Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulqin | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
| Country |  Montenegro |
| Municipality | Ulcinj Municipality |
| Settlements | 39 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nazif Cungu (New Democratic Power – FORCA) |
| • Ruling party | New Democratic Power – FORCA |
| Area | |
• Total | 255 km2 (98 sq mi) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
• Total | 10,828 |
| • Density | 79.47/km2 (205.8/sq mi) |
| • Municipality | 20,265 |
| Demonym(s) | Ulcinjani Ulqinakë |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 85360 |
| Area code | +382 30 |
| ISO 3166-2 code | ME-20 |
| Car plates | UL |
| Website | http://www.komunaeulqinit.com |
Ulcinj (Montenegrin: Ulcinj/Улцињ, pronounced [ǔlt͡siɲ]; Template:Lang-sq or Ulqini, pronounced [ulcin]; Template:Lang-it, pronounced [dultʃiɲo]) is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 (2003 census) of which the majority are Albanians. Ulcinj is the centre of the municipality and the centre of the Albanian community in Montenegro. The Day of Ulcinj is held every first saturday of April, it simbolise the end of collection of olives, the output of the sailors at the sea and the beginning of the turistic season.
History
The wider area of Ulcinj has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, based on dating of Illyrian tombs (tumuli) found in the village of Zogaj, in the vicinity of Ulcinj. The town is believed to have been founded in the 5th century BC by colonists from Colchis, as mentioned in the 3rd century BC poem by Apollonius of Rhodos.
Illyrians lived in the region at the time, and built immense so-called Cyclopean Walls.[citation needed] In 163 BC, the Romans captured Colchinium from the Illyrian tribe of Olciniates and renamed the town Olcinium (aka Ulcinium) after the tribe.[1] Under Roman rule the town received the status of Oppidum Civium Romanorum (Town with Special Privileges), only to be later granted Municipium (Independent Town) status. When the Roman Empire was split in two, Olcinium became a part of the Eastern Roman Empire (later known as the Byzantine Empire).
In the pre-medieval period, Ulcinj was known as one of the pirate capitals of the Adriatic Sea. This is also seen during the later period of Illyrian Kingdom. Inhabitants of Ulcinj were known before time of Christ, especially from 20 BC to around 300 AD, to be very confrontational to those who were foreigners to their land; they were especially meticulous about border disputes as well.
In the 9th century, it was in the Dyrrhachium theme, of the Byzantine Empire. In 1010, Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria (r. 997-1014†) failed to conquer the town during the war against the Byzantines. By 1040, archon Stefan Vojislav conquered the region. In 1183, Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja conquered Olcinium and the town prospered as one of the most significant coastal towns. Ulcinj remained in Nemanjić hands in their Kingdom and Empire, and after the death of Emperor Dušan (r. 1331-1355†), the region, known as Lower Zeta, was under the supervision of gospodin Žarko, a voivode of Emperor Uroš the Weak until his death in 1360. Žarko's lands are then held by the Balšić family. Under Balšić' control, Ulcinj continued as an important town, that also minted coins.
The Republic of Venice captured Ulcinj from Balša III of the Zetan Balšić dynasty in 1423. Under Venetian control, the city was renamed Dulcigno in Italian, and it was incorporated in the Albania Veneta. A Saracen ship carrying African slaves was shipwrecked near Ulcinj during this period; locals saved a number of the Africans and made them an integral part of the population of the town. Descendents of those shipwreck survivors live in Ulcinj to this day.
The Venetians maintained control until 1571, when the Ottoman Turks conquered Dulcigno and the remainder of Albania Veneta. In 1867, Ulcinj became a kaza of the İşkodra sanjak of Rumeli veyalet. Ulcinj finally gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire on 11 January 1878 by the decision of the Berlin Congress (see Treaty of Berlin (1878)), only to be occupied by Montenegro nearly three years later, on 30 November 1880.
Etymology
Despite proofs that the original name was Colchinium as the city was built by settlers from Colchis, from which came Late (Vulgar) Roman and Byzantine Olchinium, further Montenegrin Ulcinj, there are those who claim that the name of the city is etymologically related to the Albanian word ulk meaning wolf,[2][3] which is also closely related to Slavonic vlk from which it differs only in the writing of u Vs. v, known as alternates in Latin Alphabet since earliest times (modern Montenegrin is vuk). This wolf theory appears to be folk etymology linking an existing pre-Albanian toponym with an Albanian word.[citation needed]
Twin towns and sister cities
Population
Ulcinj is the administrative centre of Ulcinj Municipality, which has a population of 19,921. The town of Ulcinj itself has a population of 10,707. Ulcinj Municipality is the centre of the Albanian community in Montenegro. It is the only municipality in Montenegro where Albanians form the majority with 70.66%.
