Ulcinj

Ulcinj is a small seaside town in Montenegro, a popular resort on the Adriatic coast. Ulcinj is the southernmost city of the country, located near the border with Albania, and the most colorful – a truly oriental city of Montenegro.

The first settlements on the site of present Ulcinj date back to the Bronze Age. The town was most likely founded in the V. BC by the Greeks from Colchis, and was originally called Colchinium. Later (in 163 B.C.) Ulcinj, then called Olcinium, together with other Adriatic towns became part of the Roman Empire, and began to develop as a major center of trade and navigation. From the Roman period until the Middle Ages, Ulcinj was known as a pirate capital of the Adriatic, the slave trade flourished in the city.

From 1423 to 1571 the city belonged to the Venetian Republic under the name of Dulcigno. At the end of the 16th century, Ulcinj was conquered by the Turks, who ruled these lands for more than three centuries. The Ottoman domination had a significant impact on the architecture of the city, which is often called "Montenegrin Istanbul", for its oriental coloring. It is a tradition that a lot of Montenegrin Muslims and Albanians live in Ulcinj. Although they are a big part of the population, this fact does not affect the safety and comfort of having holidays in Ulcinj.

Today Ulcinj is a famous Montenegrin resort, which is popular for its beautiful beaches and a record number (for Montenegro) of sunny days a year (217 days).