Ulcinj’s Old Town stands as a timeless testament to the flow of centuries, weaving together the intricate tapestry of history and culture. This ancient urban architectural complex, resembling a stranded ship, unfolds its tales that have flourished for approximately 25 centuries.

The castle, a formidable structure at the heart of Ulcinj’s Old Town, serves as a sentinel, silently watching the passage of time and the merging of diverse cultures and civilizations. A living museum in its own right, the Old Town is a cultural and historical monument of unparalleled significance. Its Illyrian walls, citadel, network of streets, bustling markets, and charming town squares echo the footsteps of generations past.

Born 2,500 years ago under economic, military, and cultural conditions vastly different from our contemporary era, the Old Town of Ulcinj is a resilient guardian of history. Throughout the ages, the town’s walls bore witness to the ravages of wars, only to be swiftly rebuilt by its resilient residents—defenders of their fortresses and custodians of the town’s enduring beauty.

Wandering through the Old Town is a journey through time, where picturesque narrow and curved streets, reminiscent of the Middle Ages, unveil themselves. Two- and three-story stone houses, adorned with elements of the Renaissance and Baroque, stand shoulder to shoulder, creating a densely packed labyrinth of architectural wonders. Among these, a series of valuable edifices from the Ottoman era punctuate the skyline, each brick carrying echoes of a bygone time.

In the quiet corners of Ulcinj’s Old Town, the oldest remnants of the walls harken back to the Illyrian period, their weathered stones bearing witness to the town’s enduring spirit. Amidst these ancient stones, there is a whispered tale of a water cult that has always flowed through Ulcinj. Legend has it that the image of Bindus, the Illyrian God of water and the sea, is etched into the walls, a silent tribute to the enduring connection between the town and its aquatic heritage.
Ulcinj’s Old Town, with its serpentine streets, resilient walls, and tales carved into every stone, invites you to step into a living history, where the past gracefully intertwines with the present, and where the echoes of Bindus still resonate in the salty breeze that sweeps through the ancient corridors.

11 Incredible Things To Do In Ulcinj, Montenegro In 2024 (montenegrotravelguide.com)