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Podgorica (Cyrillic
Montenegrin language

Montenegrin language is the name given to the Ijekavian-Shtokavian dialect spoken in Montenegro. Generally, it is recognized as a variant of the Serbian language, but some Montenegrins refer to their specific dialect as a language on its own....
: ?????????; ) is the capital and largest city of Montenegro
Montenegro

Montenegro , Montenegrin language/Serbian language: ???? ????, Crna Gora , ) is a country located in Balkans. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south....
. It is at , above sea level.

A census in 2003 put the city's population at 136,473. Its favourable position, at the confluence of the Ribnica
Ribnica River

The Ribnica River is a small river that runs through Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a tributary to Moraca River, their confluence being at the city centre....
 and Moraca
Moraca River

Moraca is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzaca mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Scutari....
 rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain
Zeta plain

Zeta Plain is a fertile lowland in Montenegro. It stretches from Podgorica in the north to the Skadar Lake in the south. It is the biggest plains area in Montenegro....
 and Bjelopavlici Valley has encouraged settlement. The city is close to winter ski centres in the north and seaside resorts on the Adriatic Sea.

The municipality of Podgorica contains 10.4% of Montenegro's territory and 27.3% of its population.






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Podgorica (Cyrillic
Montenegrin language

Montenegrin language is the name given to the Ijekavian-Shtokavian dialect spoken in Montenegro. Generally, it is recognized as a variant of the Serbian language, but some Montenegrins refer to their specific dialect as a language on its own....
: ?????????; ) is the capital and largest city of Montenegro
Montenegro

Montenegro , Montenegrin language/Serbian language: ???? ????, Crna Gora , ) is a country located in Balkans. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south....
. It is at , above sea level.

A census in 2003 put the city's population at 136,473. Its favourable position, at the confluence of the Ribnica
Ribnica River

The Ribnica River is a small river that runs through Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a tributary to Moraca River, their confluence being at the city centre....
 and Moraca
Moraca River

Moraca is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzaca mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Scutari....
 rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain
Zeta plain

Zeta Plain is a fertile lowland in Montenegro. It stretches from Podgorica in the north to the Skadar Lake in the south. It is the biggest plains area in Montenegro....
 and Bjelopavlici Valley has encouraged settlement. The city is close to winter ski centres in the north and seaside resorts on the Adriatic Sea.

The municipality of Podgorica contains 10.4% of Montenegro's territory and 27.3% of its population. It is the administrative centre of Montenegro and its economic, cultural and educational focus.

Name

The name means "under the Gorica" in Montenegrin language. Gorica (meaning "little mountain") is the name of the hill that overlooks the city centre.

About northwest of Podgorica are the ruins of Doclea
Duklja

Duklja or Diokletija was a South Slavic medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of the modern-state Montenegro and bordering with Travunia at Kotor....
, a town known in Greek
Ancient Greece

The term Ancient Greece refers to the period of History of Greece lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca. 1100 BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman Republic conquest of Greece after the Battle of Corinth ....
, pre-Roman and Roman
Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC....
 times. The Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor

The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman Empire during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office: Latin language titles such as imperator , Augustus , Caesar and princeps were all associated with it....
 Diocletian
Diocletian

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , born Diocles and commonly known as Diocletian , was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305....
 came from this region. In later centuries, Romans "corrected" the name to Dioclea, guessing wrongly that an "i" had been lost in vulgar speech. "Duklja" is the later (Slavic) version of that word.

When founded (before the 11th century), the town was called Birziminium. In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages

File:Karl 1 mit papst gelasius gregor1 sacramentar v karl d kahlen.jpgThe Middle Ages of European history are a period in history which lasted for roughly a millennium, commonly dated from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Early Modern Period in the 16th century, marked by the division of Western Christi...
, it was known as Ribnica. The name Podgorica was used from 1326. From 1946 to 1992 it was called Titograd
List of places named after Tito

During Josip Broz Tito's presidency and in the years following his death in 1980, several places in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were named or renamed in honor of him as part of his cult of personality....
.

History

Podgorica is at the crossroads
Crossroads (culture)

A crossroads is a road junction, where two or more roads meet . Crossroads is also an alternate name for a Hamlet located at such a junction....
 of several historically important routes, near the rivers Zeta
Zeta River

Zeta is a river in Montenegro. It starts near Nik?ic, under the Planinica hill flows eastwards for 86 km until it confluxes intoMoraca River just north of Podgorica....
, Moraca
Moraca River

Moraca is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzaca mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Scutari....
, Cijevna, Ribnica
Ribnica River

The Ribnica River is a small river that runs through Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a tributary to Moraca River, their confluence being at the city centre....
, and Sitnica
Sitnica River

The Sitnica River is a river that flows through Podgorica, Montenegro....
, in the valley of Skadar lake and near the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges....
, in fertile lowlands with favourable climate. The earliest human settlements were in prehistory: the oldest physical remains are from the late Stone Age
Stone Age

The Stone Age is a broad prehistory time period during which humans widely used Rock for toolmaking.Stone tools were made from a variety of different kinds of stone....
. In the Illyria
Illyria

'Illyria' was in Classical antiquity a region in the western part of today's Balkan Peninsula, inhabited by tribes of Illyrians, an ancient people who spoke the Illyrian languages....
n age, the area between the Zeta
Zeta plain

Zeta Plain is a fertile lowland in Montenegro. It stretches from Podgorica in the north to the Skadar Lake in the south. It is the biggest plains area in Montenegro....
 and Bjelopavlici
Bjelopavlici

Bjelopavlici is a strip of fertile lowland in Montenegro. It stretches along the Zeta river, being wider in river's lower end, down to the confluence with Moraca river near Podgorica....
 valleys was occupied by two Illyrian tribes, the Labeates
List of Illyrian tribes

This is a list of Illyrian tribes, including possibly or partly Illyrian tribes, and tribes that inhabited the lands known as Illyria....
 and the Docleats.

