@kriskris
Ulcinj. The pirate center of the Mediterranean
The Old Town, behind the fortress walls, was founded in the 5th century BC by settlers from Colchis (modern-day Georgia)
Then, as in all Montenegrin ports, came the periods of the Romans, Serbs, Turks, and Venetians. The traces of these power shifts are reflected in the buildings' purposes and architectural details. A Christian church became a mosque under the Turks, and the upper parts of the fortress walls feature characteristic Venetian bands
The golden age of piracy in the region was the 16th and 17th centuries. From 1571 the Ulcinj fortress was under Ottoman rule. The pirates were mostly locals - Albanians. In Italy they were called "lupi di mare Dolcignotti" - sea wolves from Ulcinj
They spread terror not just as common robbers, but as a wealthy, well-equipped criminal organization with fast, agile ships. They plundered Sicilian villas, took captives, and traded slaves on the square by that very mosque - the former church.
Perhaps the most curious legend is about Miguel de Cervantes. It's believed he spent several years imprisoned right here in the Ulcinj fortress. And supposedly, he fell in love here with a girl who became the prototype for Dulcinea - whose name can be interpreted as "from Ulcinj."
Now it's all cafes and hotels. Some parts are still residential. Most of the history is reflected in the north part of the fort - the square where they traded slaves, overlooking the Museum of History and Archaeology, which holds traces of all the cultures that shaped this town.
📍Old Town of Ulcinj. Montenegro