Ulcinj
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Улцињ Ulqin Ulqini |
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Ulcinj (Serbian/Montenegrin Cyrillic: Улцињ, Albanian: Ulqin or Ulqini, Italian: Dulcigno) is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 10,828 (2003 census.)
Ulcinj is the centre of Ulcinj Municipality. This southernmost municipality of Montenegro has a population of 20,290.
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[edit] History
The wider area of Ulcinj has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Illyrian tombs (tumuli), found in the village of Zogaj, in the vicinity of Ulcinj, date back to the Bronze Age.
The town is believed to be founded in the 5th century BC by Greek colonists from Colchis. The Colchian colonization is mentioned in the 3rd century BC, in a poem by Apollonius of Rhodos.
Illyrians lived in the region at the time, and under Greek influence built immense so-called Cyclopean Walls. In Latin, it was known as Olcinium or Ulcinium. In medieval times a shipwreck of a Saracen ship was stranded there with African slaves; locals saved the surviving Africans and made them an integral part of the population of the town.
Ulqin was the pirate capital of the Adriatic from the 2nd century AD up until the Middle Ages.
[edit] Population
Ulcinj is administrative centre of Ulcinj municipality, which has 20,290 residents. The town of Ulcinj itself has a population of 10,828.
Ulcinj is the centre of Albanian community in Montenegro. It is the only municipality in Montenegro where Albanians form the overwhelming majority.
Population of Ulcinj:
Ethnic groups (2003 census):
- Albanians (72.14%)
- Montenegrins (11.93%)
- Serbs (7.44%)
- Muslims (3.36%)
- Bosniaks (1.46%)
[edit] Tourism
In the summer time, Ulcinj is a popular tourist destination. Although still undiscovered by many travelers from larger countrys, repeat tourists and an increasing amount of first time visitors make Ulcinj a hot spot for vacationers between the months of May and September. It is most famous for its beaches, which are considered the most beautiful in Montenegro. The most valuable resource of the Ulcinj riviera is Velika Plaža (literally "Big Beach"), which is a 12 km long portion of sandy beach - the longest on the Montenegrin coast. There is also a beach that holds the name Mala Plaža ("Little Beach") which is much smaller in size, but is very popular with visitors. "The Korzo" as it is called by locals, is a strip-like walkway ligning the small beach. At night during the summer months, young tourists walk past one another while bright lights decorate the street and live music invades their ear drums. It is said that some of the most beautiful girls in South Eastern Europe, visiting Ulcinj as tourists, can be found walking about the Korzo on a nightly basis. There are many more less known smaller beaches that serve as a get a way to many people looking to catch their breath.
Ulcinj's old town is a very well preserved castle looking community that is left over from midievil times. The old town sits atop a mountain overlooking the shore and is a tourist attraction on its own.
Ada Bojana is popular among foreign tourists from Western Europe for its peace and unique atmosphere.
Šaško lake and Ulcinj's salt pond are popular among birdwatchers, because Ulcinj and its surroundings are major resting points for over 200 bird species on their migration paths.
There are numerous pubs, dance clubs, and bars that dot the city that are usually filled to capacity throughout the summer.
The majority of tourists in Ulcinj are Albanians, Germans, Italians, and other nearby European countries.
A large number of Americans who are either of Albanian descent or were born in or near the city of Ulcinj often make the city a prime summer time destination.
[edit] Transport
Ulcinj is connected with rest of Montenegro by two-laned highways. It is connected with other coastal towns by the Adriatic Motorway. Reaching inland is made possible by detouring from The Adriatic Motorway at Budva or Sutomore (through Sozina tunnel).
As of today, there are no airports in the city of Ulcinj. However, nearby airports in Tivat and Podgorica are both around 70 km away. There are regular flights to Belgrade and Zurich from Tivat. Podgorica Airport has regular flights to major European destinations throughout the year. Many tourists traveling to Ulcinj from abroad arrive into the city from the airport in Tivat due to its recent rennovations and general ease of navigation.
Within the city, there is public transportation available to the general public by way of city buses. Along with private automobiles, taxi cabs and vans are in great abundance throughout the city and its vicinities. To avoid congestion in the often traffic laden streets of Ulcinj, many young locals opt for travel by motorbike and scooter, which are also available to rent on daily or weekly timeshares.
[edit] External links
| Municipalities of Montenegro |  |
|---|---|
| Andrijevica | Bar | Berane | Bijelo Polje | Budva | Cetinje | Danilovgrad | Herceg-Novi | Kolašin | Kotor | Mojkovac | Nikšić | Plav | Pljevlja | Plužine | Podgorica | Rožaje | Šavnik | Tivat | Ulcinj | Žabljak | |
