Budva Old Town: Wild West or Residents’ Homeland?
Welcome to Budva, where at night the Old Town turns into a real Wild West! But not because of tourists, but because of decisions that have left the residents of this medieval gem without basic rights. Yes, you read that right – people who live here all year round can no longer live normally because the municipality has revoked their parking rights, without any explanation or alternative.
Parking? Forget it!
About 60 parking spots in the Old Town were revoked by a municipal decree, done authoritatively without any dialogue with the residents. Even though they have valid annual permits, people now have to park far from their homes, in a small area near the port where cars are literally squeezed together. Imagine going to work, shopping, the doctor, or taking your kids to school, and having nowhere to park! Supermarkets are far away, and elderly people and families with children are left stranded.
Old Town as an amusement park?
Instead of being a place of peace and tradition, the Old Town is turning into a circus. Electric cars, discos in the citadel, Chinese souvenir shops, pizzerias, and stands with fries and pancakes flood the streets. And the trash? Bottles, cans, and paper lie everywhere, while the city walls are being devastated by terraces and illegal structures. Delivery scooters now roam the streets inside the walls like the Wild West, endangering people’s safety.
Residents vs. The System
Ambra Deklić Grandi, founder of the NGO “Restitution” and a resident of the Old Town, does not give up the fight. She warns that this decree is inhumane and illegitimate as it suffocates the lives of people who have lived here for centuries. Restricting movement, making access to homes difficult, even emergency interventions are now problematic. Residents pay high taxes but receive second-class citizen status in their own city.
Is this the beginning of the end for the Old Town?
Many believe that removing parking is just part of a broader plan to remove residents to turn the area into an elite zone for tourists and investors. The municipal decree is not based on clear legislation and violates the secular rights of residents. Running the Old Town like a private company, where the police enforce controversial orders, is a crime against civic reason.
What do you think?
Has Budva’s Old Town become the Wild West, or is this just the start of dehumanization and loss of rights for its residents? Is it time for residents to unite and say “enough”? Or is this just another episode in the battle between the powerful and ordinary people? Drop a comment, share your thoughts, or just crack a joke – because if we can’t laugh, what’s left?
Budva’s Old Town is not a circus stand – it belongs to the people who love and live in it. And let it stay that way!