The Labeati occupied the area from Skadar to today's Podgorica. They had their own fortress, Meteon (now Medun
Medun

Medun , is an old town and fortress, situated 13 kilometers northeast from Podgorica, Montenegro. It was erected originally as a fortress, later on as a town, between 4th century BC and 3rd century BC....
) and a well-developed way of life, especially militarily.

Docleats also lived in the valley of the Zeta River
Zeta River

Zeta is a river in Montenegro. It starts near Nik?ic, under the Planinica hill flows eastwards for 86 km until it confluxes intoMoraca River just north of Podgorica....
 and, thanks to the fertile plain and favourable geographical and road position, enjoyed fast economic growth. Their biggest settlement was Doclea
Duklja

Duklja or Diokletija was a South Slavic medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of the modern-state Montenegro and bordering with Travunia at Kotor....
, a city about northwest of today's Podgorica and which reflected the local terrain. The population of the city was 8,000-10,000, in which all core urban issues were resolved. The high population density (in an area of about 10 km/6 mi radius) was made possible by the geographical position, favourable climate and economic conditions and by the defensive positions that were of great importance at that time.

From the 5th century, with the arrival of the first Slavic
Slavic peoples

The Slavic Peoples are a linguistic branch of Indo-European peoples, living mainly in eastern Europe. From the early 6th century they spread from their original homeland to inhabit most of eastern Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans....
 and Avar
Eurasian Avars

The 'Avars' were a highly organized and powerful Turkic confederation. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit retinue of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turkic peoples groups....
 tribes and the beginning of the break-up of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, the area bore witness to many noteworthy events. With time, the fortifications ceased their function and new towns were built. Slavic groups in the area were in constant war with Byzantium and tended to establish a new state. The result was establishment of a new settlement that was probably named after the river Ribnica on whose banks it was built. The first mention of Ribnica is during the rule of the Serbia
Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country in Central Europe and Balkans Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans....
n royal family of the Nemanjici
House of Nemanjic

The House of Nemanjic was a medieval Serbian ruling dynasty.The "Stefan" dynasty - House of Nemanjic was named after Stefan Nemanja. It was descended from the cadet branch of the House of Vojislavljevic....
. The importance of Ribnica was its position as crossroads in communications with the west. In occupying these areas, the Slavs created a new state and developed their own culture and art, acceptable to the mediaeval church and feudal class.

The name Podgorica is first mentioned in 1326 in a court document of the Kotor
Kotor

Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a most secluded part of Gulf of Kotor. The town has a population of 13,510, and is the administrative center of the Kotor municipality....
 archive. The city was economically strong: trade routes between Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik

||-|File:Main street-Dubrovnik-2.jpg|-|File:Old City, Dubrovnik.jpg|-|File:Dubrovnik-F.Tudjman-Bridge.jpg|-|File:Onofrio's Fountain, Dubrovnik, Croatia.JPG...
 and the State of Nemanjici, well developed at that time, were maintained via the road that led to Podgorica through Trebinje
Trebinje

Trebinje is the southern-most municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Republika Srpska entity in southeastern Herzegovina at , some 10km from the Adriatic Sea....
 and Nikšic
Nikšic

Nik?ic is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population of 58,212.Nik?ic is located in Nik?ic plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa....
. As a busy crossroads, Podgorica was a vibrant regional centre of trade and communication. This augmented its development, economic power, military strength and strategic importance. The Turkish occupation of Podgorica in 1474 interrupted its economic, cultural and artistic development. The Turks
Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
 built a large fortress in Podgorica and the existing settlement, with its highly developed merchant connections, became the main defensive and attacking bastion against rebellious tribes. The fortified city, with towers, gates and defensive ramparts, enabled the Turks to resist all attacks. In 1864, Podgorica became a township
Township

A township is a settlement which has the status and powers of a unit of local government. Specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country....
 (kaza) of Iskodra
Shkodër

Shkod?r is a city located on Lake Shkod?r in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkod?r, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre....
 vilayet as Bögürtlen (Turkish "Blackberry"). It was also known Burguriçe in Albanian
Albanian language

Albanian is an Indo-European languages spoken by nearly 6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including the west of the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and southern Serbia....
.

In accordance with the decision of the Berlin Congress in 1878, Podgorica was integrated to Montenegro
Montenegro

Montenegro , Montenegrin language/Serbian language: ???? ????, Crna Gora , ) is a country located in Balkans. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south....
. This was the end of four centuries of Turkish occupation and the start of a new era in the development of Podgorica and Montenegro. The city developed quickly and became a strong market. The first forms of capital concentration were seen. In 1904 the first significant financial institution was formed – Zetska savings bank
Savings bank

A savings bank is a financial institution whose primary purpose is accepting savings deposits. It may also perform some other functions.In Europe, savings banks originated in the 19th or sometimes even the 18th century....
. This would soon grow into Podgoricka bank. Roads were built to all neighbouring towns and, in 1902, a tobacco
Tobacco

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines....
 plant became Podgorica's first significant commercial company.

