The city is just north of Lake Skadar and close to coastal destinations on the Adriatic Sea. The surrounding landscape is predominantly mountainous terrain. It served as the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until Montenegro's declaration of independence in , after which it was reaffirmed as the capital of an independent Montenegro.
The city's original name, Podgorica, was restored in following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The economy of Podgorica is based on a mix of industries, including manufacturing, trade, and services. The city has seen a rise in the IT sector, with numerous startups and tech companies emerging.
Podgorica serves as a central hub for Montenegro's transportation network, with an extensive road and rail system and the nearby Podgorica Airport. Tourism is also a growing sector, with the city being a gateway to Montenegro's natural and cultural attractions.
Podgorica is home to the University of Montenegro , the largest and most significant educational institution in the country. The city's cultural institutions include the Montenegrin National Theatre, the Natural History Museum of Montenegro, and several galleries and libraries. About one-third of the city's area is composed of parks, gardens, and natural landscapes, including the nearby Gorica Hill.
Some three kilometres 1. In later centuries, Romans corrected the name to Dioclea , guessing that an i had been lost in vulgar speech. Duklja is the later South Slavic version of the same word. At its foundation some time before the 11th century , the town was called Birziminium [ sr ].
