CETINJE – history, culture and things to do
Cetinje Old Royal Capital was founded in the year 1482 and since than is center of history, culture and spirit of Montenegrin people. We will also speak about Catinje things to do.
Short history about Cetinje
When Turks come to conquer Montenegro they were mostly interested for region around Skadar lake. That was our most valuable part because of strategical position and fertile land good for agriculture plus rich by water. Montenegrin people escape in Cetinje area surrounding by karst mountain, dry, with crude climate. Indeed this area war hard for living.
Probably because of this factors Montenegrin people grove in a brave warriors, proud and strong. Most of a history we were giving a resistance to Ottoman Empire on one side and Venetian Republic on other, later Austro-Hungarian. Old Royal capital Cetinje with Lovcen National Park speaks about that period. If you want to get know spirit, history and culture of Montenegrin people you should come in Cetinje.
Cetinje things to do – Museums in Cetinje
Cetinje has five museums and we recommend to visit all five if you have time: King Nikola’s museum, Biljarda, Art museum, History museum, Ethnographic Museum. (For five museums you get a discount). But if you only have few hours for visit, go in Historic and Art museums placed in Vladin Dom Government house. Biljarda is also interesting it was built by bishop prince Njegos. Got a name because of first billiard pool in Montenegro. You can see a lot of pictures of old Cetinje, Montenegrin costumes, interesting documents. Also in Biljarda is relief of Montenegro made by Austo-Hungarians 150 years ago. Without using modern technology this relief is almost totally correct.
Royal family Petrovic
Royal family for 222 years was Petrovac family. We will just mention some of members. So one of the most important person was Njegos. Except Biljarda you also must visit Mausoleou of Njegos on top of Lovcen. He was a great ruler and poet. He opened the window to Montenegrin people in the world. Used to travel a lot and was appreciated by the noble families in Europe. Montenegro was shrouded in the darkness of ignorance so Njegos enlightenment ruler put a modern light in our old-fashioned habits.
If Njegos opened the window definitely King Nikola open the door. He even got a nickname Father in law of half of a Europe. With queen Milena he had 12 children, 9 daughters. So he was in a problem how he will collect dowry . Lucky was on his side so two of the daughters get married in Romanov family , one was queen of Serbia and Jelena was queen of Italy. So Montenegro get connections and even had 17 embassies in that period . In a year of 1878 finally we got independence and Montenegro were internationally recognized.
Italian queen Regina Elena
Regina Elena de Savoya was a daughter of King Nikola. Italians was very lucky to have such a pressure queen . She was involve in all kind of activities to help poor people . She even organize a lunch every day for 500 people in front a a castle . So noble people would wait to be invite and for poor people this was a normal think. In period of Spanish flu she helped in a hospitals like a nurse . Doctors would warned her that she is dangerous , but she responded ” Only virus I admit is a fear ” Also was an artist , painter , photographer , she enjoyed excavating with archaeologists. We could write a lot of good things she done for Italy, that why she simply got a name Regina .
Cetinje Monastery
Behind wall of Cetinje Monastery there is a lot of history, culture, spirituality and three very important relics. The hand of John the Baptist, a fragment of the Calvary cross and the miraculous icon Our Lady of the Way “Hodegetria” . This Monastery is near the Biljarda a definitely have to just enter inside.
Cetinje things to do, restaurants
Walking around the street you will see a lot souvenirs shops, restaurant, bars.
For restaurants we recommend to go in one old traditional in a street Baja Pivljanina 20 Restaurant Cetinje, , than Konoba Korzo , Obelix restaurant , Retaurant Kole and if you are going to visit Lipska cave on a way to cave you have restaurant Belvedere.
Visit Lovcen National Park
If you coming by car or bicycle , you should visit Lovcen National park with a view on Kotor bay . Here you have really good hiking routs , climbing , you have a possibility to rent a quad . There is recreation place Ivanova Korita where you can do barbecue and enjoy on fresh mountain air , mixed with wind from a sea.
The most beautiful view on Kotor bay is definitely on the top of 25 serpentine road. Other the most beautiful view on Skadar lake also nearby Old Royal capital Cetinje is Pavlova Strana. All this experience you can taste on our one day private tour.
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