The Adriatic region is not only rich of beautiful landscapes but is influenced by different cultures.  Montenegro and Croatia have a strong Romance heritage in many ways. This lasted until the 19th century trough the Republic of Ragusa and Venetian Albania. The result is a symbiosis of the Slavic and Romance culture, not only linguistically but also with influences in architecture and cuisine.

This Romance element started with the Roman Republic gradually came to occupy the territory of Illyria between 229 and 155 BC. Merchants and authorities settling from Rome brought with them the Latin language, and the indigenous inhabitants mostly abandoned their languages (prevalently varieties of Illyrian) for Vulgar Latin. Even after the Western Roman Empire fell Illyrian towns continued to speak Latin (see Illyro-Roman), which evolved over time into regional dialects and eventually into distinct Romance languages (Proto-Dalmatian).

Dalmatian was spoken on the Dalmatian coast from Fiume (now Rijeka) as far south as Cottora (Kotor) in Montenegro. Speakers lived mainly in the coastal towns of Jadera (Zadar), Tragurium (Trogir), Spalatum (Split), Ragusa (Dubrovnik), and also on the islands of Curicta (Krk), Crepsa (Cres) and Arba (Rab).

During the Renaissance Period many authors from Kotor in Montenegro (Cottora) or Dubrovnic (Ragusa) in Croatia, Ludovico Pasquali (Ludovik Paskojević) is just one of many examples.

A contemporary author George R. R. Martin has made the region and specially the city of Dubrovnic, with the HBO series "Game of Thrones" world wide famous. Many tourists visit the city and enjoy it's many characteristics and long history. 

I wish to increase the awareness about this Romance heritage with this blog.  

Here a short video about the geographic expansion of the Republic.