Podgorica is a city built on the basin of 6 rivers, with rivers Ribnica and Morača flowing through the very center of the city. Other rivers are Cijevna, Zeta, Sitnica and Mareza, each beautiful in their own way. Cijevna creates a stunning canyon located an hour drive from the city and Zeta belongs to a park of nature.

Podgorica is a new, green city filled with rivers, parks and surrounded by Gorica Hill, a beauttiful park located in the city center.

Podgorica is a city of bridges, bridges that date back to earlier eras, but also modern and architecturally unique bridges of recent times.

Podgorica - beautiful green city built on six rivers, photo: sharemontenegro

It is a town was first mentioned in the 14th century, and from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 19th century, the Ottoman occupation of Podgorica followed, which significantly influenced the very style and method of construction of buildings, especially bridges.

In our blog post, you will learn about bridges built in the Ottoman period, bridges built in the Yugoslav era (1945-1992), as well as bridges built in the modern era.

Bridges created in the Ottoman period

HAdži Pasha's Bridge

The bridge was created in the area around the confluence of river Ribnica to river Morača, during the reign of the Romans in this area, when the city of Birziminium existed in that place. It was the trade center of the province of Prevalis through which the caravan route passed. This stone bridge on Ribnica, as well as the entire area, was destroyed in a catastrophic earthquake in 1618.

The bridge was rebuilt only in the first half of the 18th century, by Hadži Pasha Osmanagić, which is why it is known as Hadži Pasha's Bridge. The bridge is built of river stone, with one arch. There is a legend attached to the bridge that states that couples who declare their love on it stay together forever. The area around the bridge itself was called "Skaline" by younger generations.

Skaline is a place where Podgorica people go for a walk, and swim in the summer.

Tabač bridge

This bridge is one of the oldest in Podorica, and it is located behind the King's Park, opposite of the Hilton Hotel in the city center. The bridge was built of finely hewn stone, with one stone arch, which ideally blended with the untouched beauty. The settlement that arose around the Tabač bridge consisted of a large number of houses, scattered without any order on the bank of the Ribnica river. In Ottoman period, population of this region was mainly engaged in blacksmithing, leather processing and butchery.

Vizier's Bridge (Vezirov most)

On a place of today`s bridge was an old one - built in the 18th century, on river Morača, and it was the endowment of Vizier Mustafa Pasha Bušatlija, so it is called the Vizier's Bridge after him.

The bridge was built to allow old Podgorica to connect with important roads of the Ottoman Empire.

The construction of the bridge took a long time. A well-known story says that the builders used eggs and milk instead of water to mix the lime, believing it would make the bridge last longer. When the impatient Pasha asked why the work was delayed, the builders explained that the lime needed to sit for seven years for optimal quality. Although angry, the Pasha accepted their decision.

Years passed, and the bridge gradually spanned the Morača Canyon. Once completed, its elegant arch, about 20 meters high, shone brightly. The bridge also featured two towers housing an armed Turkish garrison. The gates were closed at night to prevent Montenegrans from entering the city.

During the liberation wars of 1876-78, the bridge sustained minor damage. After Podgorica was freed from Turkish rule, the bridge was renovated and its gates demolished. It withstood several attempts to demolish it, including during the Austro-Hungarian retreat, and survived a major flood in 1906.

Between the World Wars, Vezirov Bridge remained in use, even after a new iron bridge was built downstream at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers.

The highest point of the new bridge is 25 m, and the bridge is 4.3 m wide. The bridge was damaged in the World War II, so today's bridge dates back to 1947. This bridge has been declared a cultural asset of the city of Podgorica.

Kapadžić Bridge

The old Podgorica settlement Drač is remembered for the fact that it definitely brought Podgorica to the shore of Ribnica river. Following the course of Ribnica immediately after its entry into Drač, there is the Kapadžić Bridge. On the site of the original bridge that was destroyed during the World War II, today there is a bridge in a somewhat simpler form.

The bridge, whsoe origin is little is known, is named after the distinguished Kapadžić family from Podgorica. It is not known whether the family members, whose houses were nearby, only maintained the bridge or whether it was their endowment. During the Ottoman rule, maintenance of bridges by individual families was a common occurrence.

According to contemporaries, and according to what can be seen from old photographs, the bridge was built of fine hewn stones, going down to the very bank of the river, which was bridged with three arches at its narrowest breach through the limestone terrain.

kapadzica bridge — Old Kapadzica bridge in the center of Podgorica

Bridges created in Yugoslav era (1945-1992)

The bridge of the Zlatičanin brothers

The bridge of the Zlatičanin brothers over the river Ribnica was built in 1948. It bears the name of the brothers Milan and Vaso Zlatičanin, pre-war revolutionaries. It is located in the strict center of the city, as part of King Nikola Street, near the Hilton Hotel. It is a very interesting bridge with exceptional aesthetic characteristics of arches and vaults.

