What to do in Tirana?
Daytrips
Tirana is in a perfect position to explore some
of the most interesting cultural, archaeological monuments found
in Albania. Durres, Kruja , Lezha, Shkodra, Berat, Apollonia are
easily reachable within 2 hours drive from the capital. Two of
the most popular options are;
Day trip 1. Tirana - Kruja – Durres
- Tirana
After early breakfast we will take a driven tour of the major
landmarks of Tirana including, Ethem Bej Mosque, Clock Tower,
Scanderbeg Square, Castle of Tirana, Main Boulevard with ministerial
and Unicversity buildings and drop by to visit the oldest Tirana
houses of Ottoman architecture. We will pay a visit to the National
Museum of History which will give you an introduction into Albanian
culture and history from antiquity to present day. Afterwards
drive to Kruja – a small characteristic town perched on
a hill, centre of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Turks
under our national hero Scanderbeg. He kept them from crossing
into Western Europe for 25 years, thus earning the title “Champion
of Christ” given by the Pope of the time. We will visit
the Castle of Kruja, Scanderbeg Museum, one of the best kept museums
in the country, a very rich Ethnographic Museum situated on an
original house of the 17th century and the Old Bazaar. Traditional
Albanian lunch in Kruja. Afterwards we depart for Durres one of
the oldest and most important cities in Albania. It was established
under the name Epidamnus in the year 627 B.C. by Korintha and
Korkyra colonists, on the area of an ancient settlement of the
Illyrian tribe of Taulant. It was one of the causes of the Peloponnesian
War in the 5th century BC. Later, as Dyrrachium it became a very
important staging post for the Roman Empire. During this time
it also became a major trading centre and the main port on the
eastern coast of the Adriatic. In the middle ages it was coveted
by many different intruders from all over Europe. The fact that
this city has been inhabited throughout its history, means that
very little of the ancient city has been excavated, as it exists
under the newer buildings. However the archaeological museum is
well stocked and presented. The famous Roman orator, Cicero called
Durres an admirable city, while the poet Catullus called it the
tavern of the Adriatic. We will take a sightseeing tour of the
Amphitheatre situated in the middle of the modern city, and the
Archaeological museum rich in artefacts found in the city and
its suburbs. Return toTirana.
Daytrip 2. Tirana – Berat - Tirana
After breakfast we depart for Berat one of the most fascinating
Albanian towns with a mixture of cultural influences. Being more
than 2400 year old the town it is one of the most attractive towns
in Albania. Established in the 3rd century B.C by an Illyrian
tribe of central Albania with a protective castle, it was known
as the fortified city of Antipatrea. In 1417 the town was occupied
by the Turks who build quite a few mosques in the area below the
town’s old castle. Berat is situated at the foot of Tomorri
Mountain and on the shores of River Osum. Built almost all, in
white on a slope of green with the river at its feet, it offers
a striking view as soon as it becomes visible. It is famous for
its white-washed houses with their many windows which, seem to
have been build on top of each other, that give it the nickname
“town of a thousand windows”. Because of these the
town retains a unique style of architecture, with narrow and stone
paved streets. The castle is the only one in Albania and perhaps
one of the few in the World that still has houses and inhabitants
within its walls, going about their daily life in exactly the
same place their predecessors did centuries ago. We will visit
the Fortress, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques.
In the downtown we visit the Leaden Mosque, the King's Mosque,
the Bachelor's Mosque and the Alveti Tekke. Onufri was an Albanian
master painter of the 16th century who painted many church icons
in Albania and Greece and is famous for its red colour named after
him. After visits at the castle we make our way down to the scheduled
place for lunch, where we will sample the delicious cuisine of
this town. After lunch we will have some more visits to the Kings
Mosque, Alvati Teke, Bachelors Mosque etc. On the way back to
Tirana we stop at a famous local winery for some wine and special
Raki tasting.
DAYTRIP 3. Tirana - Lezha – Shkodra
- Tirana
Lezha
After breakfast we depart for Shkodra the ancient capital city
of Illyria. We stop in the small town of Lezh known as Lisus in
ancient times. This is the town rendered famous by the Albanian
Oath Document in 1444, which was an agreement where the most powerful
Albanian feudal lords of the time pledged alliance to each other
and to Scanderbeg as their leader in the war against the ottoman
Turks. Here we will be able to admire the symbolic tomb of Scanderbeg
within the Illyrian walls of the town inside an old chapel.
Shkodra
Afterwards proceed to the northern city of Shkodra with the most
important town of north Albania and the Illyrian capital, in the
3rd century BC. We visit the Marubi Museum (Master photographer
of the end of 19th century). It has an exposition of old prints
starting with the oldest photograph in the Balkans in 1856. We
will also visit the House of Oso Kuka a traditional Shkodra house
that hosts the town’s archaeological museum. Afterwards
we visit the Mesi Bridge an old bridge built in the mid 18th century
with beautiful mountain scenery as backdrop. Lunch in Shkodra
by the lake of Shkodra the largest in the Balkans wher the local
carp is absolutely delitious. Afterwards we wisit the Castle of
Rozafa where Queen Teuta of the Illyrians had her seed during
the Illyro-Roman Wars of the III century B.C. After the visit
to the castle we head back to Tirana.
Daytrip 4. Tirana - Apollonia –
Ardenica - Durres– Tirana
Apollonia
After an early breakfast we depart for the ancient city of Apollonia
one of the most important ancient centres in Roman times on the
famous Via Egnatia. The Roman Emperor Augustus Octavian himself
studied there, a testimony to the development of this city in
general and its cultural importance in particular. We will be
able to visit the ruins, including the library as well as a nearby
Monastery of the 14th century turned into the archaeological museum
where objects from the excavations are displayed.
Ardenica
After the visits to Apollonia we head back to Durres.
On the way we will stop for a visist to the Monastery of Ardenica.
Ardenica Abbey (church) it was in the Middle age argued by a stone
in entrance dating back to the 1417, but the first building belongs
at the beginning of XVIII century. Today inside the church you
can admire pictures of 1743-1745 years, by Albanian artists such
as Konstandin and Athanos Zografi, as well as Konstandin Shpataraku.
It is also said that our national Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeu
married at the chapel of this monastery.
Durres
Afterwards we depart for Durres one of the oldest and most important
cities in Albania. …. See description on daytrip 1.
