Tourist sites

Tirana, the capital of Albania, is located almost at the center of the country. Tirana lies at the foot of Dajti Mountain, 1610m above the sea level.

It’s the biggest political, economic, educational, scientific and culture center of the country. At the center of the city, on Scanderbeg Square there is the Old Mosque of Et’hem Bey built (1789), Clock Tower (35m high, built 1830), the Palace of Culture and the Opera and Ballet Theatre and the National Library rise beside them, the National Historic Museum (4.750 objects inside).

Other objects, the tourist may visit are:
The National Gallery of Arts (4.000 Albanian and foreign works).
The Archeological Museum (2.000 objects and it has a fund support of 17.000 objects, which is increased annually by the systematic archeological finds).
The complex of Ministries, City Hall, and the National Bank (built 1925-1937
International Cultural Center “The Pyramid”
The Palace of Congresses (built in 1983)
Cathedral of St. Paul (built in 2000 in honor of the Apostle Paul’s Pellegrino in Illyrian in 52 AD)
The Basilica of Tirana (2nd -3rd century)
Boulevard “King Zog 1st “ (built in 1930)
Boulevard “Martyrs of National” (built in 1935)
Mother Teresa Monument
The University of Tirana
Petrela Castle (built during the rule of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD.
“Rinia” Park (was built in on day action in 1950)
Tirana Lake (artificial lake, constructed in 1955)
Lana River 
 

Durres, is one of the most ancient cities of Mediterranean. It was know in antiquity with the Illyrian names Epidamnos and Dyrrhachion (Dyrrachium in Latin), inhabited uninterruptedly from the 7th century BC until present. The city is situated on the Eastern shores of the Adriatic sea. Durres has the biggest sea port of Albania.

Quite interesting are the visiting to Durres city, where you can visit a great number of attraction such as:

The Coliseum type Amphitheatre which belongs to the 2nd century AD, with a capacity accommodates 15.000 spectators.
The vertical mosaic (5th century AD).
The Byzantine Wall
The Venetian Tower or “Torra e Durresit”.
Archeological Museum (the biggest in Albania)

Severally from the numerous archeological objects, Durres already plays a great importance for the tourism of the sun and sea. The beach of Durres is among the largest ones in the Adriatic coast-line. The fine and yellow sands, the warm sea waters and healthy climate are well-known by the tourists.

Kruja, a city nested on a steep mountain side, stands high as a balcony over Adriatic shores. The background of the city is closely linked with our National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg  as is main stronghold from 1444, for 25 years succession, Scanderbeg defended the country’s freedom and Christianity as well as European civilization from Ottoman Empire.

A narrow path, formerly used as a characteristic well preserved medieval bazaar, leads you to the Citadel of Kruja. Inside the walls of the Citadel, what strikes your eyes is the magnificent Museum devoted to Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg, built in 1982. The numerous exhibits and documents put on display there familiarize you with the struggles fought by the Albanian people under the leadership of Scanderbeg. 

Berat, is a museum city and one of the most ancients cites in the country. The objects discovered speak of the commencement of the life at the Bronze and Iron Age. At the 2nd century BC it was know with name Antipatrea.

Berati is know for its unique very old Gospels (Codices of Beratium) ranking of world importance.

The collection of codices makes up one of the most important cultural assets of the Albanian people at all times and a wealth of world values. This collection that is housed in the State Central Archives (SCA) is made up of 100 volumes, constituting both complete works (manuscripts) and 17 fragments which all together are known as "the stock 888". Outside of this fund there are tens of other codices belonging to the Church of St. John Vladimir (Durres). Besides in SCA, codices have also existed at the Museum of Medieval Art in Korce.

Two of the “purple codices” are preserved in Albania, two in Italy and one each in France, England and Greece. The two Albanian codices are very important for the global community and the development of ancient biblical, liturgical and hagiographical literature. The seven “purple codices” were written one after the other over a period of 13 centuries, i.e. from the sixth to the eighteenth centuries. The two codices represent one of the most valuable treasures of the Albanian cultural heritage.

You are deeply impressed by the typical buildings on the slopes of two hills, stone-paved roads, the walls and the doors of the garden.

What impresses most the tourists in the ancient city is it’s the Castle. It has been built up on a rocky hill 260 m, above the sea-level. A city-quarter and many objects of cult, have survived within its powerful stony walls. One of these churches, which preserves wooden-engraved iconostasis, houses the “Onufri” Museum, named after the well-known, Albanian painter of the 16th century. Works of iconography by this painter and several other Albanian painters of that time have been put on display there. 

Gjirokaster, another museum city, is the major city in Southern part of Albania. The characteristic houses resemble the towers and have been built one above the other.

They have only one common element, the stone which has been elaborated and used by the folk master in conformity with the surrounding environment. All the dwelling houses have the form of medieval towers, which constitute an urban unique ensemble. The magnificent castles which stand out above the city as a balcony, provides the possibility to the visitors to enjoy the beautiful landscape. The Castle houses the National Museum of Weapons, which preserves all the kinds of weapons, used and produced by the Albanians from the antiquity.

Saranda, is the Southernmost city of Albania on the Ionian coast. Due to its position, mild climate, sunny days, etc., it is an important tourist site. Apart from the visits to the city, the tours to the tourist site of Ksamil are rather interesting. The tourist have the possibility to enjoy the magnificent views provided by the islands, the lake of Butrint  and the citrus and the citrus and olive-tree plantations. The archaeological centre of the ancient city of Butrint lies a bit southward of Ksamil. The recent archaeological excavations have further enriched the history of Butrint. They have brought into light big monumental objects such as the theatre, the Temple of Aesculapius, the Baptistery, Nympheum, Gate with towers, etc. The visit to that site is also enriched by the museum in the environmental of the Venetian and the Ali Pasha fortress. Numerous materials, such   as sculptures, manuscripts and different objects, a testimony to the flourishing of ancient Butrint, have been put on display on site there. The flora, climate and waters of sea, the Butrint’s lake and the Bistrica River make the location of Butrinti one of them most important in tourist terms.

