoy walking in the forest and it is a favorite place for picnics.

Podgorica was once known as Titograd or “Tito-city” and many royal sculptures are found in its many parks. A large equestrian statue of Nikola I found opposite the Parliament at the head of a lovely park with trees and manicured hedges.

The most unusual sculpture is that of Russian singer Vladimir Visockii close to the Millenium Bridge. He is depicted shirtless with a guitar and a skull by his feet.

Plantaze Vineyard is the largest vineyard in Europe. The vineyard grows 29 different grape varieties with the most important indigenous Montenegrian varieties being Vranac and Krstac. Visitors can see the Sipcanik wine cellar.

Ten minutes from Podgorica, you'll find Niagara Falls on the Cijevna River.

You can see the falls by following the signs by the Niagara Restaurant to Rakica Kuce.