World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
 marked the end of dynamic development of Podgorica, by then the largest city in the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro

The Kingdom of Montenegro was a kingdom in southeastern Europe.The capital of the kingdom was Cetinje. The currency of the Kingdom was the Montenegrin perper....
. Podgorica was occupied, as was the rest of the country, by Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary, also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Kaiserlich und k?niglich Monarchy was a state in Central Europe ruled by the House of Habsburg, constitutionally a personal union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary....
 from 1916 to 1918. After the liberation by the allies
Allies of World War I

File:Map Europe alliances 1914-en.svgThe Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The main allies were the Russian Empire, French Third Republic, the British Empire, Kingdom of Italy , the Empire of Japan, and the United States....
 in 1918, controversial Podgorica Assembly
Podgorica Assembly

The Podgorica Assembly , in full name known as the Great National Assembly of the Serb People in Montenegro or the Serbian Great People's Assembly in Montenegro, was an assembly held in Podgorica that served as the representative body of the Montenegrin people during the Creation of Yugoslavia in late 1918 and early 1919....
 was held at Podgorica Tobacco Monopoly building. The assembly marked the end of Montenegrin statehood, as Montenegro was merged with Serbia
Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country in Central Europe and Balkans Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans....
, and incorporated in Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a monarchy stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918?1941....
. Between the two world wars, the population of Podgorica was about 13,000.

Podgorica suffered heavily during World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
: it was bombarded over 70 times
Bombing of Podgorica in World War II

The bombing of Podgorica in World War II was carried out by the Allies of World War II from 1943 until 1944 at the request of the Yugoslav Partisans....
 and razed to the ground, with the deaths of over 4,100 people. It was liberated on December 19, 1944.

Under the name of Titograd, the city became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro on 13 July 1946. A period of unprecedented expansion followed, which marked the SFRY era: the population increased dramatically, the city was heavily industrialized, health, educational and cultural institutions were founded, and infrastructure was improved. The city rapidly became the commercial, socio-economic and cultural centre of the country. The progress was halted once again as breakup of SFRY began in the 1990s. The name of Podgorica was reinstated on April 2, 1992.

The destructive Yugoslav wars
Yugoslav wars

The Yugoslav Wars were a series of violent conflicts in the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that took place between 1991 and 2001....
 bypassed Montenegro, but the whole country was greatly affected economically. A period of severe economic stagnation
Economic stagnation

Economic stagnation, often called simply stagnation, is a prolonged period of slow economic growth . Under some definitions, "slow" means significantly slower than potential growth as estimated by experts in macroeconomics....
 lasted through the 1990s. The economy began to recover in the early years of the 21st century, when Podgorica began to emerge as a modern pro-western
Western world

The term Western world, the West or the Occident can have multiple meanings dependent on its context . Accordingly, the basic definition of what constitutes "the West" varies, expanding and contracting over time, in relation to various historical circumstances....
 city. It became capital of the sovereign state of Montenegro on 21 May 2006, which added to its significance as a regional centre and boosted its economic prospects.

Population

Although medium-sized by Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
an standards, Podgorica is by far the largest city in Montenegro
Montenegro

Montenegro , Montenegrin language/Serbian language: ???? ????, Crna Gora , ) is a country located in Balkans. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south....
: almost one third of Montenegrin citizens live there. There are about 170,000 people in the Podgorica municipality, including the small towns of Tuzi
Tuzi

Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar....
 and Golubovci
Golubovci

Golubovci is a small town in the Podgorica municipality of Montenegro. It is the seat of the Golubovci urban municipality, a subdivision of the Podgorica municipality....
. About 140,000 people live in the city itself. (This is the official data from the 2003 census, but there are estimates of up to 200,000).

(If the methodology used up to 1991 had been used in the 2003 census, Podgorica city proper would have 140,734 citizens, while the Municipality of Podgorica would have a population of 179,401)


Economy

Podgorica is not only the administrative centre of Montenegro but also its main economic engine. Most of Montenegro's industrial, financial and commercial base is in Podgorica.

Before World War I, most of Podgorica's economy was in trade and small-scale manufacture - an economic model established during the long rule of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
. After World War II, Podgorica became Montenegro's capital and a focus of the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of the Yugoslav era. Industries such as aluminium
Aluminium

Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white and ductile member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al; its atomic number is 13....
 and tobacco
Tobacco

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines....
 processing, textiles
Textile industry

The Textile industry is a term used for industries primarily concerned with the design or manufacture of clothing as well as the distribution and use of textiles....
, engineering, vehicle production and industrialised wine
Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage often made of fermentation grape juice. The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients....
 production were established in and around the city.

The Yugoslav wars
Yugoslav wars

The Yugoslav Wars were a series of violent conflicts in the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that took place between 1991 and 2001....
, and the dissolution of Yugoslavia left Podgorica's industries without markets, suppliers or funds to invest and modernise equipment. This led to a decline of many factories, some of which closed down. Those surviving were privatised
Privatization

Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the public sector to the private sector . In a broader sense, privatization refers to transfer of any government function to the private sector including governmental functions like revenue collection and law enforcement....
 and have now largely recovered. The Podgorica aluminium smelter
Podgorica Aluminium Plant

Podgorica Aluminium Plant is an Aluminium smelting, located on the souther outskirts of Podgorica, Montenegro....
 (Kombinat aluminijuma Podgorica - KAP, owned by Rusal) and AD Plantaže
Plantaže

Planta?e is Montenegro wine and Rakija producer....
 (a wine and brandy making company) are still among the biggest companies in Podgorica.

