Ethem Bey Mosque & Statue of Skanderbeg, Tirana Discovering Albania With Gillian Craig 9th – 15th May 2018 The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Tours Facade, Tirana Discovering Albania With Gillian Craig 9th – 15th May 2018 Contact Flora Scott-Williams Direct Line 020 7386 4643 Telephone 020 7386 4690 Fax 020 7386 8652 Email [email protected] Gillian Craig Gillian’s family and professional life has led to worldwide travel. Born in Rome and educated in Italy, Switzerland and England, Gillian is bilingual in Italian, fluent in French and speaks some Spanish. After stepping down as Founder and Director of the BADA Antiques & Fine Art Fair London, Gillian now lives between London and Italy. She is also fascinated with Eastern Europe and has organised and led tours to Macedonia, St. Petersburg, Dresden, Georgia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Morocco, and Italy. As well as studying the history, art and architecture, she enjoys exploring the culture, traditions and local life and getting to know the character of a country. Detailed Itinerary Though finally emerging from decades of isolation, Albania is still one of Europe’s most mysterious countries and remains, as yet, largely undiscovered. This unique tour encompasses not only its remarkable archaeological sites and architectural jewels, but also its spectacular natural beauty, so beloved by Edward Lear and Lord Byron. After visiting the evocative Greco-Roman site of Apollonia, we drive along the beautiful Ionian coastline, via the old town of Himara and Porto Palermo with its small fortress, to Saranda. Here the focus is on Butrint, which is set on a wooded peninsula, and is one of the most important yet little known classical archaeological sites of the Mediterranean. We then drive to the charming town of Berat through countryside full of wild flowers, via the well-preserved Ottoman city of Gjirokastra, a haunt of Lord Byron. Whilst in Berat we will see the Sultan’s Mosque, the Tekke, the medieval citadel, museums and churches. We return to Durres and visit Shkodër, considered one of the oldest historic places in Albania and the Balkans. We end the tour in the capital, Tirana, with the Mosque of Ethem Bey and the National Museum, followed by an excursion to Kruja to visit the old bazaar and the Skënderbej Museum which honours Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbej (1405–1468) who was Albania’s national hero. Ruins at Apollonia Castle in Gijorokastra Day 1: Wednesday, 9th May London / Tirana / Durres Depart London Gatwick on a British Airways afternoon flight to Tirana arriving in the evening. Transfer to Durres and check into the 5-star Palace Hotel and Spa, where one night is spent. Dinner at the hotel. Day 2: Thursday, 10th May Durres / Apollonia / Vlora / Porto Palermo / Saranda Morning departure (with luggage) for the evocative Roman site of Apollonia. Continue along the spectacular Ionian coast to Saranda, with a stop en route in Vlora to see the Muradie Mosque, which was built in 1537 by the famous Ottoman Turkish architect, Mmar Sinan, during the rulership of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and is one of the few surviving mosques in Albania as the Communists destroyed most of the country’s religious buildings. Lunch at a local mountain restaurant in Llogara National Park. Continue to Saranda, situated in a bay opposite the island of Corfu and one of the highlights of the Albanian Riviera. Brief stop in Porto Palermo, where the conspicuous ‘Island Fortress’ is a fine example of Ottoman military architecture. Arrive in the early evening at the comfortable and modern Hotel Duraku (or similar) in Saranda where two nights are spent. Dinner at a local restaurant. Berat town Ruins at Butrint Day 3: Friday, 11th May Saranda & Butrint Morning drive to the intriguing site of Butrint, which occupies a wooded headland overlooking the Straits of Corfu. One of the most romantic sites in the Balkans, it encompasses ancient, Illyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and medieval remains. It has been excavated and safeguarded by The Butrint Foundation, founded by Lord Rothschild and Lord Sainsbury and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the immense walls, the elegant 4th-century theatre, part of a Byzantine Palace and the well-preserved Baptistery, where a 6th-century mosaic pavement was discovered. Lunch at a local seaside restaurant in Ksamil. Return to Saranda and drive up to Lëkurësi Castle to admire the views. