Albania

The First Day

Departure from Tirana to the village of Lin, which is a small peninsula on the western shores of Lake Ohrid, 20 km from the city of Pogradec. Life on this peninsula, according to historical records, is thought to have begun in the early Iron Age and continued until the time of the Early Middle Ages. Archaeological finds from the hill above the village include foundation walls and mosaics of an early Byzantine church, dating from the 6th century.

After visiting the village of Lin, we will go to Pogradec to explore the beautiful natural scenery of Drilon, a karst spring consisting of three water sources. It is located 5 km east of Pogradec, very close to the tourist village of Tushemisht. We will try one of the traditional dishes of Pogradec, the pan with koran, an endemic species of trout found in Lake Ohrid.

We will spend the rest of the day in the city of Korçë, also known as Little Paris. The first Albanian school and the Museum of Education, which opened on March 7, 1887, were created by a group of revivalists and were widely supported by the patriotic masses in Korçë as well as by those in exile. In the school, subjects, writing, and singing are taught in the Albanian language.

After the visit to the museum, we will head to the Orthodox Cathedral of the ‘Resurrection of Christ’, an Albanian Orthodox church built in 1992 and completed in 2002. We will then walk along Fan Noli Boulevard, which leads us to the Korçë Bazaar in the southwest of the city, where there are workshops and restaurants. The Korçë market reached the peak of its power during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The evening is free, and tourists can watch a theater show, listen to live music, enjoy local cuisine, and drink Korçë beer, all while being serenaded. Accommodation will be in one of the hotels or guesthouses designed for the hospitality of tourists.

The Second Day

After breakfast, we continue the tour to the Archaeological Museum of Korçë, which was established in 1985 in a characteristic 19th-century building. The museum exhibits the archaeological treasures of the southeastern regions of Albania, spanning from the Neolithic period to the most developed phase of the Iron Age. For more stories expressed through art, we will visit the National Museum of Medieval Art in the city of Korçë, which is housed in two characteristic Korçë residences declared cultural monuments. The museum was opened on April 24, 1980. In this museum, the most valuable heritage created by Albanian painters over the course of five centuries is preserved. The Korçë Digital Art Gallery is the first and only gallery in Albania combining traditional art with technology.

The city of Leskovik is mentioned in written documents from the 15th century, but it reached its peak of development in the 1800s. The high Ottoman leaders turned the town into a prosperous area, and Leskovik gradually became part of the Sanjak. We will visit two of the most valuable religious buildings in the area: the Mekam of Glina and the Church of Saint Mary at the entrance to the city. Inside the Mekam, there are two holy tombs. The thermal waters are located 10 kilometers from the city. The road to the thermal waters or spas of Leskovik follows the side of the Vjosa River, and you will need a high car, as some places are impassable. We will stop in the village of Leçe to visit the agrotourism “Max Einery”, which is surrounded by 16 hectares of autochthonous grape vineyards.

The Third Day

We will have breakfast in the center of Përmet, and after a short rest, we will head to the Baths of Bënja, which are known for their high curative values. The tub with curative water is one of the most special destinations in the south of Albania. Another attraction is the Lengarica Canyon, located about 200 meters from the thermal springs. The canyon stands out for its natural and archaeological values. In recent years, researchers have concluded that there were prehistoric dwellings in the cave of the canyon.

The Katiu Bridge is located in the Banja area of Bënja, a few kilometers above the spillway of the Vjosa River. The bridge is built on rocks on both sides, with an arch in the center in the form of a circular segment. This type of arch bridge construction was quite popular in Albania in the 18th century.

From Përmet, we will go on to visit the city of Gjirokastra, a place rich in history and tradition, which can be seen in the narrow streets. The city’s castle is mentioned for the first time, along with the city of Gjirokastra, in 1336, though there are historians who believe that the castle is even older. In 1812, it was conquered by Ali Pasha Tepelena, and its reconstruction began, which lasted almost a year and a half.

The Weapons Museum, opened in 1971, serves as a National Museum dedicated to the weapons used during the First and Second World Wars. The museum also houses the prison cells built by King Zog, which were made from the stones of the aqueduct that Ali Pasha Tepelena had constructed for the city.

The Ethnographic Museum of Gjirokastra is located in the Palorto neighborhood, one of the best-preserved neighborhoods of the historical city. The museum building was constructed in 1944, after the original house was destroyed by fire.

The Zakat House, built in 1812, is thought to be the most perfect example of Ottoman housing style. This house is an example of the towers that belonged to the richest families with the highest positions. The house has three floors and is located at the highest point of the Palorto neighborhood. The evening is free, and tourists can enjoy the many nice places to spend the evening, as there are often concerts in the city. Accommodation will be in one of the guesthouses of Gjirokastra that welcome tourists. The next day, we will leave for Tirana.