Korca, the main city of South-East Albania, lies at the foot of Morava mountain, on a plateau 800 m above sea level. The tours round about the city and the hill over it are rather amusing and pleasant.

Worthwhile are also the visits to the National Museum of Medieval Art. It is one of the most important museum centres of Albania. Its fund includes over 7.000 art and cult items, many icons and less stone, wooden, metal and textile works of anonymous and well-known artist from different areas of the country, such as Onufri, Onufer Qiprioti, Teacher Konstandini, Jeromonak Shpataraku, Selenica, Zografi’s Brothers ect.

Other objects important for tourist are the Orthodox Church in centre of the city and the musque of Mirahori (15th century). Also deeply impressed are the new-classic house and the causeway narrow.

Only 18 km westward of Korca city, lies Voskopoja, cultural and education centre in Middle Age.

Vlora, a coastal city, lies in the South-Western part of the country. It claims distinction for its position, mild climate and natural beauties. In antiquity it was known with the name Aulona. Vlora is one of the major cities of  the country, an important seaport and a tourist site. While in Vlora, one can pay visits to the Historical Museum, to the Museum of independence, which is in the building where the independence of Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912. A monument which perpetuates this event, rises high at the Flag Square”Cold Water” is a wall known tourist site on rocky beach 2 km far from the city.

Only 14 km far from Vlora city lies Zverneci with its small island. Besides the natural charm, of special interest for the visitor is the Orthodox Monastery with Saint Maria Church (build 10th century AD, typical Byzantine architecture).

The most important tourist site in Vlora region is National Park of Llogara, with 1010 ha represents a typical ecological balance between the vegetation and animal system, like dependent and correlated systems. Beside the natural park of Llogara, an amazing part of this geo-park is the “balcony” in Llogara Pass, at the height of 1050m, where you can glance over Onion Sea. 

Shkodra, is one of the biggest cit-erne part of the country. The lake of Shkodra and Tarabosh Mountain are in the city. Shkodra is an ancient city with a rich history. The tour to Shkodra will remain uncompleted if you fail to visit the Rosafa Castle, build in a rocky hill. That castle is one of the ancient Illirian castels. The legent tells the walls of the castle were ruined during the night. Than the wife of the master was sacrificed on Rosafa foundations to continue the construction. An object worthy to be seen is the Mesi Bridge on Kiri River. It is 18 km North East of Shkodra and belongs to Medieval Age. On the shores of the lake, 6 km from Shkodra, is Shiroka, a holiday and fishing centre. Likewise, the tourists may organize trips to other climacteric alpine places, as in Theth (74 km), Vermosh and Razem. 

Lezha, (ancient Lisus ) is on they way from Tirana to Shkodra. The ruins of an Illyrian castle are still standing in the hill above the city. The surrounding walls of the ancient Syracuse colony have been excavated in the city. It is Lezha, where the Assembly of Albanian Princes was held in March 1444, and elected Gj.K.Skanderbeg Commander-in-Chief in the struggles against the ottomans. In January 1468, Gj.K.Skanderbeg was buried in Shenkoll Cathedral, where the monument of the burial-ground of the National Hero, rises high at present.

There is a hunter’s lodge 7 km, away from the city in the place called “Lezha Island”. The visitors may enjoy the forest and the big hunting ground of the tourist site. The lodge has a special original architecture. Shengjin Beach 7 km far from Lezha complete the summer season of an ardent tourist.  

Pogradec, is one of the most preferable tourist centers of the country due to its position on the edge of Lake Ohri, whose waters claim distinction for their cleanness. A beautiful beach runs along the shores. The excursion to the rather amusing your stay in Pogradec. Both in Pogradec and Drilon, the tourists will have the chance to taste the delicious fresh fish Koran an endemic specimen founded only in Ohrid Lake. 

Elbasan, is an ancient city, known with the name Skampa. It assumed its development as a city during the construction and operation of  Via Egnatia, that served as an artery to link to the Apennine Peninsula with the Balkan Peninsula and the East. The city has been reconstructed two times by the Byzantines and the Ottoman Turks. Approximately 12 km South-East of the city, there are the springs of hot thermal waters. A health Centre curing rheumatic diseases has been set up there. 

Lura  

It is situated in North – Eastern part of Albania, only 125 km far from the capital.

It is a touristy region, with different diversities, where are combined clearly the beauties of lakes, the high mountains and big meadows, full of flower’s variety.

Lura offers ideal conditions for picnics and sports climbing, where you can contemplate marvelous panoramas, which offers this wonderful place and which makes really interesting the travel, the relaxation and the other activities. It is a rich area with uncial natural values. The special geographical position, which have this region with its own beauties and the possibility which it gives to view many places of the country raise even more its tourist importance.

During the winter period Lura, besides the marvelous natural landscape, the greenness of pines, it has the beauty of white snow, which in mountains and numerous meadows creates appropriate conditions for the fans of sports and ski.

In all year’s months, this region has always something to offer for anyone.

Religion, in Lura we can find an evident combination of religions, such as Catholic one or Muslim, and the cohabitation between them isn’t a problem. The people of Lura are characterized by the hospitality and religious tolerance, which shows for a European and world civilization.

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