3 DAYS NORTH ALBANIA CULTURE TOUR

The tour starts at 9:00 am from the city center in Tirana. Kruja is known as the hometown of Skanderbeg, a 15th century Albanian leader, considered as our national hero for his fight against the Ottoman Empire. We will have the opportunity to learn more about this great leader by visiting the museum which was named after him, “Skanderbeg Museum”. The ethnographic museum is also an opportunity to discover the local culture, lifestyle and family traditions. Finally, we can have a stroll between the stalls of the old market located on a charming square with cobbled streets: ideal to pick some souvenirs! We have lunch in a traditional restaurant. Once we are finished in beautiful Kruja, we head to the beach of Shengjin, one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the Adriatic Sea. From there we head to the city of Lezha, here we visit the Scanderbeg tomb, the cathedral of Saint Nicholas and the hunter’s lodge 7km away from the city. The visitors may enjoy the forest and the big hunting ground of the tourist site. The lodge has a special and original architecture. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel will be in Lezha.

After breakfast we departure for Shkodra, which is the largest city in north Albania. This town is the symbol of harmony between all the coexisting religions in Albania. You will see some Catholic, Orthodox Muslim and Bektashi monuments. We will visit the Marubi library where the largest collection of photos in the Balkans can be found, providing valuable information about how people lived in the past. Also here we visit the Rozafa Castle and take in the superb view of Shkodra Lake surrounded by mountains. Dinner and accommodations are in Shkodra.

After breakfast we departure for Tirana. A city since 1614 and the capital of Albania since 1920, Tirana is the country’s main cultural hub. You will be able to discover a city famous for the colorful facades of its buildings and the harmony between the various religions in the country. The visit of the National Museum located on Skanderbeg Square will be a nice introduction to the rich Albanian history! Close to this square, we will be able to see the mosque “Et’hem Bey”, which has been preserved even during the communist era for its historical value, the opera, the clock tower and the palace of culture. We will then discover the superb Orthodox Cathedral as well as the Catholic Cathedral. You will also see the pyramid (the Museum of the former dictator, Enver Hoxha) and, weather permitting, you will be able to take a walk in the park of the Artificial Lake of Tirana.