"Antibari (Bar) [Montenegro] vs Bari [Italy]" Top 5 Page for this destination Bar by JLBG

Bar Travel Guide: 50 reviews and 81 photos

Antibari (Bar) [Montenegro] vs Bari [Italy] - Bar

Bar is made of Stari Bar, the old city, situated inland and Novi Bar, usually called Bar, a city that grew around Pristan Port. Stari Bar is 5 km east of the Bay of Bar (Luka Bar), on the border of the Barsko Polje (the plain of Bar), at the foot of Mount Rumija (1593 m).

Bar (Novi Bar) developed after Montenegro (Crna Gora [Black mountain] in Montenegrin, Serbian and Croatian) became independent in 1878. The building of the narrow gauge railway between Bar and Virpazar, Podgorica and later Beograd (Belgrade) boosted its growth. After 1950, Bar was built as a modern harbor equipped with all facilities required by modern trade. Now, all maritime trade of Montenegro and most of the maritime trade of Serbia passes by Bar harbor. Bar is connected by ferries with Ancona and Bari, which makes it the main port of entrance for visitors coming from Western Europe to Montenegro and northern Albania (Skhodër). The Italian name of the city is Antibari, which reminds clearly that it is strongly linked with the Italian harbor of Bari, on the other side of the Adriatic.

This photo shows the view you get from the ferry when arriving close to the coast, a dozen of kilometers north to Bar.

Stari Bar

The first mention of Bar dates from the end pf the 9th. At the end of the Middle Ages, the town was ruled by Byzance. In 1183, it was conquered by the Serbian Župan (prince) Stefan Nemanja. Under the Nemanjić rule, the city became wealthy because of the trade developed with other cities of the coast and with Italy. After the death of emperor Dućan, it was ruled by several families and in 1443 took by the Venetians. The Turks conquered the city in 1571 and it was not before 1878 that Bar was freed by the Montenegrin army of the new independent state of Montenegro.

Stari Bar is made of two parts : one is a real city with people living in it, the other is the old town, inside its city walls, uninhabited and visited as a museum. This photos shows the ticket required to visit the old town.

Last visit to Bar: Jul 2005
Intro Updated Dec 30, 2009
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Reviews (17)

School warning ! Warnings and Dangers (1)

I always enjoy these school warning road signs where, they seem to say " he, pay attention, this is a school, you should... more travel advice

Death announcements Local Customs (2)

In the whole Balkans, including countries from ex-Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece, death announcements are fastened on... more travel advice

Nikšičko pivo Local Customs (2)

Nikšičko pivo is found almost everywhere in Montenegro. I know, I should have put this tip in a "Montenegro"... more travel advice

Passengers heck-in ! Tourist Traps (1)

Passports and identity cards are controlled on board of the Sveti Stefan 2 and a post says in Serbian : "Kontrola paso?a... more travel advice

Transportation (4)
See All The Offices of the harbor

Things to Do (9)
See All Bartula

Comments (14)

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Trekki Feb 28, 2010 at 3:59 AM

This looks so beautiful, the approach by ferry and the old village itself! And also Bartula looks nice, oh my, I can see some hiking wishes materialising in my brain (I know, you said so :-)
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Dec 28, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Republic of Montenegro (or Chernogoria in Russian) is still in my wish list. It's among a few countries in Europe where we needn't get visas. Thank you Jean-Louis for sharing!
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budapest8 Sep 6, 2009 at 11:51 AM

I`m thinking of taking the 13.05 Avala sleeper train from Budapest Keleti which gets in the following morning at 08.45. Then bus onto Ulcinj instead of via Pogarica. Just need to free up some time and money...Thx for yr great pics and info.
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Nemorino Dec 8, 2007 at 7:45 AM

On the VT map it says that Bar is one of the "Top cities in null". This is strange, because the place doesn't sound at all like "null" in your tips.
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MalenaN Nov 1, 2006 at 10:07 PM

Arriving to Bar by ferry looks beautiful. Sorry to hear there wee no, or little, signs in Stari Bar.
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riika May 22, 2006 at 12:47 AM

Looking forward to trying this beer someday! Hopefully next summer. Thanks for the tip! :)
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karenincalifornia Jan 15, 2006 at 11:25 AM

Excellent page on Bar! If you had sailed on the Sveti Stefan 1 before going on the Sveti Stefan 2, you would've thought #2 was a luxury ocean liner in comparison - LOL! Worn out gangways, notwithstanding!
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deecat Dec 31, 2005 at 5:25 PM

What an interesting, informational group of pages on Bar. Your photographs, especially the ones that highlight the architecture, are just wonderful. I really enjoyed this virtual tour.
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easyoar Nov 8, 2005 at 12:07 PM

A well in the middle of the street sounds like a recipe for car crashes... Perhaps that should have been in the Wrnings and Dangers section!
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globetrott Oct 30, 2005 at 4:45 AM

an interesting page & great pics, Jean-Louis ! What the heck with the heck-in :-)