In the early 2000s
2000s

2000?2009, the current decade, runs from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2009. The decade has been dominated by several wide-ranging topics, including international trade and a growing concern over Energy crisis, the explosion in telecommunications, further integration and dependence on technology, concerns with international terrorism and wa...
, Podgorica's financial and service sector expanded rapidly and its economy became more service-oriented. The two Montenegrin stock market
Stock market

A stock market, or equity market, is a private or public Market system for the trade of Corporation stock and Derivative s of company stock at an agreed price; these are security listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately....
s (Montenegro
Montenegro Stock Exchange

The Montenegro Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Podgorica, Montenegro. The MNSE was founded 1993, and is a member of the European Finance Convention Foundation....
 and NEX
NEX Stock Exchange

The New Securities Stock Exchange or NEX Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Podgorica, Montenegro. The NEX Stock Exchange was founded 2001....
), as well as most Montenegrin banks are situated in the city. Economic activity in Podgorica has mostly shifted from heavy industries to telecommunications, construction
Construction

In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of multitasking....
 and banking. Investors and foreign companies which open outlets in Podgorica add significantly to the growth and diversification of its economy.

As a side effect, the prices of property and development land in the centre of Podgorica have increased greatly. The growth, although somewhat slowed down due to late 2000s recession
Late 2000s recession

File:2007-2009 World Financial Crisis.svgFile:800px-The Great Asset Bubble.jpgIn 2008-2009 much of the industrialized world entered into a deep recession....
, is expected to continue, as Podgorica became capital of an independent country in 2006.

Geography


Podgorica is located in central Montenegro. The area is crossed with rivers and the city itself is only north of Lake Skadar. The Moraca
Moraca River

Moraca is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzaca mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Scutari....
 and Ribnica
Ribnica River

The Ribnica River is a small river that runs through Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a tributary to Moraca River, their confluence being at the city centre....
 rivers flow through the city, while the Zeta
Zeta River

Zeta is a river in Montenegro. It starts near Nik?ic, under the Planinica hill flows eastwards for 86 km until it confluxes intoMoraca River just north of Podgorica....
, Cijevna
Cijevna River

The Cijevna is a river that flows through Albania and Montenegro.It originates in Mal?si e Madhe District of Albania, municipality Kelmend. It flows generally southwest, for some 64.7 km before merging with Moraca River just south of Podgorica in Montenegro....
, Sitnica
Sitnica River

The Sitnica River is a river that flows through Podgorica, Montenegro....
 and Mareza
Mareza

Mareza is a river in Montenegro. It is also a name of suburb of Podgorica, in which the river originates....
 flow nearby. This richness in bodies of water is a major feature of the city.

In contrast to most of Montenegro, Podgorica lies in a mainly flat area at the northern end of the Zeta plain. The only exceptions are hills which overlook the city. The most significant is Gorica Hill , which rises above the city centre. The other hills include Malo brdo (Little hill), Velje brdo (Big hill), Ljubovic and Cardak. In the main, these are too steep for development and thus limit the city's expansion, especially to the north.

Climate

Podgorica has an altered Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate

A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide....
 with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Although the city is located some 50km away from Mediterranean Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges....
, the proximity of Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps

The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia....
 on the north alters its climate. The mean annual rainfall is . The temperature exceeds on about 135 days each year and the median daily temperature is . The number of rainy days is about 115, and those with the strong wind around 60. A periodic but strong northerly wind has an influence on climate in the winter, making sensible temperature a few degrees lower.

Podgorica is particularly known for its extremely hot summers: temperatures over are common in July and August. The highest temperature recorded was , on 16 August 2007.

Snow is almost unknown occurrence in Podgorica, as it rarely snows more than a few days per year.

Culture

Podgorica is home to many Montenegrin cultural institutions and events. It hosts the Montenegrin National Theatre
Montenegrin National Theatre

The Montenegrin National Theatre is located in Montenegro capital of Podgorica. It was founded in 1953, in the beginning as a city theatre, under the name Titograd National Theatre....
 and a number of museums and galleries.

The Montenegrin National Theatre is the most significant theatre not only in Podgorica but in all of Montenegro. Podgorica is also host to the City Theatre (Gradsko pozorište), which includes the Children's Theatre and the Puppet Theatre.

Although not as rich in museums and galleries as the historic royal capital Cetinje
Cetinje

Cetinje is a town in Montenegro, located at . It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro....
, there are several noteworthy museums:

  • The Podgorica City Museum (Muzej grada Podgorice) preserves Podgorica's rich heritage. Founded in 1950, it has four categories: archaeological, ethnographic, historical and cultural-historical. It houses artefacts which date back to the Roman
    Roman Empire

    The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
     and Illyrian eras.


  • The Archaeological Research Centre (Centar za arheološka istraživanja) was founded in 1961. Its mission is to gather, classify, restore and display archaeological sites.


  • The Museum of Marko Miljanov
    Marko Miljanov

    Marko Miljanov Popovic was a warrior and writer from Montenegro. He was also a leader of the Kuci clan....
     (Muzej Marka Miljanova) in Medun
    Medun

    Medun , is an old town and fortress, situated 13 kilometers northeast from Podgorica, Montenegro. It was erected originally as a fortress, later on as a town, between 4th century BC and 3rd century BC....
     shows life in 19th century Montenegro
    Montenegro

    Montenegro , Montenegrin language/Serbian language: ???? ????, Crna Gora , ) is a country located in Balkans. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south....
    . It is the most significant Montenegrin memorial museum of its kind.


  • The Natural History Museum (Prirodnjacki muzej) displays specimens of Montenegrin flora and fauna. This museum has no exhibition space of its own, despite many proposals and initiatives to build one.


There is a notable art gallery in the Dvorac Petrovica (Petrovic's Castle) complex in Podgorica's largest public park. The King Nichola's
Nicholas I of Montenegro

Nikola I Mirkov Petrovic-Njego? was the only monarch of Kingdom of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910....
 castle, Perjanicki dom (House of the Honour Guard), castle chapel and surrounding buildings were converted to an art gallery in 1984. Since 1995, it has been part of the Modern Arts Centre (Centar savremenih umjetnosti) and houses approximately 1,500 works of art.

