Monday, October 3, 2011

Vacanta in Muntenegru 13. Stari Bar / Montenegrin Vacation 13. Old Bar

Bar was founded by the slavs in the VIIth century, and dominated by Byzant till the half of the XVth century. The first written mention goes back to the XI century, when it was called Antibareos.

In 1077 they had a Montenegrin ruler, Mihailo Vojislavljevic, and then Bar was controlled - like other places on the coast - by the Venetians and the Turks. After the first world war it was administrated by Austria, and during the second one by the Italian and German armies. Between 1944-1991 it was part of the former Yugoslavia.


Old Bar was erected at 5 km from the sea, at the feet of Rumija Mt., to be protected against the pirates'raids, very active in this zone.

We wanted to visit the Citadel, so we have to climb the narrow street with little shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Then we entered through the impressive XIth century gate. The entrance fee is only 1 euro/person.

In the Citadel there are remnants of palaces and churches, some of them well preserved. Nice views toward the town and the sea are opening from above.

Fondat in secolul al VII-lea de catre slavi, pana la mijlocul secolului al XV-lea Barul a fost sub control bizantin. Prima sa mentiune documentara dateaza din secolul al XI-lea, cand asezarea se numea Antibareos.

In 1077 domnea aici regele muntenegrean Mihailo Vojislavljevic. Venetienii cuceresc asezarea in 1404 dar nu reusesc sa o tina decat 8 ani, dupa care cade in mana puternicei familii locale Balsici. Turcii cuceresc Bar in 1571 si nu va fi eliberat decat in 1878, anul in care se procalama si independenta Muntenegrului. Urmeaza o perioada de administratie austro-ungara, incepand cu 1928, pentru ca din 1941 orasul sa faca parte din Regatul Yugoslav. In timpul celui de-al doilea razboi mondial, este controlat de armata italiana si germana si apoi eliberat de partizani in 1944. De atunci si pana in 1991, Bar a facut parte din RSF Yugoslavia. In aceasta din urma perioada el se dezvolta mai ales ca port si ca centru de turism.

Orasul Vechi a fost construit la 5 km de mare, la poalele Muntelui Rumija, pentru a fi ferit de atacurile piratilor foarte activi in zona. Un zid inconjurator, ridicat in sec. XI-XII si refacut in sec. XIV-XV, apara Citadela, ridicata pe un deal.
 Stari Bar
 la intrarea in Stari Bar
 Muntele Rumija
Citadela
In vechiul Bar, intre zidurile fortaretei, nu mai traieste nimeni azi dar la poalele Citadelei, in locul numit Pograd, cu o biserica catolica si doua moschei, mai multe case datatnd d ela mijlocul secolului trecut si altele noi, adapostesc locuitorii Barului Vechi.
 case vechi si noi
moschee in constructie
Spre Citadela urca o straduta ingusta, plina de pravalioare de suveniruri, cafenele si restaurante, asa cum suntem obisnuiti din alte locuri asemanatoare.
Intrarea in Citadela costa 1 euro/persoana. Trecem pe sub poarta masiva, care dateaza din sec. al XI-lea si incepem explorarea, dupa ce admiram o gravura care ne arata cum era locul in perioada sa de glorie. Chiar vis a vis de intrare se afla o mica moschee.
 poarta principala, sec. XI
Ratacim la intamplare printre ruine sau urmam sagetile traseului recomandat. Din fiecare unghi ni se deschide o perspectiva noua. Vedem parti mai vechi sau mai "noi", lasate fie de turci, fie de venetieni. Vegetatia pune stapanire pe pietrele vechi. Se mai pastreaza destul de bine zidurile a doua biserici: Sf. Caterina (sec. XVI) si Sf. Veneranda (sec. XV). De asemenea, urmele unor palate, ale unei cule si, desigur, pitorescul Turn cu Ceas, vizibil de departe.
 palat, sec. XV-XVI
Biserica Veneranda, sec. XIV
 vedere spre mare, de la Citadela
 Biserica Sf. Caterina, sec. XVI
 Sahat Kula, sec.XII
 Palatul Cneazului, sec.XIV
Palatul Episcopal, sec. XV-XVI
Turnul cu Ceas, 1752
La plecare, ne-am colorat sufletul intr-o mica piata unde se vindeau antichitati in aer liber.

22 comments:

Claudia Mihaila said...

Ce draguta e citadela! Imi plac la nebunie stradutele petruite si inguste si magazinasele cu ulei de masline. Foarte frumoase fotografii!

Joop Zand said...

You have already visit a lot of nice places..... thanks for sharing all these lovely pictures.

Greetings, Joop

Traveling Hawk said...

Multumesc pentru vizita, Claudia!

Traveling Hawk said...

I'm glad you like them, Joop. Thanks!

joo said...

Would you believe that last time I was there was in 81! Wow, time flows! Your photos are great and it's difficult to choose favourite - I think it's Olive Oil Shop:)

VP said...

I like the shops and the stalls and I am sure I could spend some time around there.

Traveling Hawk said...

I am glad you like the photos. It seems you know this part of the world. Thanks, Joo!

Traveling Hawk said...

I am happy you like the place I am showing you now, VP! It's not far from you, may be you will see for yourself one summer.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

You have so much to offer in your travels, once again, thank you !

Traveling Hawk said...

I thank you, Wong, for the kind words!

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

The first two pictures are very pretty, like them a lot!

Duncan In Kuantan

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Duncan!

magda said...

Your photos are very nice with a own color, very striking!!!
Many greetings

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Magda, foor the appreciation.

Phivos Nicolaides said...

A lovely place shown through your beautiful pictures!!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks again, Phivos!

Unknown said...

cred ca a fost o zi plina si memorabila. ruine, talciocuri, peisaje. foarte fain.

Cristina DUMITRU said...

Superba Citadela!

Traveling Hawk said...

asa e, pharaonx, mai ales ca in aceeasi zi, dupa masa, am fost si la Cetinje:)

Traveling Hawk said...

Multumesc pentru vizita, Cristina!

RIZALENIO said...

Those walls and ruins, very interesting. Wishing that someday soon, I'll walk in these roads too. Thanks for bringing me here now, my friend.

Traveling Hawk said...

I wish your dream come true, Rizalenio!