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure (Saranda is modern, but of ancient Greek origin). Evening walk along the sea promenade to dinner at a local restaurant. Day 4: Saturday, 12th May Saranda / Gjorokastra / Berat Depart (with luggage), through countryside full of wild flowers, to the ‘Blue Eye Spring’ on the western slopes of Mount Mali Gjere. Continue to the hill town of Gjorokastra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its cobbled streets and fortified Ottoman houses, set in wooded hills overlooking the Drinos Valley. Visit the castle and museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. Walk through the 17th century Ottoman Bazaar before continuing on to the charming town of Berat, with its collection of white Ottoman houses climbing up the hill to its castle, earning it the title of 'town of a thousand windows', and check into the Magnaleni Hotel (or similar) where one night is spent. Dinner at a local restaurant. Day 5: Sunday, 13th May Berat / Durres Depart (with luggage). Morning walking tour of Berat exploring the medieval Citadel, untouched by time, with the Onufri Icon Museum, and small Byzantine churches. Continue to Cabo Winery for a wine tasting followed by lunch. Afternoon visit to the Eastern Orthodox Monastery of Ardenica which was built by the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1282 and is still occupied by four reclusive orthodox priests. See its important frescoes dating from 1744 as well as the gold polychrome iconostasis. Return to Durres, one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. It is home to Albania’s main port and to one of the largest amphitheatres in the Balkan Peninsula, having once had the capacity for 20,000 people. Re-check into the 5-star Hotel Palace and Spa. Dinner at a local restaurant. Llogara National Park Kruja Castle Day 6: Monday, 14th May Durres, Shkodër & Fishte Morning visit to Shkodër, considered the northern capital of Albania and one of the oldest and most historic places in Albania and the Balkans as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Visit the 19th century Franciscan Church which after 1967, when Albania declared itself the world's first atheist state, the church was transformed into a Palace of Sports and was also used to store a cache of arms and ammunition by the Sigurimi (Albanian Secret Police) in January 1947. This outraged the Franciscan priests and lead to a number of their arrests. In 1990 the Cathedral was reopened and on 11 November 1990 the first mass was held in the cathedral, the first in the country since 1967. Visit a Venetian Mask Factory where the masks are handmade, combining traditional techniques of local Venetian craftsmen with new explorations into contemporary decoration. Continue to see the ruins of Rozafa Castle which dates back to the 14th century. Depart for the 18th century Mes Bridge which spans the Kir river and continue for a late lunch in Fishte famous for its organic produce and cuisine. Return to Durres. Dinner at a local restaurant. Day 7: Tuesday, 15th May Durres / Tirana / London Depart for the capital, Tirana, and visit the Mosque of Ethem Bey and Clock Tower, dating from 1793 and the National Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to the medieval hill-town of Kruja, which became a symbol of popular resistance against the Ottoman Empire. Visit the castle with the museum of the national hero, Skënderbej, and the Ethnographic Museum, showcased in a restored Ottoman mansion. After a walk through the restored Bazaar continue to the airport for a British Airways evening flight to London Gatwick arriving late evening. NB: Please note that accommodation outside Tirana is basic but the best available locally. Tour Price COST PER PERSON: £1,795 Single supplement: £190 A fee of £95 per person will be charged for those who would like to travel out or back separately from the main group. The tour cost includes: economy class scheduled flights air passenger duty, passenger service charge, airline security charges, airport taxes and fuel surcharges where applicable – currently £50 (liable to change without notice) accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary breakfast daily; 6 lunches; 6 dinners all visits and excursions as per the itinerary all transportation as detailed in the itinerary all entrance fees local English-speaking guide/s gratuities in restaurants gratuities to driver/s porterage gratuities to guide/s the services of your tour leader throughout The tour cost does NOT include: travel insurance items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.) further government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 07/08/17 Changes to the Itinerary Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control. Fitness to travel Whilst we do not impose any age limitations on joining a tour, participants must be reasonably fit. The very nature of the sightseeing involved in our tours (and the difficulties of direct access by coach in various places) means that a considerable amount of walking and standing is unavoidable on almost all tours. We regret that our tours are not suitable for people who have difficulty in walking, may require wheelchair assistance at any time, or are unable to keep pace with the group.