Major Tourist Attractions In Albania

Albania, the country as a whole, has a very interesting past with amazingly varied influences- you’ll find signs of civilizations all the way from the Mediterranean to the Soviet Union, from the aesthetically near-perfect to the completely mundane. And that’s exactly what the country’s towns and cities are like- on the one hand you’ll find beautiful mosques; on the other, Chinese-built factories with no pretensions to beauty.

The ancient city of Butrint, of which only ruins now remain is reputed to have been settled by the Trojans, although this isn’t confirmed.  

The city lies 18 km from the modern town of Saranda, and is an amazing example of an ancient city very well preserved. You can get to Sardana (from where Butrint is accessible by bus) by bus from Tirana, which is about 160 km from Saranda. Butrint retains many of its buildings still- there are quite a few fortifications, an acropolis, an amphitheatre, and public baths, all dating back to different periods of Butrint’s history. The acropolis dates back to the time of the Greeks, the public baths (which are richly decorated with geometrical mosaics) to the time of the Romans. There is also a later fortress- a huge triangular structure built in the 1800s by a local warlord.

The capital, Tirana, is a medley of styles and influences, with its art galleries, its museums, its markets and mosques. Tirana, though, is comparatively new, a fledgling compared to ancient towns like Durrës (once the largest port on the Adriatic, today the second largest city of Albania- it’s a major industrial city, and also full of ruins), Shkodra (one of the oldest cities in all of Europe), the ruined city of Butrint, and the museum towns of Gjirokastra, Berat and Korça. Most of these towns are renowned for the interesting histories attached to them, the museums and the ruins, which are worth a visit; Korça is also known for its rugs and carpets. Other towns, such as Kukës are popular with tourists simply because they’re so beautiful.

The town of Durrës, 38 km from Tirana, lies on the Adriatic coast, where it had been established by the Greeks way back in 627 BC. It is today the second largest city in Albania, an important commercial and industrial center, and full of interesting historical remains. Amongst its most famous ruins are those dating back to Roman and Byzantine times- there is, for instance, a very impressive amphitheatre, the ubiquitous public baths, and the former palace of King Ahmet Zog. In addition, there are two good museums- the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre and the Archaeological Museum. The latter, especially, is worth a visit, and behind it is another sight worth having a look at- the ancient city walls, which date back to the 6th century.

The town of Elbasan is now mostly known, as an industrial town- cement and steel are its forte. At one time, however, Elbasan had been a very picturesque settlement, and signs of it still remain. The name of the town itself- El Basan ('The Fortress’)- is indicative of its past; it was founded as a fortified town by the Romans, and its strong stonewalls remained, for centuries altogether, its main defense. Amongst the town’s attractions are the King’s Mosque (nearly six centuries old), the Ethnographical Museum, the Turkish Baths, and St Mary’s Orthodox Church, renowned for the lovely stone arcades on its walls.

Berat, known more romantically (though perhaps a little inaccurately) as 'the city of a thousand windows’ (because its houses have a lot of windows), is about 122 km from Tirana and is one of Albania’s bastions of Christian faith. This city is literally full of churches, among the more important ones being the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Orthodox Cathedral of Our Lady, and The Church of The Evangelists.

 A quaint seven-arched stone bridge approaches the Christian Quarter, Gorica, and most of the churches of the town are within the 14th century citadel overlooking the town. Not that Berat has nothing but churches; there are also some lovely old mosques in the town, including the Bachelor’s Mosque, the Leaden Mosque, and the King’s Mosque.

Albania has had a rich and colourful history, and remains of it are to be found all over the country; there are ruins, many of them in surprisingly excellent shape, and if you’re interested in history, this is a great place to visit.