Description of the attraction
During the reign of the Venetians in Ulcinj in 1510, the church of St. Mary was founded, which immediately after the conquest of the city by the Ottomans, that is, in 1571, was renamed the mosque of Sultan Selim II. This mosque was often called the Imperial Mosque, as its workers received salaries from the state treasury. In 1693, a minaret was added to the former temple, leaning on a square base and tapering towards the top. Thus, the Turks completely transformed the Orthodox church, emphasizing their dominion in the city. The mosque was no longer used for religious purposes in 1878, when the Montenegrins reclaimed Ulcinj. The question of what to do with the mosque was resolved almost immediately. It was transformed into a mekteb - this was the name of the building that served as a town hall or city club, where rich people gathered to discuss current affairs in the city.
The Church of St. Mary, which has become a mosque, is one of the most interesting buildings in the city, combining in its architecture elements characteristic of buildings from the East and West. Nowadays, the city museum is located here. His collections are kept in three branch buildings. An archaeological collection is kept in the former mosque on Rabov Square. Ethnographic exhibits are preserved in the building next door, and a selection of paintings and art objects can be seen in the Balsic Tower. All exhibits tell about the history of the city from the time of its foundation to the present day. The archaeological collection of the museum is simply amazing. Among other treasures, it is worth noting ancient cameos, a pedestal with an inscription where the goddess Artemis is mentioned, a Roman mosaic, which is kept disassembled, but will soon be restored.
