Stari Bar and the Old Olive Tree by car from Budva

The Old Olive Tree grows at Mirovica, near the road from Bar toward Ulcinj. Research carried out in 2014 and 2015 estimated its age at approximately 2,240 years at the time of analysis.

As you look around, the broad base and branching shape of the trunk draw attention. Over time, the tree has suffered fires and damage. A large part of it fell in 2004. The condition of the soil also matters for its preservation: drainage was installed after problems with high groundwater, and the operator recorded new vegetative growth in spring 2024.

Stories about reconciling feuding families are associated with the olive tree. They explain the special respect for this place and the name Mirovica, but belong to oral tradition. The tree is protected as a natural monument. Stone posts around the trunk separate the visitor area from the tree and its roots.

Stari Bar stands on a rocky rise below Rumija, a few kilometers from the coast. An area of about 4.5 hectares contains the remains of residential buildings, religious buildings, palaces and town fortifications. Their different forms bear witness to centuries of life under Byzantine, medieval, Venetian and Ottoman rule.

The ruined houses and lines of the streets reveal the layout of everyday life, while palaces and churches show its administrative and religious centers. At Saint George’s Cathedral, you see the remains. The restored Church of Saint Veneranda retains its recognizable stone facade and round window.

The hammam and clock tower reflect the Ottoman period. The bathhouse was part of town life, and the clock tower remains a recognizable vertical landmark among the lower ruins. The aqueduct on the northern side had a different, equally important role: it brought water from a distant source. Its stone arches show how the elevated town solved the problem of supplying water.

The citadel rises above the other buildings and offers views toward the Bar plain and the surrounding mountains. The elevation and cliffs around the town were part of its natural defenses.

The town inside the walls lost its permanent inhabitants toward the end of the 19th century. The earthquake of 1979 caused further damage, followed by research, conservation and restoration of individual buildings. Life in Stari Bar continues below the gate, in the settlement you pass through on arrival and return to for lunch.

Stari Bar’s market street is a cobbled street below the walls, with shops, souvenir stores and restaurants. The former market square in this settlement brought together sellers of meat, fish, vegetables, cheese and spices. Your visit to the archaeological town therefore continues through a place that also played an important role when people lived within the walls.

Dino Becovic opened the family restaurant Kaldrma on the site of the old market square in 2004. His family had a shop on the same street as far back as the middle of the 19th century, so the choice of location also has a family history. Their cooking brings together recipes from the Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim households of Stari Bar. Olive oil and seasonal vegetables, including eggplant, connect the meal with the area you have just explored.