The historic Cinema Culture (Kino kultura), which was founded in 1949, was closed in November, 2008 due to continuos financial losses it generated. It was the only cinema in the city for 6 decades. The building of the former cinema will be converted to host the Podgorica City Theatre.

Shortly after its closure, a Ster-Kinekor
Ster-Kinekor

Ster Kinekor is a South Africa-based Movie theater company....
 6-screen multiplex
Multiplex (movie theater)

A multiplex is a movie theater complex with more than three screens. The largest of these complexes are sometimes referred to as a megaplex....
 cinema opened at Delta City
Delta City

Delta City is a brand of shopping malls, with malls in Belgrade, Serbia and Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a subsidiary of Delta Holding, itself a division of Delta Holding....
 shopping mall, and another multiplex is announced at .

A significant cultural institution of over fifty years' standing is the Cultural-informational centre Budo Tomovic (KIC Budo Tomovic). It is a public institution which organises various artistic events, including Podgorica's Cultural Summer (Podgoricko Kulturno Ljeto), FIAT - International Alternative Theatre Festival (Festival Internacionalnog Aletarnativnog Teatra), DEUS - December Arts Scene (Decembarska Umjetnicka Scena). KIC budo Tomovic was a host for such names as Tony Parsons
Tony Parsons (British journalist)

Tony Parsons is a United Kingdom journalist and author.Born in Romford, Parsons grew up on an Essex council estate and began his career as a Music journalism on the New Musical Express, writing about punk music and "taking drugs with the Sex Pistols"....
 or Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Brooklyn Funk Essentials is a music collective who mix jazz, funk, and hip hop music, featuring musicians and poets from different cultures. The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker and bassist and musical director Lati Kronlund....
 during their visits to Podgorica.

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Podgorica)

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica, Montenegro,is a cathedral of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church, construction of which began in 1993....
, in construction since 1993, is the largest place of worship in Podgorica, and one of the symbols of the city. With many smaller orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
 churches scattered around the city, two mosques and a catholic
Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population....
 church, Podgorica makes up for a multiconfessional and multicultural city, and a reflection of Montenegro itself.

Education

Most of Montenegro's higher education establishments are in Podgorica. It is home to the University of Montenegro
University of Montenegro

The University of Montenegro is a university located in Podgorica, Montenegro. It was founded in 1974 and is organized in 14 Faculties....
, the country's most significant such institution. The Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts
Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts

Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most important scientific institution of Montenegro.It was founded in 1973 as Crnogorsko Dru?tvo za Nauku i Umjetnost and was renamed in 1976....
 is also in Podgorica, as is the DANU
Doclean Academy of Sciences and Arts

The Doclean Academy of Sciences and Arts is a scholar's academy in Montenegro. It is named after the historic ancient Slavic realm of Duklja on the territory of present-day Montenegro and Albania....
 cultural organisation. In recent years, the number of private institutions for higher education has increased.

The municipality of Podgorica has 34 elementary schools and 10 secondary schools, including one gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)

A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English Grammar schools in the United Kingdoms or sixth form colleges and U.S....
. The first secondary school established in Podgorica is Slobodan Škerovic.

The Radosav Ljumovic national library is considered the most comprehensive in Montenegro.

Media

Podgorica is undoubtedly the media hub of Montenegro. It is home to the headquarters of the state-owned public television broadcaster RTCG
RTCG

Radio Television of Montenegro is the public broadcasting of Montenegro. A state-owned company with its headquarters in Podgorica, it is made up of Radio Montenegro and Montenegro Television ....
. Commercial broadcasters in Podgorica include TV In
TV In

TV In is a television station in Montenegro. It started working in early 2002. It is based in Podgorica. It's currently one of the most watched TV stations in Montenegro....
, NTV Montena
NTV Montena

Nezavisna Televizija Montena is a regional broadcaster in Montenegro. It is based in Podgorica and can be found in most of Montenegro. It consists of TV Montena and Montena Radio....
, Elmag RTV
Elmag RTV

Radio Television Elmag is a broadcasting company based in Podgorica, Montenegro. RTV Elmag consists of TV Elmag and Radio Elmag.Radio Elmag was the first private FM radio station in Montenegro and is receivable throughout the country....
, RTV Atlas
RTV Atlas

Radio Televizija Atlas is a national broadcaster in Montenegro. It is based in Podgorica and can be found in most of Montenegro. TV Atlas also broadcasts program over satellite....
,TV Vijesti and MBC. Their programmes can be received in much of Montenegro.

All Montenegro's daily newspapers (Vijesti
Vijesti

Vijesti is a Montenegro daily newspaper and a TV broadcaster....
, DAN
Dan (newspaper)

Dan is a daily newspaper published in Montenegro. Its first issue appeared on December 31, 1998. It claims heritage of the old day Montenegrin daily newspaper that was published in the old Montenegrin state....
 and Pobjeda
Pobjeda

Pobjeda is a Montenegro newspaper. Having been published for more than half a century, it is the oldest Montenegrin newspaper still in circulation....
) are published in Podgorica, as is the popular weekly magazine Monitor
The Monitor (Montenegro)

The Monitor is the name of a news magazine published in Podgorica, Montenegro, which has long supported democratic opposition to Serbia and independence for Montenegro....
.

An Independent Albanian Television channel, named TV BoiN, was established in Tuzi
Tuzi

Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar....
, Montenegro in the early 90's. It represents the media central for current events, music, and special events for the Albanian inhabited region of Malesija, Montenegro.

Transport


Urban transport

Public transport used to be provided only by Gradsko saobracajno preduzece, a city-owned public transport company which ran all buses in Podgorica. The company went bankrupt in the early years of the 21st century, after which public transport was provided only by two private carriers.

