If you come on your perfect vacation in Montenegro, and your heart beats a adventurous spirit, a desire to get to know something new - A one day trip to Albania is must!
The “Eagles land” a way Albanians like to name their country, once was the country behind Iron Curtain. Nowadays it had opened the doors to tourists from around the world.
The Charm of Albania feels everywhere: Specific mix of the Architecture - west with huge impact of middle east, the Archeological sites scattered around shows huge interest of Ancient Greeks and Romans for this area, and probably something the most known - Albanian bunkers and loopholes from period of Fear of Communist rule in Albania. Don't forget gravelly shores and beautiful sandy beaches and hilly hinterland.
We bring you to the excursion where you will feel a mixture of civilizations and cultures, east and west, Christianity and Islam, past and present of this one of kind European Country.
Shkoder / Shkodra
This famous town is the northernmost part of Albania. The town lays on the banks of Skadar Lake named after it, and confluence of two rivers - Boyana (mne:Bojana, alb:Buna), and Drin. Skhodra is It is one of the oldest and most historic places in Albania - was settled during Antique period. Nowadays Skodra is an important cultural and economic centre.
Rozafa Fortress
This 130m above the sea level hill was settled during prehistoric period. During the Illyrian period it was stronghold and as centuries passes by it became Castle and the Fortress. The present day shape of Rozafa came mostly from Venetian period. The castle has been the site of several famous sieges, including the siege of Shkodra by the Ottomans in 1478 and the siege of Shkodra by the Montenegrins in 1912.
Skoder downtown
Skoder downtown is surprising! This quite small city lives on the streets. The Street life is living: Youth are on their way to university or just enjoying their day out, shops and small workshops are working, and surprisingly senior citizens are in central park playing dominoes. The town itself is mixture of cultures: Islam, Catholics, and Orthodox: all three confessions live in harmony. You will see mosque and on opposite side Church. The city is upgrading itself constantly - so you will se old next to brand new houses and hotels.
Kruja - Krujë
Built on the steep slopes of Mount Krujë, this small medieval town counts just over 15.000 of inhabitants. The name of Albania came from this area, ie: The Illyrian tribe of the Albani, inhabit in 1190 Krujë, and it became the capital of the first autonomous Albanian state in the middle ages. During the centuries lot of historical events happens around or in Kruje: In 1443 it was Skanderbeg's stronghoold during three Ottoman sieges; A 1906 local revolt against the Ottoman Empire was followed by the 1912 Declaration of Independence of Albania; In the mid-1910s Krujë was one of the battlefields of the conflict between Republic of Central Albania and the Principality of Albania; During WWII was the center of the activities of resistance leader Abaz Kupi.
The Citadel of Krujë
Above the nowadays Krujë, stands gorgeous citadel, that houses the Skanderbeg museum and the National Ethnographic Museum. This stronghold withstood three massive sieges from the Turks, Mehmed II "The Conqueror" himself could not break the castle's small defenses. Today it is a center of tourism in Albania, and a source of inspiration to Albanians.
The National Etnographical Museum of Albania
This museum was founded in 1989 and it is located in a huge villa of the Toptani family built in 1764. This 16 room villa houses remarkable exhibit of the Albanian ethnography - medieval workshops, households, domestic arts and handicraft, whose age varies from 60 to 500 years. The Museum and the interior of the Villa are organized on Islam way of life. You will be able to feel the spirit of life in Islam by huge family during medieval period.
Skanderbeg Museum
It honors George Kastrioti Skanderbeg (1405–1466), a national hero of Albania.
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg was governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottoman Turks in 1440. In 1444, he initiated and organized the League of Lezhë, which proclaimed him Chief of the League of the Albanian people, and defended the region of Albania against the Ottoman Empire for more than two decades. Skanderbeg's military skills presented a major obstacle to Ottoman expansion, and he was considered by many in western Europe to be a model of Christian resistance against the Ottoman Muslims.
Skanderbeg is Albania's most important national hero and a key figure of the Albanian National Awakening.
The museum is located inside Krujë Castle.
Apparently the world is more "minor" and that the isolated country such as Albania was slowly disappearing. Join us on an opportunity to visit one of the most unknown parts of Euorpe, during your Montenegro holiday!
