Summer Flight Timetable for Flights to Albania
(Version 5 Effective 05 March 2021)
SHKODER
Gateway to the Albanian Alps!
Rozafa Castle
Rozafa Castle is a castle near the city of Shkodër, in north-western Albania. It rises imposingly on a rocky hill, 130 metres above sea level, surrounded by the Buna and Drin rivers. Shkodër is the seat of Shkodër County and is one of Albania's oldest and most historic towns, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Built during Antiquity, enduring the Roman and Ottoman empires, and remaining intact up to the present day, Rozafa Castle has witnessed the dramatic changes of tide over the course Albania’s fascinating history. Needless to say, then that this archaeological area is incredibly rich in historical tales.
Deriving from the Middle Ages, according to the legend of Rozafat, the construction of the Castle was cursed by the gods, who would demolish each day’s work over night. In order to let castle walls stand, the gods demanded a sacrifice from the family residing within it. Through the manipulative tactics of the oldest brothers, the sacrifice to be made was innocent Rozafa, the youngest bride of the household. Before she was to be buried alive inside the castle walls, Rozafa demonstrated her magnanimity by requesting that half of her body remain exposed so that she could continue nourishing her baby. Inside the castle, you can see a beautiful sculpture of Rozafa’s figure carved inside her wall at the main entrance. The castle
Breakfast Ideas
OPENING HOURS
April- September, Every Day
9:00 - 18:00
October - March, Every Day
8:00 - 16:00
ADDRESS
"Rozafa" Street, Shkoder
comprises of three main courtyards, making it easily navigable.
Once you enter the fortified 15th-century main entrance, you come to a first courtyard, where the 4th-century tract of the Illyrian wall, the oldest structure in the castle grounds, is found. Along the first courtyard, you’ll also find medieval ruins of cisterns, the towers of the Balshaj, and the former Venetian residences. In the second courtyard are the ruins of the Church of St. Stephen, which is now a mosque, and is certainly deserving some special attention. Originally the church was built in the romantic style commonly found between the 13th and 15th centuries and was later transformed into the Sultan Mehmet Fatih Mosque during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, between the 16th and 19th centuries. During this time, the Catholic population abandoned the castle, as the space came to be used as a military base.
Today, the ruins of this church-mosque, which was ultimately abandoned in 1865, symbolize the passage of history that ran through Albania. The third and final courtyard of the castle holds a three-story Venetian building, known as the “Capitol”, which served as the residence of the Venetian ruler. Inside this building, the Castle of Shkodra Museum tells of the 4000-year-old castle, including the most renowned medieval families of the city. The views from high up at the castle offer some breath-taking panoramas of the beautiful Lake of Shkodra, as well as the city’s rivers and expansive mountain ranges. To the south west of the castle, in the third courtyard, you can make out where the three rivers of Drin, Kir, and Buna join.
Lake Koman
Lake Koman is a reservoir on the Drin River in northern Albania. Lake Koman is surrounded by dense forested hills, vertical slopes, deep gorges, and a narrow valley, completely taken up by the river. Besides the Drin, it is fed by the Shala and Valbona Rivers. The lake stretches in an area of 34 square kilometres, its width being 400 metres. The narrowest gorge, which is surrounded by vertical canyon walls, is more than 50m wide. The reservoir was constructed between 1979 and 1988 near the village of Koman with a height of 115 metres.
The combination of specific topography and hydrological conditions have contributed to the formation of different habitats. The golden jackal, red fox, European badger, eurasian otter, beech marten, European polecat are the primary predatory mammals. A high number of bird species have been observed in the region, including the common kingfisher, common quail, grey heron, eurasian wryneck, great spotted woodpecker and black-headed gull. The Lake Koman Ferry operates daily on the lake from Koman to Fierza. The ferry connects the city of Bajram Curri to the region of Tropojë. The journey takes about two and a half hours and is also popular with the foreign tourists.
Breakfast Ideas
OPENING HOURS
Every Day, Open 24 hours
Tour times may vary
ADDRESS
Liqen Komani, Shkoder
National Museum of Photography "Marubi"
The National Museum of Photography "Marubi", Muzeu Kombëtar i Fotografisë "Marubi" or simply Marubi Museum is a national museum located in the northern city of Shkodër dedicated to Albanian photography and photographers. The museum hosts a vast collection of 500,294 photographs of the Marubi's dynasty legacy from 1856 to 1989, including negatives, historical pictures and photographic objects and cameras belonging to three generations of photographers.
It begins back to 1856 when the first images were taken from Pietro Marubi in Albania, to the photographs from his apprentices Mati and Kel Kodheli (later Kel Marubi) and passing to Gegë Marubi's latest photos. The museum also includes negatives from other Albanian photographers such as Shan Pici, Dedë Jakova and Pjetër Rraboshta. The museum is mainly dedicated to the collection of Marubi Dynasty photographs, whose origins began with the arrival of the young Italian Pietro Marubi in the city of Shkodër in 1856.
Pietro opened the first photography studio in Albania and also the first photo captured in the country, being the
OPENING HOURS
April- September, Every Day
9:00 – 19:30
October -March, Tuesday- Sunday
9:00 - 14:00, 15:00 - 18:00
ADDRESS
"Kolë Idromeno" Street, Shkoder
pioneer of Albanian photography for the years to come. His legacy, but also the passion and profession of the photographer, passed on to his apprentice Mikel Kodheli, who after Pietro's death changed his name to Kel Marubi in honor to his master and mentor.