City-owned public transport has been re-introduced, with private carriers operating buses under the banner of Gradski Saobracaj (City Transport).

Public transport has struggled to deal with competition. Unlicensed taxis that once threatened the bus services are now extinct, but cheaper despatched taxicab services have become more popular.

The taxicab service is well-organised. 23 companies operate over 800 vehicles. These boast a high level of service, including new cars, drivers in suits, low prices and GPS-tracked vehicles for security.

Intercity transport


Road


Podgorica's location in central Montenegro makes it a natural hub for rail and road transport.

Roads in Montenegro (especially that which connects Podgorica to northern Montenegro and Serbia
Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country in Central Europe and Balkans Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans....
) are usually inferior to those elsewhere in Europe. There are moves to build a modern highway to connect the north with Podgorica and on to the Adriatic sea
Adriatic Sea

The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges....
.

The newly-built Sozina tunnel
Sozina tunnel

The Sozina tunnel is a vehicular tunnel in Montenegro, and is a part of European route E65 European route. It is located north of town of Sutomore, and is designed to bypass the mountain range "Petrovacka Gora" that separates Montenegrin coast from Zeta plain and Skadar Lake basin ....
 (4.2km) is modern even by European standards and shortens the journey from Podgorica to Bar
Bar, Montenegro

Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 13,719 . Bar is the centre of Bar municipality and a major seaport of Montenegro....
 (Montenegro's main seaport) to under 30 minutes.

The main transit connections of Podgorica are:

  • north (E65
    European route E65

    European route E 65 is a road that is an element of the International E-road network. It begins in Malm?, Sweden and ends in Chania, Greece. The road is about 3,800 km in length....
    , E80
    European route E80

    European route E 80 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Lisbon, Portugal and ends in G?rbulak, Turkey, on the border with Iran....
    ), towards Belgrade
    Belgrade

    Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city lies on international waterway, at the confluence of the Sava River and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula....
     and on to Central Europe
    Central Europe

    Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern Europe and Western Europe Europe. In addition, Northern Europe, Southern Europe and Southeastern Europe may variously delimit or overlap into Central Europe....
  • west (E762
    European route E762

    European route E 762 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and ends in Albania....
    ), towards Nikšic
    Nikšic

    Nik?ic is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population of 58,212.Nik?ic is located in Nik?ic plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa....
    , Bosnia
    Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country on the Balkans peninsula of South Eastern Europe with an area of 51,129 square kilometres . Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the south, Bosnia and Herzegovina is Landlocked#Nearly landlocked, except for 26 kilometres of the Adriatic Sea coas...
     and on to Western Europe
    Western Europe

    Western Europe refers to the countries in the western most half of Europe. This concept has had different meanings, political and cultural as well as geographical issues have influenced the area....
  • south (E65
    European route E65

    European route E 65 is a road that is an element of the International E-road network. It begins in Malm?, Sweden and ends in Chania, Greece. The road is about 3,800 km in length....
    , E80
    European route E80

    European route E 80 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Lisbon, Portugal and ends in G?rbulak, Turkey, on the border with Iran....
    ) towards the Adriatic coast
  • east (E762
    European route E762

    European route E 762 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and ends in Albania....
    ), towards Albania
    Albania

    Albania , officially the Republic of Albania , is a country in Balkans. It is bordered by Greece to the south-east, Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, and the Republic of Macedonia to the east....


The planned Beograd - Bar motorway will pass near Podgorica, speeding travel from Podgorica to northern and coastal Montenegro.

Rail

The Podgorica railway station is near the city centre. It is old and inadequate. The owner, Railways of Montenegro
Railways of Montenegro

Railways of Montenegro is the national railway company of Montenegro. Its main activities are the transportation of passengers and goods, the maintenance of traction and rolling stock, the maintenance and technical supervision of railway lines, the supervision over station objects and plants....
, lacks the funding necessary for reconstruction.

Podgorica's main railway link (for both passenger and freight traffic) is Belgrade - Bar
Belgrade - Bar railway

The Belgrade?Bar railway is a railway connecting the Serbian capital of Belgrade with the town of Bar, Montenegro, the main seaport in Montenegro....
. The link to Nikšic
Nikšic

Nik?ic is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population of 58,212.Nik?ic is located in Nik?ic plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa....
 is currently under reconstruction, which will include facility upgrades to support a Railway electrification system
Railway electrification system

A Railway electrification system supplies Electric potential energy to railway locomotives and multiple units so that they can operate without having an on-board Prime mover ....
: passenger service is expected to start in 2009. Podgorica's rail system is also connected to Shkodër
Shkodër

Shkod?r is a city located on Lake Shkod?r in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkod?r, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre....
 and Tirana
Tirana

Tirana is the Capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. It was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha and became Albania's capital city in 1920....
. This line has been unused for some time.

Air transport

Podgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport

Podgorica Airport is an international airport located 11 km south of Podgorica, Montenegro. It is the main hub for Montenegro Airlines.It is one of two public airports in Montenegro, the other being Tivat Airport....
 is 10km south of the city center and is Montenegro's main international airport. A new passenger terminal was opened on 13 July 2006.

