Ever heard about the country Montenegro? Probably not!
Because Montenegro gained independence in May 2006; a 21st-century country.
This small Balkan country shares its border with Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo (disputed territory), and Albania. Montenegro was our last country before the COVID-19 pandemic hit globally.
Podgorica is Montenegro’s capital and many consider it as one of Europe’s boring cities. So we combined this city along with Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. The blog is about the only must-visit attraction in Podgorica.
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Blog Contents
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
History
The construction began in 1993 and was open to the public in 2013. The spectacular cathedral is a recent addition to the twenty-first-century beauty. This cathedral is not a popular one, unlike the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Bulgaria or the Milan Cathedral.
In fact, many locals didn’t know the English name, the locals call it ‘Саборни храм Христовог Васкрсења’ (Montenegrin)
Cathedral highlights
- Cathedral Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica is the third largest Orthodox church in the world, the Temple of Christ the Savior in Moscow, and St. Sava Temple in Belgrade being the others.
- Total capacity: 1800 with four entrances.
- The two towers dominate the cathedral, each standing 26.7 meters high.
- The cathedral has 17 bells in total and the heaviest one weighs a whopping 11 ton.
- The central dome is the cathedral’s highest point (35.5 m).
Inside the cathedral
There were hardly people inside and of course, no tourists. A cathedral inside a country’s capital with no tourists? That’s a rare sight in Europe.
The interiors are enriched with iconography, a visual treat for the believers. The artistic decoration inside will blow your minds. Since the cathedral is quite new, the details are bright and clear. It hosts a large stone sculpture gallery too.
Underneath the cathedral, there is a crypt (stone chamber) where hall spiritual academy and exhibition take place.
Fresco art
The walls decorations use the Fresco technique; an ancient art of mural-painting (artwork on a wall). The technique uses water-based pigments on freshly applied plaster to a wall/ceiling.
Timings and Entrance fee
The entrance is free. But the exact opening times are unknown. Even google maps don’t have an answer. We visited at noon. But look into the official site to know more about few specific worship timings.
Note: Photography is allowed but always maintain silence inside.
How to reach the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
Located in the new town of Podgorica; the cathedral is 2.6 km away from Podgorica’s main bus station. You can either walk or hire a taxi.
Walk
The best way to explore any European city. The new town of Podgorica is quite lively compared to its old down. The main street ‘vasa raickovica’ is filled with cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, and bars. After having a quiet walk through the old town, it was refreshing to see some life in the new town.
Taxi
Taxis are cheap (1€ ~ 1 km start), some claim that its the cheapest in Europe. You will end up paying ~ 10€ from the airport to downtown (12 km ride). Try arranging a taxi through your accommodation.
Tip: Always check for taxi prices on websites like Numbeo, world taximeter when you visit a country. It avoids unnecessary bargaining.
Public transport
The city doesn’t have a well connected public transport. We hardly saw a bus. Prior to my trip, I searched for bus connections inside the city, but couldn’t find anything.
My experience
Podgorica is not a city worth visiting as a tourist. But the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is totally worth it. One can spend 30 minutes inside.
Go visit the cathedral before it becomes a crowded tourist attraction.
Overall experience: 
out of 5
Time of visit: February 2020
“It is an exceptional event to build a cathedral – it must withstand several lifetimes” – Santiago Calatrava