Mala Gorana – Landscape and History

Mala Gorana is shaped by a rural cultural landscape and regional history. When planning your trip, it is useful to distinguish between two geographic scales: the Mrkovsko polje–Gorana sub-area and the larger rural area of Gorana.

Cultural Landscape and Agriculture

Mala and Velika Gorana represent a cultural landscape with traditionally cultivated farmland. Its rural character is intended to be preserved. The Mrkovsko polje–Gorana sub-area, which includes Mala Gorana, is mostly low-lying and relatively flat. Intensive agriculture is planned for this sub-area, including olive groves, citrus fruits, early continental fruit, and Mediterranean vegetables. The larger rural area of Gorana extends between the hills of Povara and Možura. Its landscape includes the 500- to 700-meter-wide Goransko polje and the wooded hills above it.

This information describes different geographic scales: the low-lying, relatively flat terrain refers to the Mrkovsko polje–Gorana sub-area; Goransko polje and the wooded hills are part of the description of the larger Gorana area. This helps place the agriculture-shaped cultural landscape in context, without attributing features of the wider area to Mala Gorana alone.

Water Supply When Planning Your Stay

Water supply is a practical consideration when planning your trip. A 2018 plan lists no natural springs in Mala Gorana. The local water system draws water from the Frašanj well via a pumping station; the plan describes its capacity as limited. If you depend on water supplies during a stay or activity in the rural area, check local conditions in advance.

The Turkish Bridge and a Possible Roman Road

The reconstructed old bridge at the junction of the roads toward Mala Gorana and Kunje is known locally as the Turkish Bridge. It was built in the Ottoman style; its reconstruction was reported in 2020. The old road near the bridge is associated with a possible ancient Roman road route between Narona, Olcinium, and Skadar. This historical interpretation should be understood as a possibility, not as a fully excavated route.

Historical and Cultural Connections

Mitar Petrović Plamenac’s travel notes from August 21 to 23, 1881, list Mala Gorana among the villages of Mrkojevići. The place is also associated with the former observance of Petkovdan, a former Christian feast day. These point to different aspects of the area’s history: its mention in a 19th-century travel account and a historical religious tradition.

In the wider Mrkojevići area, the Gorana Mosque was included as one of three mosques in a virtual tour project. If you would like to take the virtual tour, check in advance whether it is currently available.

More Cultural History in the Ulcinj Destination

In the wider Ulcinj destination, the Old Town offers its own historical connection. Ulcinj Old Town was protected as a cultural asset of national importance in 1961. Its upper section is dominated by the citadel and has a military character; the lower section is a civilian settlement surrounded by defensive walls. The Church of St. Mary in the Old Town was built in 1510 and converted into a mosque in 1571.

The Sports Games in Mrkojevići also take place in the Ulcinj destination: a traditional event held in August that has brought tourism, culture, sport, and local tradition together annually since 2009. If you are interested, check the dates for your travel year.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Sveti Nikola, Kunje, Bratica, Ulcinj, Doni Štoj, Utjeha-Bušat.

Back to the main travel guide: Ulcinj.