Upon 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 program includes an extensive city tour of the country’s capital, Tirana. As the economic and political center of Albania, founded in 1614, Tirana presents itself as the largest city in the country. The city is characterized by colourfully painted facades that symbolize 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 heart 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 center, 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 kilometers from the capital Tirana. With around 300,000 inhabitants, Durres is a historical center. 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 amphitheater from the 2nd century, an outstanding sight. On the way to the amphitheater, 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 characterized by the architecture of an open, circular market with a fountain and a podium in the middle. 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 most famous structures in the port city.

After breakfast, we make our way to Kruja, just 33 kilometers 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 center of his defensive efforts. The Skanderberg Museum in Kruja houses artifacts from the 15th century, including paintings, armor, 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 organized 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 harmonizes 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 center of the city is a tribute to the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.

Today our journey takes us to the north of Albania, where we will visit the towns of Lezhe and Shkodra. Lezhe, often referred to as Lissus, is one of the ancient cities of Albania. The castle of Lezha, an Illyrian monument on a hill, harbours ruins of an Ottoman mosque and shows traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. In Lezhe, we visit the Skanderbeg memorial, formerly the Church of St Nicholas or Selimiye Mosque, which was converted by the Ottomans. On the way to Shkodra, we visit the impressive Rozafa Fortress with a spectacular view over the city and Lake Shkodra. The 18th century Ebu Bekr Mosque was renovated in 1995 with donations from Saudi Arabia. Behind the fortress is the multi-domed Lead Mosque, named after the molten lead rocks used in its construction. The Great Mosque is another highlight. The Cathedral of St Stephen, the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage church in Shkodra, rounds off our visit

In the morning, we explore the town on foot before travelling to Fishte in Lezha to the Mrizi i Zanave Agroturizem restaurant. This restaurant is characterised by slow food and the use of its own, locally produced food. The farm can be visited and delicious wines are served. The main courses offer a selection of different meats, while the desserts surpass all previous experiences. The quality of the food is outstanding. After this culinary experience, we continue our journey to Tirana.

Today we visit the city of Berat, which was built in 312 BC and is under UNESCO protection. Berat is considered the pride of Albanian architecture and combines eastern and western cultures, traditions and views. The old town consists of the three main neighbourhoods of Mangalemi, Gorica and Kala, the latter of which is home to the castle. In the Mangalemi neighbourhood, below the castle, there is a famous view of the facades of the houses with windows. Behind the old walls of the fortress, which crowns the hill above Berat, lies the white village neighbourhood of Kala. Berat Castle is the central sight, where locals still live in the historic houses. The alleyways are home to souvenir shops, cafés and Byzantine churches. Inside the castle is the Onufri Iconography Museum, which houses 106 icons and 67 liturgical artefacts.

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