Members of the Ecological Society of Boka Kotorska, NGOs "Society of Friends of Herceg Novi" and "Koraci", as well as the Public Housing and Communal Enterprise and JP "Čistoća" participated in the cleaning action of the Citadel fortress (Mezaluna - Macel). In a few hours, they managed to clean only half of the space.
"You couldn't get into the fortress because of the brambles, bushes and trees," said Olivera Doklestić, president of the Boka Kotorska Ecological Society, which is also the organizer of the action.
And in the fortress itself, they found a real dump where there were old carpets, a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner, a tank from a car, huge amounts of glass and plastic packaging and other waste.
Part of the garbage was taken away by truck by "Čistoće" workers, and today they should also take away green waste from JSKP.
"We cleaned the western wall and half of the plateau of the fortress. It remains to finish the cleaning and to cut down the fig tree that is destroying the already destroyed walls of the fortress," Doklestić points out.
Millions are needed to rebuild the fortress
According to historical data, the foundation of the Citadel was laid by the Bosnian king Tvrtko, who founded the city in 1381.
It was damaged in the 17th century in the earthquake of 1667 and in the battles of the Venetians with the Turks.
When the Venetians conquered the city, they rebuilt it, as well as the Citadel, which was enlarged during their 110-year rule.
The ravages of time destroyed the fortress over the years, and at the beginning of the 20th century, with the construction of the railway, the building was well, although not visibly shaken.
The last "blow" to the Citadel came in a devastating earthquake in 1979, when one part fell into the sea.
Although funds were intended for the reconstruction of the Citadel after the earthquake, they were used for the construction of cultural centers, and for the fortress on the seashore only a rehabilitation program was carried out, in which the framework program for the reconstruction of the Citadel and its future purpose was specified.
It is uncertain when the reconstruction of the entire fortress could begin because huge - millions of funds are missing.
People of good will and enthusiasm certainly cannot tackle the demanding work of renovating the fortress, but with their modest contribution they are trying to point out the state of the fortress, to oppose the fact that this cultural monument becomes a public dump. But also for one of the most important cultural points in the city to be adequately valorized for tourism.
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