The city of Bar on the Adriatic is a good place to examine local traditions of inter-ethnic and multi-confessional co-existence. Bar hosts the country's most diverse population.

Like other towns on the Montenegrin coast it also boast a rich history. The origins of the city go back to Roman times. In the 10^th century it was known as "Antibar", meaning ‘opposite of the (Italian) city of Bari'. Bar was ruled by Byzantium, Venice, and the Ottomans before it became part of Montenegro in 1878. During socialism a railway line was built connecting this city and its port with Belgrade. Following a horrendous earthquake in 1979 the city had to be completely rebuilt.

The population of the town includes Montenegrins, Serbs, Albanians, Muslims/Bosniaks, a few Croats and other minorities. 60 percent of the population is Orthodox, more than a quarter Muslim, less than 10 percent Catholic.