From October 9 to 11, Civic Alliance organized a cultural visit of students from the Gymnasium “30. septembar” in Rožaje to their peers in Herceg Novi. This was a return visit following the one made by high school students from Herceg Novi to Rožaje in May this year.
During the two-day visit, the students from Rožaje had the opportunity to meet the rich cultural and historical heritage of Herceg Novi. On the first day, they visited the Mirko Komnenović City Museum, where they learned about the historical collection that illustrates the city’s development through different eras, as well as the legacy of the Komnenović family.
The visit continued with a lecture delivered by teachers from the “Ivan Goran Kovačić” Public Institution in Herceg Novi, who spoke about the importance of interculturalism, tolerance, and dialogue. The students actively participated in the discussion, sharing their views and experiences on important social issues.
After the lecture, the group visited two of the city’s landmarks – Kanli Kula and Forte Mare Fortress – where they learned about their historical and cultural significance. These impressive structures bear witness to the city’s turbulent past and its strategic importance over the centuries, while today they stand as important cultural sites.
A special impression was the visit to the House of Nobel Laureate Ivo Andrić, where students learned more about the life and work of the great writer, who spent part of his life in Herceg Novi. Andrić visited this city several times, particularly during the 1960s, finding peace and inspiration for his writing there. He once said that “there is no better place for writing than Herceg Novi.” Some of his later essays and notes were created during his stays in the city. The house where he lived is now a memorial space preserving his connection with Herceg Novi and his literary legacy.
The program also included a tour of Tito’s Villa, which adds to the understanding of Herceg Novi’s historical context and its significance as a cultural and political center during certain periods of Yugoslav history. Finally, the group visited the Captain Miroslav Štumberger House, a museum home with a rich collection bequeathed to the city by Štumberger himself.
As part of the visit, social activities were also organized for students from Rožaje and Herceg Novi, providing opportunities for informal interaction, exchange of experiences, and the creation of new friendships.
This activity is part of the project “Together for the Empowerment of the Culture of Tolerance and Equality,” implemented with the financial support of the Fund for the Protection and Exercising of Minority Rights of Montenegro.
