Montenegro. Podgorica

  Podgorica was the final stop on our Balkan adventure before flying home the next day. We didn’t have a full day to explore, but we still managed to see the city’s most important sights...

 After stepping off the bus, we first noticed a striking mural in support of Palestine - a vivid reminder of how global events echo even here.

  We then checked in to our apartment and set out to explore the city. Our walk began at the Clock Tower, or Sahat Kula, a 19-meter stone sentinel built in 1667 by Hadži-Mehmed Pasha Osmanagić. It’s one of the few Ottoman-era monuments to survive the World War II bombings that flattened much of Podgorica. The clock mechanism inside was crafted in Italy in 1890 and still ticks today - though a modern electric system now keeps it on time. Once the tallest structure in town, the tower still anchors the Old Town’s narrow streets...

  Just a few steps away stands the Starodoganjska Mosque, also known as the Skender Čauš Mosque. Built in the late 15th century, it is the oldest surviving mosque in Podgorica. Time and war nearly erased it—by the end of World War II it was a ruin—but a careful restoration in 1997 brought back its simple elegance. In the courtyard lies the tomb of its founder, a quiet link to the city’s Ottoman roots.

  Inside, the interior reflects a modest, devotional style rather than grandeur: clean lines, exposed wooden beams, minimal ornamentation, and calm light filtering through arched windows. The mihrab (the niche facing Mecca) is carefully framed, and the prayer hall feels intimate—unlike larger mosques, there’s a gentler scale that invites reflection...

  From there we wandered to the Stone Bridge, locally called Sastavci or Adži-paša’s Bridge, where the tiny Ribnica River meets the larger Morača. Believed to date back to the Roman era, the single-arch bridge was rebuilt in the 18th century with river stone and still carries only foot traffic. Its low, weathered span is a favorite gathering spot for locals, especially at sunset when the light glints off the water...

  The highlight of our day was the Orthodox Temple of Christ’s Resurrection. Begun in 1993 and finished two decades later, the cathedral rises with two towers nearly 27 meters high and houses 17 massive bells, the heaviest weighing around eleven tons...

  Inside, every surface bursts with color—gold-leaf mosaics, intricate floor designs, and frescoes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, including a striking portrayal of the Descent of the Holy Spirit embracing all nations. The sheer scale and artistry left us awestruck.

  Podgorica is located in central Montenegro, at the confluence of the Morača and Ribnica rivers in the wide Zeta Plain, surrounded by gentle hills. Its location makes it a natural crossroads between the Montenegrin coast and the northern mountains, giving the city both strategic and economic significance. The name Podgorica literally means “the town under the hill,” a reference to Gorica Hill that overlooks the city...

  We ended our sightseeing at the Millennium Bridge, Podgorica’s most iconic modern landmark. Opened on Montenegro’s National Day in 2005, this 173-meter cable-stayed bridge was designed by Slovenian engineer Marjan Pipenbaher. Its 57-meter pylon and sweeping cables create a striking silhouette, especially in the bright late-day light, and it carries both cars and pedestrians across the wide Morača River.

  From there, we strolled through the central streets as daylight softened, enjoying the cafés and everyday rhythm of the city before heading back to our apartment...

  The next morning we made our way to the airport, watching the hills fade into the distance as we said goodbye to this corner of the Balkans—a peaceful, memorable finale to an unforgettable journey...