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1948 | |
| 1953 | |
| 1961 | |
| 1971 | |
| 1981 | |
| 1991 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2011 |
|
|
Ethnicity, Mother tongue and Religion
The majority ethnic group in Ulcinj are Albanians, followed by South Slavic nations and Roma people. The largest spoken language is Albanian and the major religion is Islam. Since the creation of the town, Ulcinj's main ethnic groups were Illyrians and Albanians, with a large number of Venetians, Black people[citation needed] and South Slavs.
Population by ethnicity (2011 census):
Population by mother tongue (2011 census):
Population by religion (2011 census):
Settlements
Municipality of Ulcinj has 41 residential places where one is urban settlement Ulcinj with 10 707 inhabitants 53.75% of the general population: Template:UlcinjSettlements
People
- Adrian Lulgjuraj- albanian singer, winner of the Festivali i Këngës 51.
- Pjetër Gjoka- actor and People's Artist of Albania
- Mujo Ulqinaku- officer in the Royal Albanian Army and People's Hero of Albania
- Gjon Buzuku- catholic priest who wrote the first known printed book in Albanian, Meshari
- Mark Gjonaj- politician Democratic Party for District 80 in the New York State Assembly.
- Hana Cakuli- singer
- Ndoc Martini- painter
- Alex Rudaj - Albanian-American mobster most famous for leading the Rudaj Organization in the 90s.
- Adnan Gjinaj - male model
- Shaban Gjekaj-folk Musicant
Tourism
Ulcinj is a popular tourist destination in summer. In January 2010, the New York Times named ranked the south coast region of Montenegro, featuring Velika Plaza, Ada Bojana, and the Hotel Mediteran, as one of "The Top 31 Places to Go in 2010".[4]
Although still undiscovered by many travelers from larger countries, 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 sandy beaches, which are considered[by whom?] the most beautiful in Montenegro. The most valuable resource of the Ulcinj riviera is Velika Plaza (Albanian: Plazha e Madhe, English: Large Beach), which is a 12 km (7.5 mi) long stretch of sandy beach and the longest beach on the Montenegrin coast. There is a small pebble beach called Ladies Beach[5] which folk tradition holds to have qualities conducive to fertility. There is also a beach called Mala Plaža (Albanian: Plazha Vogel, English: Small Beach) which is much smaller in size, but is located in the centre of town and very popular with visitors. "The Korzo", as it is called by locals, is a promenade which separates a street lined with coffee shops from Mala Plaža. At night during the summer months, the Korzo is pedestrianised and families and young people gather. There are many more less known smaller beaches that serve as get-aways from the main tourist areas. Ulcinj has also a large number of religious buildings like mosques, tyrbes and churches, including: Pasha's Mosque, Seaman's Mosque and St. Nicholas Church.
Ulcinj's old town is a very well preserved castle-looking community that is left over from medieval times. The old town sits atop a mountain overlooking the shore and is a tourist attraction on its own.
Ada Bojana (Albanian: Buna) is popular among foreign tourists from Western Europe for its peace and unique atmosphere. A large naturist campsite is located in Ada Bojana.[6]
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 cafes, discos, 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 Eastern Europeans. 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.
Education
List of elementary schools:
| Montenegrin name | Albanian name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Osnovna Škola "Boško Strugar" | Shkolla Fillore "Boshko Strugar" | Ulcinj |
| Osnovna Škola "Maršal Tito" | Shkolla Fillore "Marshall Tito" | Ulcinj |
| Osnovna Škola "Bedri Elezaga" | Shkolla Fillore "Bedri Elezaga" | Vladimir |
| Osnovna Škola "Mark Nuculović" | Shkolla Fillore "Mark Nuculloviq" | Donji Štoj |
List of high schools:
| Montenegrin name | Albanian name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Srednja Mješovita Škola "Bratstvo jedinstvo" | Shkolla e Mesme e Kombinuar "Vëllazërim Bashkim" | Ulcinj |
| Gimnazija "Drita" | Gjimnazi "Drita" | Ulcinj |
Sports and recreation
The Ulcinj "south coast" region is well known for its active sports and recreation possibilities. Kitesurfing at Ada Bojana, all manner of water sports at Velika Plaza, scuba diving among wrecks and sunken cities, mountain biking, hiking, orienteering, cycling through the olive groves at Valdanos, long walks along the pristine beaches of the south coast of Montenegro, even deep sea fishing on the Adriatic, lake fishing at Lake Skadar, and river fishing in Ada Bojana, are among the many possibilities for visitors interested in more active holiday pursuits.
