Albania 2021: rest and sights
United around the flag
With one desire and one purpose,
We take an oath.
Fighting for freedom...
Anthem of Albania
The Republic of Albania is one of the few countries where Russians are allowed to enter in the context of a coronavirus pandemic in 2021.
Moreover, travelers entering a hospitable Balkan country do not need a covid PCR test or a vaccination certificate. The Albanian government abolished visas for Russian tourists until the end of 2021.
Albania is called the hidden treasure, the pearl of the Balkan Peninsula. For many decades, the country spent in complete isolation from the outside world, and therefore remained on the periphery of world tourism. Now is the time to catch up.
Tourists in Albania are waiting for unique historical, cultural, natural attractions, serene rest on the coast of the warm and clean Adriatic and Ionian seas, hearty and delicious cuisine, sincere Balkan hospitality.
Attractions Albania
Haji Etham Mosque is a building on Mesjede Soleiman Street in Old Tirana. It was built in the 1830s. There are four minarets.
It is one of the few buildings built in the old part of the city and is considered one of the main decorations of the capital of Albania. The mosque is well preserved and there is a museum inside. The monument is protected by UNESCO. In the past, merchants, artisans, doctors and teachers lived in the vicinity of the mosque. The name of this place is one of the translations from Turkish of the name "Haji Etham", which means "holy Christian" and "holy brother". This name was given to the mosque because the future Patriarch of Albania Eutimius (1800-1869) was born and lived here. He lived only a few years and died at the age of 49. Near the mosque there are springs with mineral water, which is considered healing. Water is drunk from the springs, and the mosque itself is visited on big holidays.
From Yenikapi metro station (Yeni Cumhuriyeti) to the Old Town there is bus number 2 or shuttle taxi number 2. You can also drive to Stari cel Mare, just a short walk from the mosque, then walk for a few minutes. There are many shops and cafes where you can eat. In addition, there is a park and lake nearby, where you can swim on boats or catamarans.
The Venice Tower (Albania, Durres) is a popular tourist site, a famous landmark in the city center. The tower itself is part of the walls belonging to the oldest Byzantine city. The building was erected in the sixth century, almost immediately after the Gothic invasion.
Directly at the base of Tora Veneciane is a very colorful restaurant, the roof of which is decorated with a very original summer terrace with a magnificent bar.
The place is popular with numerous tourists and locals who celebrate celebrations and memorable dates here.
The Clock Tower of Tirana is located in the heart of the city. It appeared in 1822. At the moment, the height of the architectural structure is 35 meters. It has been open to visitors since the 90s. 20th century.
Inside there is a wooden staircase surrounded by powerful stone walls. At the top there is a gate for the passage to the clock. By the way, the clock mechanism was made in Germany. The last restoration of the building was subjected in 2016.
Right off the sea coast is the fortress of Porto Palermo, built in the 18th century during the existence of the Ottoman Empire by order of the ruler, whose name was Ali Pasha. It is closed by high twenty-meter walls. The structure has a triangular shape. Now it is abandoned, but for a nominal fee you can visit the fortress. The size of the fortress is about 150 by 400 meters. Around are picturesque mountains, from the fortress you can see the whole bay.
Nearby is the city of Vlora, from the capital of Albania to this place 130 km. The fortress rises on the peninsula of the same name.
Saranda is the largest city and the main economic center of southeastern Albania. The city has beaches and restaurants. In addition, Saranda is a port where cruise ships come from all over the world.
The beaches on the map of Albania are located about 12 km from the city.
The most popular beach is Ponze Beach, which is part of the city. This beach is located near a sandy beach. In this place, people rest with families. You can ride water motorcycles here. In the area of the beach you can find water entertainment, which is here. Dolphins can also be seen here.
Ponze Beach is considered one of the best places to relax. He's very clean and beautiful. Near it are good restaurants and cafes that offer delicious fish and seafood dishes.
The second popular beach is Gallika Beach. It's in the north of town. There are many hotels, bars and restaurants on the beach. In this place, vacationers can swim, sunbathe, surf, play beach volleyball and football.
The third beach that is not far away is Sarada Beach. It is located in the east of the city. This place is very popular among vacationers. Here you can do snorkeling and fishing. Near the beach there are hiking trails that allow you to admire nature.
You can get to the beaches by train or bus. Also from Tirana to Saranda can be reached by regular flights of the airline Alitalia.
Monastery of St. Mary in Ardenica
The monastery of St. Mary in Ardenica Albania Berat, located on a steep slope in the valley of the Bojana River, was founded at the end of the XV century and was a small monastery with two stone churches and a house for the brethren. In 1531, the monastery was given to the Order of the Dominicans, as evidenced by the inscription on the stone slab, which now stands in one of the temples of the monastery. Due to a strong earthquake, the church was badly damaged: the roof collapsed, part of the walls collapsed. In the XVII century, the church was restored again according to the project of the famous architect Andrea di Vicenzo.
Today is St. John's. Maria is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monastery also contains the oldest document in Albanian - "Book of Oaths", which describes the oath of allegiance to the community of monks. On its pages are engraved about three hundred vows, which were brought by the first monastic brothers. Among the other relics of the monastery are the reliquary with the relics of St. Athanasius, who was the founder of the Dominican Order. This is the only document that mentions the saint in the list of saints.
The easiest way to get to the monastery is by car, as it is located in the city center. If you still prefer a public form of transportation, then first you need to get to the bus station Berat, and then by bus No115, which goes to the monastery.
By car, it is most convenient to get through the city of Bar, where the gate to the monastery is located, from there you can already turn right and go through the tunnel to the city center.
Photo: pixabay, free source
Text: personalguide
Dear friends!
You can book a tour of Albania atguides on our website.
Allow yourself to travel in a popular and popular format -private tour with a private guide.