There are regular flights from Podgorica to Belgrade
Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city lies on international waterway, at the confluence of the Sava River and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula....
, Budapest
Budapest

Budapest is the Capitals of Hungary of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commerce, Industry, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe....
, London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt

is the largest city in the German States of Germany of Hesse and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Germany, with a 2008 population of 670,000....
, Ljubljana
Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and its largest town. It is located in the center of the country and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants....
, Zagreb
Zagreb

Zagreb is the Capital and the largest city of Croatia. Zagreb is the Culture of Croatia, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Cinema of Croatia, Economy of Croatia and Government of Croatia center of the Croatia....
, Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
, Rome
Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
, Moscow
Moscow

Moscow is the capital and the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia of the Russian Federation. It is also the largest European cities and metropolitan areas, with the Moscow metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world....
, Skopje
Skopje

Skopje is the Capital of and List of cities in the Republic of Macedonia by population in the Republic of Macedonia, with more than a quarter of the population of the country, as well as its political, cultural, economic, and academic centre....
 and Vienna
Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
.

Architecture

Milleniumbridgenight
Podgorica's mixture of architectural styles reflects the turbulent history of the city and country: as one régime replaced another, the corresponding style was introduced.

As part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
 until 1878, Podgorica has many examples of Turkish architecture. The oldest parts of the city, Stara Varoš (Old town) and Drac are typical of this, with two mosque
Mosque

A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, ? . The word "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque ,...
s, a Turkish clock tower
Clock tower

A clock tower is a tower built with one or more clock Clock face. The clock tower is usually part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall, but many clock towers are free-standing....
 and narrow, winding streets.

When the city was incorporated to Montenegro, the urban core shifted to the other bank of the Ribnica River
Ribnica River

The Ribnica River is a small river that runs through Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a tributary to Moraca River, their confluence being at the city centre....
, where the town developed in a more Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
an style: wider streets with an orthogonal layout.

During World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, Podgorica was almost razed to the ground, being bombed over 70 times. After liberation, rebuilding began as in other cities of the communist-ruled SFRY. Mass residential blocks were erected, with basic design typical of Eastern bloc
Eastern bloc

During the Cold War, the terms Eastern Bloc, Communist Bloc or Soviet Bloc were used to refer to European annexed or expanded Soviet Socialist Republics of the USSR and Satellite state states, including members of the Soviet-dominated organizations Comecon and the Warsaw Pact....
 countries. All that part of the city on the right bank of the Moraca River
Moraca River

Moraca is a river in Montenegro. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzaca mountain. It generally flows southwards for some , before emptying into Lake Scutari....
 was built this way. Even the empty spaces in the city centre were filled with near-brutalist structures, resulting in an unfortunate fusion of old and new. The residential and business blocks of the SFRY era provided ample housing but have been much criticised for their uninventive and grey appearance.

A major advance in Podgorica architecture began in the late 1990s and, since then, the face of the city has changed rapidly. Residential and business construction are proceeding rapidly, incorporating contemporary glass-and-steel architectural trends. In an effort to create a recognizable and modern state capital, city officials are routing significant investments in city's public spaces. Thus, the city has gained entirely new squares, parks and monuments. New landmarks include the Hristovog Vaskrsenja orthodox temple and the Millennium Bridge
Millennium Bridge, Podgorica

The Millennium Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans Moraca River, in Podgorica, Montenegro.The bridge was designed by Mladen Ulicevic, a professor at University of Montenegro in Podgorica....
, the main feature of the Podgorica skyline. Podgorica today is transforming rapidly from featureless town to modern European capital.

Sport

The most popular sports by far are football
Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players, and is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world....
 and basketball
Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a basketball through a 10 feet  high hoop under organized rules....
. Basketball became especially popular with the success in the late 20th and early 21st centuries of KK Buducnost Podgorica
KK Buducnost Podgorica

KK Buducnost Podgorica is a basketball club from Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a part of Buducnost Podgorica polideportivo. The team currently competes in First Montenegrin Opportunity League and regional NLB League....
, both in Yugoslav
Fry

Fry may refer to the following:...
 and European competitions.

Football in Podgorica has a very long tradition associated with FK Buducnost Podgorica
FK Buducnost Podgorica

FK Buducnost is a football club from Podgorica,Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. It is a part of Buducnost Podgorica Sports club....
. World-famous players Predrag Mijatovic
Predrag Mijatovic

Predrag "Peda" Mijatovic is a Montenegrins former football player and current sports director of Real Madrid C.F.. He is considered one of Yugoslavia's best players of the 1990s....
 and Dejan Savicevic
Dejan Savicevic

Dejan Savicevic , is a Montenegro former football player and the current president of the Football Association of Montenegro . His close control and vision have won him many admirers....
 were born in Podgorica and made their debut in that team. FK Zeta
FK Zeta

FK Zeta is a football club from Montenegro. It is based in Golubovci, a suburb of Podgorica....
 (from the Podgorica suburb of Golubovci
Golubovci

Golubovci is a small town in the Podgorica municipality of Montenegro. It is the seat of the Golubovci urban municipality, a subdivision of the Podgorica municipality....
) has also reached the former first league of Serbia and Montenegro. These clubs, along with FK Mogren
FK Mogren

FK Mogren is a football club based in Budva, Montenegro. , it plays in First League of Montenegro.The club was founded in 1920..At 2007/08 season Fk Mogren conquer Montenegrin cup and takes third place in Montenegrin first league....
 of Budva, usually compete with each other for leading position in the First League of Montenegro.

Other clubs from Podgorica and its surroundings play in the Montenegrin First League e.g. FK Decic
FK Decic

FK Decic...
 (Tuzi
Tuzi

Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar....
), FK Kom
FK Kom

FK Kom is a football club based in Podgorica, Montenegro. , it plays in First League of Montenegro....
 and FK Mladost
FK Mladost

FK Mladost is a football club based in Podgorica, Montenegro. It's the only club from old Podgorica Town . , it plays in First League of Montenegro....
. One of the most popular clubs from the suburbs is FK Ribnica
FK Ribnica

Fudbalski klub Ribnica is a football club from Konik, Montenegro, a suburb of Podgorica, Montenegro.Current squad Youth squad ...
 from Konik
Konik, Montenegro

Konik is a suburb located in the Podgorica, in the Republic of Montenegro. Konik is the largest suburb in capital of Montenegro....
.

