Ulcinj is one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic coast, withstanding the ravages of time for 25 centuries. Jutting up magically on the cliffs above the open sea, with its face towards Otrant it is guaranteed to captivate all your senses. Through the immense variety of cultures and civilisations that have left their mark and been absorbed into the overall picture. It is like a little paradise on earth, carved timelessly out of the centuries of bloody battles, defiance, pride and affection of all those who have visited this place at least once in their lives. The earliest traces take us back to prehistoric times when Ulcinj belonged to the Illyrians, a people of Indo-European origin. The old walled town of Ulcinj was founded in the 5th century BC by the Colchinians who gave it its first name of Colchinium. In the 2nd century (163 BC) it was captured by the Romans from the Illyrian tribe, the Olchiniatas and the ancient city of Colchinium became Olchinium.
Under Roman rule Olchinium was granted special status, as a city with special privileges (opida civium romanorum) and later as a city with independent status (Municipia). Because of its exceptional geographical position, the layout of the land, and its mild climate it has always been a target of the great conquerors of history. The walls of Ulcinj have often been demolished in wars but have also been renovated by all those who because of the exceptional beauty of this ancient town found peace as they built their fortresses and residences. Justilian the Byzantine Emperor rebuilt the city and fortified it, as did the Nemanjic’s, the Balsic’s, the Venetians and the Turks. In 1183 the city was seized by the Serbian local ruler Stefan Nemanja and it was then that Ulcinj became one of the most important cities on the coast.
Around that time the famous Tower of the Balsic’s was built, and it is an interesting fact that this is where the famous reformer of the Talmud (Sabbatai Cevi) lived for a time and that it was here that he died in 1676 as Muhamed Efendi, after he had converted to Islam. Although it was never a true capital city Ulcinj was a favourite destination used by the rulers of Zeta for their residences.
Djordjije, the son of king Vukan of Zeta, and the grandson of Nemanja visited Ulcinj in 1252. In 1281 Marija, the sister of queen Jelena, a Frenchwoman by birth, and widow of Anselm de Chaurs, found refuge in the city. Until 1571 her tomb was in front of the altar of the Church of our Lady or St Mark’s. After her came Jelena, the widow of king Uros I who built the Franciscan monastery together with her sister Marija in 1278 . Ulcinj was home to one more woman ruler - Jelena the widow of the Emperor Dusan, who ruled over this widely known peaceful haven for former rulers and their wives. Djuradj Stracimirovic Balsic was buried there as though it was his capital city. During the time of the Nemanjic’s and the Balsic’s money was minted in Ulcinj.
One failed attempt to besiege the old city of Ulcinj is attributed to the Mongols. Having met no success at Ulcinj the Mongols laid waste to the neighbouring Bishop’s town of Svac and slaughtered all the inhabitants. Historical sources say that Svac was rebuilt by Queen Jelena in the XIII century, and according to the legend written by the Justinians (1533) and the Biks (1610) Svac had as many churches as days in the year, and even today the foundations of a dozen or so can still be seen. The Venetians put Ulcinj under their protection in 1423 and it remained under their control up until 1571 when it was attacked and laid waste and fell into the hands of the Turks.
After the battle of Lapant in the Mediterranean that same year the old town of Ulcinj was host to the famous Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes who was a captive there and who later wrote the world famous novel "Don Quixote ". As the town was then called Cita di Dolcinio, Cervantes gave his hero of "Don Quixote" a lover Dulcinea who was named after the city where he was a captive for 5 years. To this day there is a square in Ulcinj where slaves where brought and traded known as Slaves’ Square or
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Hotels in Ulcinj