On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel, which takes around 40 minutes. Depending on the time of arrival, there may be time to relax. In the late afternoon, we take a walk through Tirana to gain our first impressions of the lively capital of Albania, where tradition and modernity blend harmoniously.

Today’s programme includes an extensive city tour of the country’s capital, Tirana. As the economic and political centre of Albania, founded in 1614, Tirana is the largest city in the country. The city is characterised by colourfully painted facades that symbolise its diversity, where mosques stand next to churches and religious tolerance is a top priority. A clear mix of Eastern and Western culture is unmistakable. The tour begins with a stop at Skanderbeg Square, the centrepiece of Tirana and a historic meeting place for Albanians. Despite the imposing monumental buildings on the square, the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the oldest building dating back to 1821, is particularly striking. Behind the mosque is the clock tower (Kulla e Sahatit) from the 1820s, one of Tirana’s landmarks. In the centre, you will visit Albania’s largest museum, the National Museum, which was opened in 1981. The tour continues to the Bunk Art 2 Museum, a modern art gallery, the Ex-Bllok with the former house of the dictator, as well as Albania’s most modern and entertainment district.

The next stop on your journey is Durres, the second largest city in Albania, only around 30 kilometres from the capital Tirana. With around 300,000 inhabitants, Durres is a historical centre. Your first stop is the Archaeological Museum of Durres, which houses an impressive collection of objects from Durres dating back to the 1st century. The main attraction of Durres is the amphitheatre from the 2nd century, an outstanding sight. On the way to the amphitheatre, you cannot miss the well-preserved city walls made of block stones, which have survived to this day. These massive walls were built in the 4th century by Anastasius I, the Byzantine emperor, to defend the city. The next destination, the Byzantine Forum, is characterised by the architecture of an open, circular market with a fountain and a podium in the centre. The tour of the city of Durres finally ends with Durres Castle, a round tower built in the 15th century on Byzantine ruins and one of the harbour city’s most famous structures.

After breakfast, we make our way to Kruja, just 33 kilometres away. Kruja is one of the most important cities in Albania and is famous as the hometown of Skanderbeg, the greatest Albanian hero of the 15th century, who fought against the Ottoman Empire. The Kruja fortress was the centre of his defensive efforts. The Skanderberg Museum in Kruja houses artefacts from the 15th century, including paintings, armour, maps and wood carvings that pay tribute to Skanderbeg and his military achievements. A highlight of the collection is a replica of Skanderbeg’s famous helmet with a goat’s head. We also visit the ethnographic museum, which is considered one of the best organised museums in Albania. On the way to the fortress, we explore the Old Bazaar of Kruja, which dates back to the 17th century. The Bazaar Mosque, built in 1533 during the Ottoman invasion, is architecturally unique and harmonises with the Old Bazaar. Although the mosque was closed during the communist era, it is now considered a cultural monument. The Skanderbeg Monument in the centre of the city is a tribute to the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.

Today the journey takes us via Elbasan to Korca. Elbasan, a city in central Albania, is characterised by industry and lies to the north of the river Shkumbin. The former city wall, eleven metres high, is reinforced by 26 regularly arranged towers that protrude from the wall. The Ottoman old town retains an oriental character with its winding alleyways in the centre of the modern street plan. Elbasan is home to the Ethnographic Museum, which is housed in an 18th century building and displays traditional crafts from Ottoman times. The Archaeological Museum is located in the south-west corner of the old town. The city is also known for the spring festival Dita e Verës, where the sweet pastry “ballokumja” is baked.

After our visit to Elbasan yesterday, today we explore Korca, a city known for its cultural events. We stroll through the old bazaar, admiring the historic houses, well-appointed shops and cafés. South of the bazaar, we visit the Mirahor Mosque, which dates back to 1495 and is considered the foundation stone for the founding of Korca. Just a few steps away is the new Orthodox cathedral of Korça, as the old cathedral was destroyed by the communists. We then visit the Museum of Medieval Art, which presents the richness of the country’s Christian culture, and the Korça Archaeological Museum, which exhibits archaeological treasures from the south-eastern part of Albania. In the afternoon, the journey takes us 18 kilometres away to Voskopoja, an ancient town with a rich Byzantine culture and monuments. Voskopoja is surrounded by pine forests and offers a unique combination of beautiful nature and a rich history and culture.

Late in the morning, we set off for Pogradec and explore the city. After lunch at Lake Ohrid, we take a walk through Drilon, where the former dictator’s summer residence was located. We then drive back to Tirana. If time permits, we plan a trip to Tirana via the harbour town of Durres.

Departure:
Today it’s time to say goodbye. Transfer to Tirana airport and return flight to Germany.