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Podgorica

Capital of MontenegroPodgorica is in central Montenegro, on flat ground at the northern end of the Zeta plain, where the Ribnica and Morača rivers meet. The Adriatic Sea is about 35 km away.

Why it's the capital

After the Second World War, in 1946, Podgorica was renamed Titograd after the Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito and made the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. The old name came back in 1992, and the city stayed the capital when Montenegro became independent in 2006.

Fun facts

  1. Podgorica means 'under the hill': Gorica is a small hill covered in cypress trees that overlooks the city centre.
  2. The ruins of Doclea, a Roman-era town, lie about 3 km north of the city.
  3. During the Second World War the city was bombed more than 80 times.

Finding it on the globe

Find Lake Skadar on the border between Montenegro and Albania. Podgorica is about 15 km north of the lake.

Easy to mix up

Cetinje, the former royal capital, still has the official residence of the president of Montenegro, but Podgorica is the capital.

Sources: Wikipedia: Podgorica, Wikipedia: Cetinje, Wikipedia: Lake Skadar