Cetinje

About

Being an independent state on the borders of the Ottoman Empire put Montenegro in a politically strategic position, and as such, every major European power had an embassy in Cetinje. Because of this, the old town has a continental style a thousand miles away from any reference point. The town was taken by the Ottoman Empire several times, but the locals would always rebuild, as the Monastery of St. Peter can attest. Housed inside are relics of Saint Petar of Cetinje, one the illustrious patrons of Montenegrin history. In a country that’s 70% Russian Orthodox, this monastery represents the nation’s spiritual seat. When the communists moved the capital to Podgorica in 1946, the Cetinje was left with just 9,000 residents. Today, feels like a time capsule. The population has grown slightly, but the buildings and the streets don’t look too different.