Best attractions in Albania
Albania is a delightful choice for a family vacation. The country offers many options for spending time, especially inspired by the stunning nature of these places. Picturesque cliffs, clean and azure sea, clean beaches. Albania can easily compete with such resorts as Croatia, Montenegro. Here you can plunge into the waters of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, sunbathing, as well as enjoying the delicious food. In addition, you will discover many interesting monuments of architecture, leaving a lasting impression. Sights of Albania surprise and fascinate. Get acquainted with this country is certainly worthwhile, because it is an amazing and unique place.
Sightseeing in Albania: what to see first
The first place to start a trip to the country is the capital. Tirana is the largest city of Albania, its heart. Over the past four hundred years the capital has become a modern city that offers tourists a lot of interesting places to relax, including a place of active nightlife. You can have lunch in a good restaurant in the city and have a great time. Here are concentrated a lot of attractions of the Republic of Albania.
Scanderbeg Square
The first thing to do is to go to the main square of the city, Scanderbeg Square. In the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty eight it was named after the national hero. On the square is his monument. There is National Museum of History. Landmark of Albania with a description can be found on the Internet. It is the largest museum on the territory of the country. The total area of the museum is twenty seven thousand square meters. The museum institution consists of eight pavilions, each of which introduces you to the history of the country, presents pictures of primitive times and highlights the life of modern Albania.
Feel the atmosphere of Albania in this beautiful video!
Ephem Bay Mosque
You can read about the next landmark in Albania with photos and descriptions on the Internet - it is the mosque of Efem Bay, built at the end of the eighteenth century. At the entrance you can see a small plaque saying that the mosque was installed by Mulla Bey, who gave his money to the poor and needy. Mulla-bey managed to make only the foundation of the future building, and his son continued the work. The mosque was finally built sometime in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty. The main distinguishing feature of the construction is the inclusion of elements of nature in its design. You can visit this place any day, entrance is forbidden only during prayers.
Official website: http://www.visit-tirana.com
Clock Tower
Another landmark of Tirana in Albania is the Clock Tower, located right there on the main square. The tower was built back in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-second. The authorities regularly restore it in order to keep it in good condition. The height of the structure is thirty-five meters. It is known that originally it was small, and during the reconstruction it was decided to change the size of the tower. At the top there is a German clock, which is still working perfectly today.
Rosafa Fortress
After seeing the main architectural monuments in beautiful Tirana, we can move on. Now it is the turn of Shkoder sights in Albania. Popular among tourists is the fortress Rosafa, built at the entrance to the city in the third century BC. There are many legends about its construction, and one of them is related to its name. It tells that three brothers tried to build a fortress, but every night it collapsed. Then they decided to sacrifice the wife of the youngest brother. Rosafa alive was walled up in the foundation. The area occupied by the fortress is nine hectares and is made in the form of a polygon. On the territory of the building there is a museum with various archaeological finds. In Shkoder it is worth visiting the Bridge of Mes, which is eight kilometers from the city, the Lead Mosque, the Franciscan Church and many other interesting places.
City of Durres
To get around comfortably, you can see the sights of Albania on a map. A great solution would be a trip to the beautiful city of Durres, which is one of the oldest cities in the country. Here is the largest port on the Adriatic. The amphitheater in Durres, located just three hundred and fifty meters from the sea, was built at the end of the second century. It could accommodate about sixteen to twenty thousand spectators. Many gladiatorial fights were held there. This unique monument of architecture is worth visiting.
Another landmark of Durres in Albania is Durres Castle, founded back in the fifth century. The reconstruction was made in one thousand two hundred and seventy-third year after a powerful earthquake. Nowadays, only the walls and arched aisles of this structure remained. The main tower of the building was called The Venetian, there is now a bar for young people.
City of Saranda
Saranda is a delightful city on the Ionian Sea. It has a luxurious waterfront, many hotels and hotels, and constant sunny weather. To be in Albania and not to visit this fabulous place is simply impossible. The sights of Saranda in Albania include not only architectural monuments, but also real natural wonders, for example, Konispol Caves. You can go to the Lekursi fortress, which towers over the city. There is a wonderful view of Sandra and the sea. You can have a snack in a luxurious restaurant.
Sightseeing in Vlore
The sights in Vlore in Albania are numerous and original. The Karaburun-Sazan National Park is noted for the variety of fauna and flora. The underwater inhabitants have excellent conditions here, and this contributes to their active reproduction. Here you can not only enjoy the nature and beautiful views, but also go scuba diving. Under the water you can see a lot of sunken ships. Interestingly, the reserve itself is only accessible from the sea.
The Historical Museum, founded in the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty-second, is definitely worth a visit in the city. Here there are various unique objects illustrating all sorts of periods, from antiquity to the present day. There is a department in which there are objects relating to the city’s struggle for independence.
City of Korca
The town of Korca, one hundred and seventy-nine kilometers from Tirana, also offers tourists places to visit. The city is known for the excellent manufacture of carpets. One of the attractions of Korca in Albania is the mosque Illyaz Bey Mihroi. The building was built back in the year one thousand four hundred sixty-nine. The initiator of the erection of the building was a scientist Ilyaza Hoxha. The first temple for Muslims, called the Mirahora Mosque, was also located here. The mosque was created in the year one thousand four hundred and sixty-six. The interior is of great interest. On the walls are pictures of two Muslim countries. The building is located near the city bazaar.
City of Gjirokastra
Gjirokastra is a World Heritage City, only one hundred and twenty kilometers from Tirana and of great interest to tourists. If you decide to see the sights of Gjirokastra in Albania, you will only have to walk its streets. The city itself is unique, you get the impression that you get into the Middle Ages. The narrow streets paved with stone, unique houses - Turkish kule, a beautiful citadel of the fourteenth century - all this strikes the imagination.
Tourists are also invited to pay attention to:
- Ethnographic Museum;
- Mekate Mosque;
- Ruins of Hadrianopolis;
- Arms Museum;
- Turkish Baths.
Albania is a delightful country to visit alone or as a family. Endless number of beaches, incredible clean sea, unique flora and fauna, ancient mosques, parks, fortresses - all this strikes you to the core and makes you return to the country again and again. It seems that in some cities time has simply stopped, giving us the opportunity to return to the past for a while.
