Tuzi

Tuzi (Serbian Cyrillic: "Тузи", Albanian: "Tuz") is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located on a road between Podgorica and Albanian border, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is coord|42|21|56|N|19|19|53|E|. It a centre of "Tuzi urban municipality", a subdivision of Podgorica municipality.

The Battle for Independence

Tuzi is the site for the first Albanian uprising since the time of Gjergj Kastrioti - Skenderbeg in 1443. Throughout time, Tuzi was the last to surrender to the Turks and the first to claim independence. Ded Gjo Luli Dedvukaj was the leader of this uprising. He lead his Malësor brothers to victory against the Ottoman Turks in 1911, as a result freeing them against the powerful Muslim army. The famous battle of Tuzi that day was known to be the Battle of Deçiq. This famous victory for the Albanians sparked to other events that lead to the Independence of Albania.

Origin of Name

The origin of the name dates back to the settlement of an Albanian man named Llesh Tuzi in around the mid 1300's. Tuzi was named after this man to respect to his settleman in the area. It is said that Llesh hailed from the Gruda tribe. This town first started out as a small village just settled by the tribe of Gruda, now all the tribes of Malsia, respectively, stake their claim to its natural beauty.

Population

Tuzi has 3,789 residents, according to 2003 census, and the Urban Municipality itself has 8,752 residents. Out of this, most are ethnic Albanians abaut 70 percent they are most catholic chrystians , but there is also of Slav Muslims, Bosniaks abaut 20 percent they are sunni muslims, & Montenegrins. As a town centre, Tuzi has 3,789 inhabitants. Tuzi is the main town for the Albanian region of Malësia within Montenegro. Today, most Malësors moved from their original "Katunds" (villages) to Tuzi for a better living and higher education for their children.

Attractions in town

The attractions and religious institutions for the town are all located on the main road of the center village. Attractions include; Cavalieri Bar/Lounge, Patricia Hotel/Cafe, Troja Restaurant, Verdi Restaurant/Pizzeria/Lounge, Martini Lounge, Malsia Cafe, Main Street Cafe, Saint Anthony (Shen Nduo) Albanian Catholic Church, Mosque, the center plaza, etc.

Villages surrounding Tuzi

* Podhum
* Sukruq
* Dreshaj
* Dinosha
* Vuksanlekaj
* Lekaj
* Milesh
* Vulaj

NOTE: The original Malësori people that inhabit the town are from surrounding Hoti, Trieshi, Gruda, and Koja tribes. The region of Malësia is roughly 10,000 in population.

Demographics

*Albanians - 2,203
*Bosniaks - 500
*Muslims - 466
*Montenegrins - 450
*Roma - 80
*Serbs - 75
*Croats - 4
*Macedonians - 1
*Others - 10
*Undeclared/undefined - 65
*regional affiliation - 4
*unknown - 27
*Total - 3,789

Religious Demographics

60% Roman Catholic, 40% Muslim

History

The name "Tuzi" was first mentioned in the writings of Franciscan missioners in 1222, while as an urban centre it has existed for about 100 years. Tuzi was under Ottoman rule as all the other neighbouring lands. It was incorporated in Montenegro by the provisions of Congress of Berlin.

Many travelers wrote about this place, such as Evliya Çelebi, Edith Durham and others. They were all amazed by the beauty of this place, the lake, the fields, the mountains, the river Cem as well as by the nobility of people.

Tuzi Today

Tuzi, the urban center of Malesia region a part of which belongs to Montenegro. It is situated in the northwest of the Shkodër Lake 10km from Podgorica, 150km from Dubrovnik (Croatia) & 130km to Tirana (Albanian Capital).Tuzi has a good geographic, economic & political position; it is only 40 minute drive from the Adriatic Sea. & the same distance from the snowy mountains in the north.

Tuzi is located in the field area of Malesia, surrounded by forests & mountains that are further connected with the Albanian Alps. Malesia has about 11,000 inhabitations, from which about 4,000 live in Tuzi. Majority of the population are ethnic Albanians of religions (Roman Catholic & Islam). Like the all cities in Montenegro, in Tuzi exist Health Centre, Elementary School "Mahmut Lekić" and High School "25 Maj" . The main centre in the cultural life of Malesia region - QIK 'Malësia', built 2004. In the last few years, in Tuzi were built new building of Elementary School and football stadium.

Malesia has vast, valuable, cultural religious & ethnographic heritage. There are many societies that are cherishing & preserving cultural treasure. There are carnivals that have brought Tuzi to some international carnival cities, there is an ethnographic museum but there are also many places & cultural valuables to be explored.

Politics

Albanians in Tuzi made several initiatives to form Tuzi as a separate municipality within Montenegro, but with moderate success. So far, the Capital City Law is passed that marks Tuzi and Golubovci as "urban municipalities" - a municipality within municipality, where Tuzi and Golubovci would have their own city parliaments, but still would be under mayor of Podgorica.

ister Cities

*flagicon|USA Rochester Hills, Michigan (2007)

ee also

*Football club Dečić Tuzi
*Balkan Wars
*Albanians in Montenegro

External links

* [http://www.shkembi.com Portali i Malesise]