Albania

First Day:

We will visit some tourist attractions offered by the municipality of Gramsh over the weekend, starting with the Holta Canyon, which was formed by the erosion of the Holta River. It stretches along 3 km, with the slopes of the valley reaching 100-150 meters, and the depth of the water ranges from 2-3 meters. The canyon features karst caves and pits with thermal waters. Another attraction is the Sotira Waterfall, which should be visited not only by researchers and geographers but also by anyone seeking peace of mind. Activities such as camping or picnicking can be enjoyed in the grassy area above the waterfall. The waterfall originates from the Tomorri Mountain, located 16 km from the city of Gramsh.

Next, we will head to Lenie, one of the villages most visited by tourists in recent years. Here we will visit Black Lake, a glacial lake with curative water, located at an altitude of 1,634 meters above sea level. The lake is known for its therapeutic properties. We will also explore the churches and arch bridges in Grabova e Siperme, built in the 18th century, located 44 km from Gramsh at an altitude of 1,250 meters above sea level. This area was an early settlement during the Roman and Byzantine empires but is especially known for the significant development it experienced during the 14th-17th centuries.

The area is renowned for its natural beauty, churches, bridges, cobblestone streets, and old water taps. Afterward, we will visit Biofarma to taste the organic products of the region, near the Oak Lake, also known as Lily Lake. In some villages of Gramsh, there are areas planted with lavender due to the cold, wet winters and short, cool summers, which favor the growth of various plants.

Second Day:

We will start with a short visit to Lake Belsh, a city that surprises with its historical and archaeological values. In its vicinity is one of the oldest ancient settlements, the Illyrian settlement of Gradishta, dating from the Middle Bronze Age. In the 4th century BC, Gradishta was an urban center, and in the 3rd century BC, it became a fortified town of the Parthian tribe. The former army depots in Seferan have been transformed into an art gallery, which is open to the public as a cultural destination for anyone visiting Belsh.

For more history, we will visit all the tourist attractions that Berat has to offer. The Castle, or “Kalaja” as it is called by the people of Berat, is built on a rocky hill in the shape of a triangle. The museum ensemble of the “Mangalem” neighborhood is spread in a half-moon shape on the southern and eastern sides of the castle hill.

The Gorica Bridge is one of Berat’s cultural and architectural monuments and, at the same time, one of its symbols. It was built in 1780 and later rebuilt to its current form. There are many churches from the Byzantine period, as well as places dedicated to the arts and crafts of this city. The impressive architecture of Berat is breathtaking; the walls of the houses are built with sculpted stones that shine from the whiteness of the lime. The castle is one of the most beautiful and important monuments of Albanian history and culture. It was an urban settlement in the 7th-5th centuries BC, and as an important strategic point, it was transformed into a fortified city with walls extending up to 1,400 meters.

We will then visit the Ethnographic Museum, which has a rich collection of 1,300 objects that are important evidence of the culture and the interesting, rich tradition of the Berat area. In the open section of the hall, crafts that were practiced within the household for family use are exhibited. The hall is directly connected to the well and the courtyard, where stone carvings and ceramics are displayed. On the upper floor, in the rooms of the apartment, the lifestyle, organization, traditions, and customs of a wealthy citizen family in the Late Middle Ages are presented.

Accommodation will be in one of Berat’s traditional houses that welcome tourists.