The Blažo Jovanović Bridge

The Blažo Jovanović Bridge was built between 1948 and 1950. The bridge is named after the revolutionary and hero Blažo Jovanović. It is located near the confluence of Ribnica in Morača. Also, the bridge forms part of the boulevard St. Peter Cetinjski. It is a concrete bridge with a length of 115.2 m and a width of 22.35 m.

the-blazo-jovanovic-bridge — The Blažo Jovanović Bridge

The first reconstruction of the bridge was carried out in 1985, and the second in 2009. On that occasion, among other things, the original fence of the bridge was changed, which gave the bridge a new visualization. This is also the busiest bridge in Podgorica. Due to its wide arch and decorative lighting, the bridge is particularly beautiful at night, especially if viewed from the direction of Skaline.

The Bridge of the 5th of May Victims

This bridge connects the city center with the Drač settlement, and spans the Ribnica river in its widest part. The bridge is located in the place where the Abdović bridge used to be, which is a legacy of the rich Abdović family. This bridge was destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1904, and after it the Princess (Knjeginjin) Bridge was built, commissioned by King Nikola. The Princess Bridge was named after Princess Milena, the wife of King Nikola. With three arches, the bridge was the most beautiful on the Ribnica river. In the allied bombing in 1944, the Princess Bridge was demolished and in the 60s of the last century the Bridge of the 5th of May Victims was built. This date was taken as the name of the bridge because on that day, near the end of the World War II, Podgorica experienced the most intense bombing. Podgorica was bombed more then 80 times in WWII.

Gazela suspension bridge (VISECI MOST)

The bridge was built after 1968, after the demolition of the bridge that was near today's. The people of Podgorica also call this bridge the "Hanging Bridge", precisely because of the bridge that collapsed in 1968.

It is interesting that in the place where the bridge was actually demolished, there is now the Moscow Bridge. The bridge is recognized by the fact that when you approach its middle, you feel the vibration of the platform, which can cause an adrenaline rush :). This pedestrian bridge stretches from Njegoš's park and exits to the other bank of the Morača river, near Jovan Tomašević boulevard.

Krivi (Crooked) Bridge

The bridge, which the people of Podgorica call the Krivi (Crooked) Bridge, connects the banks of the Morača in parts of the city of Zabjelo-City quarter. The bridge was built at the beginning of the 70s of the last century. This is the second busiest bridge in Podgorica.

Bridges built in the modern era

Views on Moraca river and Millenium bridge

The Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge on Morača which was built in 2005. The bridge is 140m long. The bridge platform contains two traffic lanes and a pedestrian path on both sides.

The bridge connects the city center with the new part of the city, thereby reducing the load on other bridges that connect the city center with densely populated neighborhoods on the other side of Morača. The Millennium Bridge has become a symbol of the city of Podgorica and the most beautiful bridge in Podgorica.

New Bridge

The new bridge was built in the period from 1999 to 2002, when the Spa (so named after the Turkish bath that was located there during the Ottoman rule) was renovated. The Spa facility was modified (the roof was changed) and adapted to the New Bridge, which is literally above it. The old bridge under New Bridge has also been preserved. Today, the building of the "Karver" bookstore is located there - a cult place in Podgorica. The construction of the New Bridge did not at all disturb the ambient unity of the Karver bookstore and the old bridge on Ribnica, which is special because it is a "bridge under a bridge".

Union bridge

In 2003, Podgorica got a modern bridge called "Union bridge", on the Morača river. The bridge was built precisely to relieve the traffic over the Blažo Jovanović bridge. The bridge is 173m long. Twelve cables carry the roadway structure. The investor of this bridge was the Municipality of Podgorica.

Moscow bridge

Moscow bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Morača river. The bridge was opened on December 19, 2009. It is known as Moscow because the steel structure for the bridge was obtained from the city of Moscow. The bridge is 105 m long, with an innovative design. This pedestrian bridge leads to the part of the Morača bank where there is a monument to Vladimir Visochki, a Russian poet and actor, which is also a gift from the city of Moscow.

The bridges of Podgorica best tell about the time of the city's creation, its expansion and transformation. From the first Ottoman bridges to the new bridges of contemporary architecture, the city of Podgorica is developing as the modern center of the state of Montenegro.

If you want to read more about Podgorica, it`s landmarks and best things to see, click here.

Podgorica Bridges Through History