Religious + Cultural Tour in Albania (2)
Day 1:
Arrival in Tirana. Depending in the arrival time, short city tour of the capital of Albania. Dinner and overnight in Tirana.
Day 2:
After breakfast in the hotel, depart for the sightseeing tour of Tirana, starting from the Skanderbeg square. Visit in the National History Museum, Clock Tower, E`them Bey Mosque, the Catholic Cathedral and the Orthodox church etc. Then continue to the main boulevard where are found the different ministries, Academy of Fine Arts, Main University etc. Some time reserved to visit the Bektashi World Center located in the capital of Albania (the Bektashi is an Islamic Sufi order with a various number of followers in Albania and the Balkans) and meet any of the clerics of this order.
After Tirana departure to Kruja medieval town, located on the slope of a mountain. An old bazaar leads you up to the castle of the National Hero Skanderbeg. Visit in the castle of the city, housing the Skanderbeg Museum and the Ethnographic museum. In the afternoon travel to Shkodra for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 :
In the morning sightseeing of Shkodra. Possibility to visit one of the mosques there also the Catholic cathedral and the Orthodox church near the center of the city. In this city, the clients can come close to the Albanian perfect religious tolerance where believers from different religions live in peace with each other at the same place. Visit also in Rozafa castle, located on top of a hill and get acquainted with its history.
Afterwards trip to the ancient city of Durres, that is also the most important seaport in Albania. Visit the Amphitheatre, the biggest in the Balkan Peninnsula (capacity 15.000 spectators) with a rare wall mosaic, which belongs to the 2nd century A.D, the Archeological Museum, many mosaics, ancient public baths, etc.
Dinner and overnight in Durres.
Day 4:
After breakfast, departure towards Berat which is a UNESCO protected town. While you approach the centre of the city, the typical buildings impress you. Visit to the castle, built up on a rocky hill 260m above the sea level. Churches here have survived within its powerful stony walls. With interest, is the church, which preserves wooden-engraved iconostasis, housing the “Onufri” museum. Visit to the other objects: Bachelor’s Mosque, Gorica Bridge and some dwelling houses of the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit the King’s mosque and the Helveti tekke a building of special interest in town.
As we leave Berat travel to Vlora, an important seaport and tourist site. Visit in the Holy land of Kuzum Baba dedicated again to the Bektashi believers in Albania. Dinner and overnight in Vlora.
Day 5:
After breakfast to the hotel, depart to Saranda traveling along the seashore. On the way on is to be visited the castle of Porto Palermo placed near Himara, also called as the castle of Ali Pashe Tepelena. The walls of the castle are 1.6m thick. After visiting this castle, the road along the seashore passes many beautiful villages such as Qeparo, Borsh, Lukova etc.
Reach Saranda and depart to Butrint. A scenic narrow leads you to the ancient city of Butrint. Visit to the Old Amphitheatre, the Temple of Aesculapius, the Baptistery with colorful mosaics and the ancient city walls. An old fortress housing a small museum watches over the entire site, which is one of the last unspoiled natural and ancient historical areas in Mediterranean. Dinner and overnight in Saranda.
Day 6:
After breakfast, we have the departure to Gjirokastra, which is a “Museum City” and UNESCO protected. The characteristic houses resemble the towers and are build one above the other. They have only one common element, the stone. Visit to the castle, which stands out above the city as a balcony, providing the possibility for visitors to enjoy the beautiful landscape. The castle houses the National Museum of Weapons, which preserves all the kinds of weapons used and produced by the Albanians from antiquity. Visit in one of the mosques in town and in one of the Orthodox churches in the nearby villages.
After Gjirokastra, proceed to Durres for dinner and overnight.
Day 7:
Transfer to the airport.
