June 25, 2012--Bar--The City of Olives

This is "Old Olive of Mirovica," an olive tree over 2,000 years old.  "Mir" means "peace."  Legends say that over the years disputes between families have been settled under this tree.

Close up of the trunk:

And the branches:

Next to the City of Bar is Stari Bar (Old Town Bar), one of the world's largest fortified archeological sites.

Though not much to look at, this foundation tells a story.
From 500 to the 900's it was the Church of St. Theodore.
At the end of the 1100's, a new Cathedral of St. George (Medieval Patron Saint of the City of Bar) was built.
In, 1649, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed replaced the Cathedral.
And in 1881, the Mosque was destroyed in an explosion.
 . . . all while the Old Olive of Mirovica grew.

An aquaduct system (above) was built in the 1500-1600's.

Beautiful things grow among the ruins:

A close up:

This is a fig tree:

Yes, it has fruit:

Off Craig's right arm is a mosque in the distance.  Unlike Kotor, Stari Bar was occupied by the Ottoman Empire (1571-1878).  Today 30% of Bar and Stari Bar are Muslim.  There is a strong Orthodox and Catholic presence also.  The oldest religious institution in Montenegro is the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Bar (since 1089).

Religion in Montenegro:
Orthodox             60%
Muslim                20%
Catholic                 5%
Protestant              2%
Other                     1%

Though there is much ancient religious history, Montenegro was under Communist Rule from1944 to 1980.  The Bosnian War followed in the 1990's.  Their new peace and religious freedom are quite young.