A walk along Albanian territory. Running from north to south, the visitor may experience so many things inside a small country, as Albania is. If you are looking for an active holiday, you will find plenty of things to do. Through this pocket brochure we offer you 10 suggested itineraries to choose from. There are a different attraction including mountains treks, deep valleys, national parks, lakes, archaeological sites, museum cities, castles, coastline and much more. A visit in our country means that you’ll return home relaxed and energized at the same time. Welcome and enjoy your stay! Travel & Discover Itineraries all over Albania INDEX TOUR 1 3 TOUR 2 13 TOUR 3 23 TOUR 4 33 TOUR 5 45 TOUR 6 51 TOUR 7 59 TOUR 8 75 TOUR 9 83 TOUR 10 95 2 TOUR 1 Tepelena Gjirokastra Delvina Finiqi Kakavia Saranda Ionian Sea Butrinti Greece Qafë Boti Saranda - Butrinti 18km Saranda - Finiqi 10km Saranda - Gjirokastra 56km Saranda - Ksamili 15km Gjirokastra - Antigonea 12km 3 TOUR 1 Saranda rule, Saranda was called by its Saranda, or “the south Alba- ancient Greek name, “Onches- nian seaport” is located on a mos”, which was the name of natural shelf facing the island the father of the Trojan prince of Corfu. There are daily ships Aeneas, who was born at the that depart, connecting Sara- Mount Ida by the Greek God- nda with this Greek island. Sa- dess Aphrodite. The city lies at randa’s name originates from the southern tip of Albania’s an old Christian monastery Ionian coastline and has a very of “the Forty Saints” (Saranda pleasant avenue, full of palms means “forty” in Greek). The and pebbled beaches. In the ruins of the monastery lay in center of the city stands the Qafa e Gjashtës, near the city ruins of the ancient city of On- entrance. Prior to Byzantine hezmi, destroyed in the fifth century A.D. by barbarian in- changes its appearance. Four vasions. In 2002, a synagogue small islands emerge in the was uncovered in the same Ksamili area, covered by Medi- area. Just 2 km south of Sara- terranean vegetation and sur- nda, on the top of a dominat- rounded by wonderful marine ing hill, is the Castle of Lëkurs. flora and fauna. A salt lake, The castle was built by the Sul- which is a lagoon of tectonic tan Suleiman during his mili- origin near Butrint lies inland. tary campaign against Corfu. In antiquity it was known by Today a restaurant sits in the name Pelodes and it connects fortress, offering a rich cuisine with the sea through the cha- and breathtaking views of the nnel of Vivar, 3.6 km in length. deep blue of the Ionian Sea. A large number of sea birds Heading south, the coastline nest there. TOUR 1 Butrinti presence of the Trojan prince South of Burtint Lake, 18 km Aeneas during his travel to from Saranda, sits the ancient the temple of Dodona. He city of Butrint, the most im- paid tribute to the oracle of portant archaeological site in Dodona by sacrificing a bull Albania, and a UNESCO World (Buthros in Greek) in the place Heritage Site. The name of where the city of Butrint be- Butrint has been wellknown gan to rise. The Roman poet since the seventh century B.C. Virgil also mentions the visit of as the most important city of Aeneas to Butrint in his poem Epirus. According to Dionysius “The Aeneid”. of Halicarnassus, the building There are many destinations of Butrint was linked to the to visit within Butrint. The Archaeological Park of Butrinti The most interesting ones are the Venetian fortress of Ali Pa- the Temple of Asclepius, a sec- sha, and many others. ond century B.C. God of good Besides its historical value, health; a 1,500-seat theatre Butrint is renowned for its from the third century B.C. marvelous ecological system. (which now hosts the Interna- The ruins and the buildings of tional Theatre Festival every the city stand amidst an amaz- September); the Baptismal, a ing subtropical jungle, with paleocristian monument; as lots of laurel and other high well as the nymfeu, the baths, woods. the stoa (covered walkway), the Lake Gate, the Lion Gate, 7 TOUR 1 Gjirokastra just 10 km away from Saranda, As you leave Saranda, the na- you will find Finiqi, the capi- tional highway will lead you to tal of the Kingdom of Epirus the unique city of Gjirokastra, (and named Foinike at the only 56 km away. On the way, time), which was founded in the third and second centuries B.C. in the territory of Kaonia. during the Byzantine period. The historian Polybus called One of the most pleasant sur- it “the most rich and fortified prises along this