The volleyball team OK Buducnost Podgorica and the women's handball team ŽRK Buducnost T-Mobile
ŽRK Buducnost T-Mobile

?RK Buducnost T-Mobile is a women's team handball team from Podgorica, Montenegro. It is a part of Buducnost Podgorica polideportivo.The club was established on February 13, 1949, and played its first official game in 1950....
 have had significant success in European competition. Buducnost Podgorica
Buducnost Podgorica

Buducnost Podgorica is a Sports club from Podgorica, Montenegro. Among its most successful clubs are:*FK Buducnost Podgorica - Buducnost football club...
 is the most important sports club in Podgorica. Its name means Future.

Sporting events like the annual Podgorica Marathon and the Moraca River jumps attract international competitors.

Venues

Pgstadium
Podgorica has a number of sporting venues; some are under reconstruction and expansion. The main ones are:

  • Podgorica City Stadium
    Podgorica city stadium

    Podgorica Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Podgorica, Montenegro. Its name literally means Under the Gorica stadium, Gorica being a hill near the city....
    . When eastern stand is completed, it will have a capacity of 24,000. It is the home of FK Buducnost Podgorica
    FK Buducnost Podgorica

    FK Buducnost is a football club from Podgorica,Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. It is a part of Buducnost Podgorica Sports club....
     and the Montenegro national football team
    Montenegro national football team

    The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in international Football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro....
    . It is currently the only venue in Montenegro that complies with FIFA
    FIFA

    The F?d?ration Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by its acronym, FIFA , is the international sport governing body of association football....
     standards for international football matches.
  • Moraca Sports Center
    Moraca Sports Center

    Moraca Sports Center is a sport venue located in Podgorica, Montenegro.The venue is located in the new part of Podgorica, on the right bank of Moraca River, after which it got its name....
    , a multi functional indoor sport facility. It has a capacity of 4,200 seats. It hosted one group of Eurobasket 2005
    Eurobasket 2005

    The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September, 2005. Greece national basketball team won the gold medal by defeating Germany national basketball team, while France national basketball team won the bronze medal over Spain national basketball team....
    , while other games were played in Belgrade
    Belgrade Arena

    The Belgrade Arena is one of the largest European multi functional indoor sport arenas located in Belgrade, Serbia. It is designed as a universal hall for many sports events, including basketball, Team handball, volleyball, tennis, Athletics and is also a hall for cultural events and other programs....
    , Vršac
    Millennium Center

    The Millennium Center is a sports arena and business center in Vr?ac, Serbia, in the Vojvodina province. The Millennium Center hosted several Eurobasket 2005 games in September....
     and Novi Sad
    Spens Sports Center

    The Spens Sports Center or simply SPENS is a multi-purpose venue located in Novi Sad, Serbia, in the Vojvodina province. It operates under publicly owned company Vojvodina Sports and Business Center , which in addition to Spens also has Sajmi?te Sports Center under its umbrella....
    .


Almost every football club in Podgorica has its own stadium, although these are often only fields with small stands or no stand at all.

Other notable venues are the Stadium of Small Sports (????? ???????? ???????, Malih sportova stadium) under Gorica hill and the sport shooting range under Ljubovic hill. There are many other sports facilities around the city, most notably indoor soccer
Indoor soccer

Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink....
 fields.

Subdivisions


The municipality of Podgorica consists of Podgorica City Proper and two subdivisions called Urban municipalities (??????? ???????, Gradske opštine), Golubovci
Golubovci

Golubovci is a small town in the Podgorica municipality of Montenegro. It is the seat of the Golubovci urban municipality, a subdivision of the Podgorica municipality....
 and Tuzi
Tuzi

Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar....
.

The entire municipality of Podgorica is further divided into 57 local communities (?????? ?????????, mjesne zajednice), bodies in which the citizens participate in decisions on matters of relevance to the local community.

Sister cities

Skopje
Skopje

Skopje is the Capital of and List of cities in the Republic of Macedonia by population in the Republic of Macedonia, with more than a quarter of the population of the country, as well as its political, cultural, economic, and academic centre....
, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia

The Republic of Macedonia , , often referred to simply as Macedonia, is a landlocked country on the Balkans in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south and Albania to the west....
 Belgrade
Belgrade

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city lies on international waterway, at the confluence of the Sava River and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula....
, Serbia
Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country in Central Europe and Balkans Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans....
 Yerevan
Yerevan

Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia. It is situated on the Hrazdan River, and is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country....
, Armenia
Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in South Caucasus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea....
 Zagreb
Zagreb

Zagreb is the Capital and the largest city of Croatia. Zagreb is the Culture of Croatia, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Cinema of Croatia, Economy of Croatia and Government of Croatia center of the Croatia....
, Croatia
Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a Central European country at the crossroads of Pannonian Plain, Balkans, and the Mediterranean Sea....
 Moscow
Moscow

Moscow is the capital and the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia of the Russian Federation. It is also the largest European cities and metropolitan areas, with the Moscow metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world....
, Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
 Stockholm
Stockholm

is the capital and largest city of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish Government of Sweden, the Parliament of Sweden, and the official residence of the Swedish Monarchy of Sweden....
, Sweden
Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....
 London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....


See also

  • List of places named after Tito
    List of places named after Tito

    During Josip Broz Tito's presidency and in the years following his death in 1980, several places in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were named or renamed in honor of him as part of his cult of personality....


External links