May 7, 2018 - The clock tower (Sat kula) in Podgorica is a structure located on Bećir-beg Osmanagić Square in Stara Varoš county in Podgorica. This 16 m tall tower was built at the end of the 17th century by Hadži Mehmed-paša Osmanagić, and it represents one of the leading symbols of the Montenegrin capital city.
Sat kula is one of the rare buildings in Podgorica that survived the German bombing of Podgorica in World War II. Until the second half of the 20th century, with a height of 16 meters, the clock tower was the highest structure in Podgorica.
Throughout Montenegro's history, Sat kula has been the central place for locals to gather. All people in Montenegro know where the tower is, and even today, the locals and even the tourists in Podgorica align themselves according to the position of the tower.
The tower was built when Hadži Mehmed-paša Osmanagić brought a clock from Italy, on which he later created a bell and weights. On the east side of the structure, at the time, people dug up an 8 m wide and 3 m deep trench, which was surrounded by a rock wall. During the war period, the clock tower served as an observation post and the place where the soldiers gathered to defend the city. In the past, Zetska kapija (Eng. Zeta Gate) was located near the tower, and this gate was the only entrance to the town at the time.
The Clock Tower is still one of the social centers of Podgorica. Being located on Bećir-beg Osmanagić Square, the tower often represents a meeting point for the people of Podgorica. Not far from the tower, there are many coffee shops, restaurants, a museum, numerous shopping stores, as well as a mosque. Even after the renovation in 2012, the tower has preserved its original external appearance.
The state has recognized the historical value of the clock tower and has pronounced the tower as a cultural and historical monument, which is under the protection of the country.