journey is Syri city of Epirus”. Southwest of i Kaltër (the “Blue Eye”), a pow- Finiq in the hilltop village of erful natural spring that has Mesopotam, you can also visit created a small lake of crystal- the Church of Shën Kolli, built clear water that looks like a gi- ant human eye. The specialty of the nearby restaurant is the lake trout. TOUR 1 Past Qafa e Muzinës runs the stone, which resemble small national Gjirokastër-Kakavijë fortresses that form a complex highway. As you leave the vi- of architectural monuments. llages of Dropulli on your left, Due to its architectural value, the museum-city of Gjirokas- Gjirokastra is a UNESCO World tra unfolds in front of you, Heritage Site. built at the eastern slope of The main object is the city for- Mali i Gjerë. Due to its archi- tress, called Fortress of Argjiro. tecture, Gjirokastra is also (The renowned story of the known as the “City of Stone” famous princess Argjiro gave or “City of a Thousand Stairs”. rise to the name “Argjirokas- It is an ancient city with early tro” given to the city in 1336.) inhabitants, above which was The Weapons Museum located later constructed a fortress inside of the fortress displays that served as the center of weapons from the Paleolithic the city. What most attract period up until the Second visitors to Gjirokastra are the World War. During your stay in traditional tall houses made of Gjirokastra you also can visit 10 the Ethnographic Museum. (market), and the stoa of the Gjirokastra is famous for its city, which are 59 m long and food specialties such as shap- 9 m wide. It’s worth mention- kat, laropit, different kinds of ing that in the area archaeolo- pies (byrek), and several dairy gists discovered a seven-inch products known all over Alba- bronze statue representing nia. Poseidon, God of the sea, and There are some more inter- the Sphinx of Antigonea. Both esting objects and places you objects are displayed in the might visit, the Theatre of Sof- National History Museum in ratika, the ancient city of An- Tirana. tigonea, the Tekke of Melan, Only 4 km south of small city of and the village of Sotira. The Libovoha, the Tekke of Melan Theatre of Sofratika, belonging is to be found. This religious to the Roman city Adrianopoli object of the Bektashi sect is from the second century A.D., open to everyone and guests held 4,000 spectators in 27 are welcome and treated with tiers. Antigonea is nowadays a special hospitality. an archaeological park situ- The village of Sotira is located ated in the Lunxhëri area, east in the region of Dropulli, pop- of Gjirokastra, close to the vil- ulated by a Greek minority. It lage of Saraqinisht. Antigonea is a mountain village of a rare is an ancient city of the sec- beauty with little stone hous- ond century B.C. It is thought es surrounded by the fir for- that the city was founded by est of Sotira and lots of water King Pyrrhus of Epirus who springs. The region of Dropull, named the city after his wife is known all over Albania for Antigonea. The city was 35 its fine women’s’ folk costumes hectares in size; its ruins are lo- and their elegance dances. cated on a hill at 600 m above The Iso-polyphonic group of sea level. Tourists can visit the Gjirokastra remains and fragments of the surrounding wall, the agora 11 TOUR 2 Fieri Apollonia Adriatic Sea Narta Vlora Radhima Amantia Ionian Sea Orikumi Vlora - Radhima 22km Vlora - Narta 5km Vlora - Apollonia 42km Vlora - Orikumi 33km Vlora - Amantia 20km 13 TOUR 2 Vlora (in the headquarters building Vlora is one of the largest, most of the first government), the populous cities in Albania. It is History Museum, and the Eth- 130 km from the capital , 120 nographic Museum. km from Mother Teresa Inter- Among the religious objects national Airport and is home in Vlora, one of the most im- to the second largest port in portant is the Mosque of Mu- Albania. radie, built in 1542 by the chief Vlora is rich with history and architect of the Ottoman Em- antiquity. This historic city pire, Mimar Sinani, who was dates back to the sixth century originally from the region. B.C., when it was known as He is the constructor of the Aulona. Fragments of the mas- famous Suleymanye Mosque sive wall surrounding Aulona in Istanbul and also in other have been found in the center cities in Turkey such as Edirne of the city, close to Sheshi i Fla- (Selymie Mosque), Erzurum murit (“Flag Square”). In 1081, and others. Also, a prominent the city fell under Norman do- hill above the city is home to minion.