List of sport clubs in Ulcinj:
| Name | Sport | Competing | Founded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegrin name | Albanian name | |||
| Fudbalski Klub "Otrant" | Klubi Fudbolistik "Otrant" | Football | Montenegrin Third League | |
| Košarkaški Klub "Ulcinj" | Klubi i Basketbollit "Ulqin" | Basketball | Montenegrin Basketball League | |
| Rukometaški Klub "Ulcinj" | Klubi i Hendbollit "Ulqin" | Handball | Montenegrin First League of Men's Handball | |
| Teniski Klub "Bellevue" | Klubi i Tenisit "Bellevue" | Tennis | ||
| Omladinski Fudbalski Klub "Federal" | Klubi Futbolistik Rinor "Federall" | Football | South Region League | |
| Karate Klub "Champions" | Klubi i Karates "Champions" | Karate | ||
| Karate Klub "Ulcinj" | Klubi i Karates "Ulqini" | Karate | ||
Climate
Ulcinj has a mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), with mild, very rainy winters and hot, humid summers with afternoon thunder showers. Unlike Podgorica temperatures very rarely exceed 35°C and seldom drop below 0°C.
| Climate data for Ulcinj, Montenegro | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.8 (64.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.8 (73.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
30.0 (86.0) |
33.9 (93.0) |
37.8 (100.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
28.9 (84.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
18.9 (66.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.2 (52.2) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.6 (58.3) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.1 (71.8) |
26.2 (79.2) |
29.2 (84.6) |
29.2 (84.6) |
26.1 (79.0) |
21.3 (70.3) |
16.1 (61.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.1 (39.4) |
4.7 (40.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
10.1 (50.2) |
14.1 (57.4) |
17.7 (63.9) |
21.2 (70.2) |
21.1 (70.0) |
17.3 (63.1) |
13.1 (55.6) |
9.0 (48.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
11.9 (53.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.8 (18.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
3.9 (39.0) |
6.7 (44.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
9.8 (49.6) |
6.1 (43.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 149 (5.9) |
138 (5.4) |
116 (4.6) |
115 (4.5) |
67 (2.6) |
46 (1.8) |
25 (1.0) |
49 (1.9) |
85 (3.3) |
148 (5.8) |
174 (6.9) |
146 (5.7) |
1,258 (49.4) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 12.3 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 12.8 | 12.4 | 112.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 124.0 | 127.1 | 170.5 | 204.0 | 269.7 | 297.0 | 350.3 | 322.4 | 252.0 | 198.4 | 132.0 | 114.7 | 2,562.1 |
| Source: Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro[7] | |||||||||||||
Transport
Ulcinj is connected with the rest of Montenegro by two-lane highway. 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 the 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 (43 mi) 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 to the city from the airport in Tivat due to its recent renovations and general ease of navigation.
See also
- Ulcinj Airport
- Tourism in Montenegro
- Ulcinj Municipality
- Albanians in Montenegro
- List of mosques in Ulcinj
- List of mayors of Ulcinj
Places adjacent to Ulcinj | |
|---|---|
Notes
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2012) |
- ^ Chisholm 1911.
- ^ OOuSI staff 2003, p. 227.
- ^ Rymut 1981, p. 56.
- ^ Williams 2010.
- ^ iSV 2009.
- ^ ulcinj.com staff 2009.
- ^ "Climatology". Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
References
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 652.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - iSV (22 March 2009). "недвижимость Черногории :пляжи". Real-mne.com.
{{cite web}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - OOuSI staff (2003). Österreichische Osthefte. Vol. 45:1-2. Österreichisches Ost- und Südosteuropa-Institut. p. 227. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Rymut, Kazimierz (1981). Gegenstand und Methoden der Onomastik. Ossolineum. p. 56. ISBN 978-83-04-00227-2.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ulcinj.com staff (August 2009). "The Nudist Camping,Ada bojana,Naturist auto camp,Montenegro". www.visit-ulcinj.com. Retrieved July 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Williams, Gisela (7 January 2010). "The 31 Places to Go in 2010: 24. Montenegro". New York Times.
{{cite news}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - World Climate staff (2011). "WorldClimate: Ulcinj". Retrieved July 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Invalid|ref=harv(help) - http://dulcineabooking.com/?page_id=52
External links
- "Travel Guide Ulcinj". Retrieved July 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - "Visit Ulcinj Tourism Official Guide". Retrieved July 2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)[Not in English] - "Visit-Ulcinj.me".[dead link]
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