Cathedral of St. Stephen
The Cathedral of St. Stephen, the patron saint of the city of Shkodra, is also known as the Great Church. Once upon a time, the cathedral was located within the walls of the Rozafa Castle. In 1478, the Ottoman invasion of the fortified city saw the church transformed into a mosque.
Hundreds of years later, in 1852, the city’s catholic community officially requested the Sultan to rebuild the cathedral in Shkodra. After seven years, in April of 1858, the construction of the cathedral began. The Great Church is at the heart centre of the city, near the promenade, one of the most popular areas of town. The main structure is beautiful, exhibiting a striking resemblance to that of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Old photographs of the church show the beautiful frescoes adorning its interior, all pained by the famed local artist, Kol Idromeno.
In 1967, during the Communist period, the cathedral became the Palace of Sports. The structure survived the destructions caused by the Balkan Wars, countless earthquakes and the Communist dictatorship in Albania. Legend has it that the list of those who contributed to the construction of the cathedral included several catholic
OPENING HOURS
Everyday
Open 24 Hours
ADDRESS
Katedralja Shkoder, Shkodër 4000, Albania
families, Pope Pius IX, the Sultan at the time, and even the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I. The cathedral, one of the largest in the Balkan region, was blessed by his Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1993. Shkodra has the largest number of martyred clergy who humbly gave their lives for the freedom of religion.
The dictatorship saw many parishioners and senior clergymen tortured and barbarously killed. Honoured by the Vatican for protecting Christianity, a mass held at the Cathedral commemorates them each year. You will find the Diocesan Museum Shkodër-Pult, the only one in the country dedicated to religion, right by the cathedral, only a few steps away from it. The same knowledgeable guide of the Cathedral will help you go through the museum and learn about religion in the country and its history. Carefully curated sections of the exhibition include written testimonies, church objects, photos and audio materials in Albanian, English, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Polish, and Croatian.
Vendi i Deshmise dhe Kujteses - Site of Witness and Memory
Built in the 19th century, by Arsen Idromeno (father of Kolë Idromeno), as a private house, it was transformed during the years many times, becoming an orphanage, and then an hospital. The structure was bought by Franciscan fathers, in 1930, who turned it into a preparatory college for future parish priests. However, in 1946, the Communist government seized hold of the building and placed Shkodra’s Headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, abruptly doing away with its former function and swiftly condemning those who had occupied it.
For more than four decades, many were the political prisoners and opponents to the system who were tortured and imprisoned within these walls. The building was finally turned into a museum with the aim of remembering and bearing witness to the suffering of political prisoners. Now, visitors will have the opportunity to look at the photographs and learn the names of those who, in the city of Shkodër, have been either sentenced to a prison term, interned or executed by the communist system.
Also displayed are objects used by the prisoners as well
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 15:00
Saturday
09:00-13:00
ADDRESS
Bulevardi Skënderbeu, Shkodër
as correspondence with relatives and friends. A special focus is placed on the clerics who have been sentenced or killed by the system. A tunnel of red arches, a detail that represent the blood of the condemned, leads to the detention area. This part of the museum has been set up in such a way as to recreate the panic and terror experienced in these quarters until 1992. The museums include the original 23 cells on each floor as well as the interrogation rooms.
One of the most recognized names to have occupied these cells is Father Zef Pllumi, one of the most beloved figures in Albania, famous for his contribution to the Franciscan community as well as his promotion of Albania’s spiritual and cultural heritage. The total number of the convicted persons for the area of Shkodra is truly frightening: 2890 imprisoned, 1924 interned, 601 executed, among which 61 were clerics. One should visit the museum not only to honour those who were imprisoned or lost their lives here but in order to confront the mistakes of the past. No society can go forward and progress without truly and honestly addressing its past sins, which should be made clear in order to never be repeated again.
Diocesan Museum Shkodër
The Diocesan Museum Shkodër-Pult is one of the most fascinating museums in the city of Shkodër, if not the entire country. It brings to the visitor’s attention the presence of the Catholic Church and faith especially in northern Albania, revealing the history of its survival in the face of hostility during the five-century-long Ottoman rule and the Communist period, which lasted for almost half a century.
Thanks to the ecclesiastical objects, various archaeological discoveries and works of art exhibited in its 16 halls, the museum takes you along the unique journey that Christianity has undergone in Albania. While the oldest object in the museum is a Roman coin from the period of Emperor Constantine (306-337 B.C.), there are plenty more historical findings here, like stone objects of the period of 1100-1200 or other valuable fragments brought from churches in the northern region of the country.
The collections include pelts, piksides (ornate bowls from the 17th century), bottles for holy oils, various bells, and missals, among other historical objects. For those interested in following the development of ecclesiastical architecture throughout the centuries, the museum does a wonderful job at illustrating the churches’
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday
09:00 - 13:00 to 15:00 - 17:00 (During the winter, the museum is opened only during the morning)
Saturday
09:00 - 13:00
ADDRESS
John Paul II Square (Sheshi Gjon Pali II), Shkodër
metamorphoses during the Ottoman and Communist eras in the country. Via a carefully structured documentation, museum visitors will find a precise and accurate introduction into the tumultuous journey of the Catholic Church in Albania. Created on the July 15, 1940, the Cross of Dukagjin is one of the most historically and spiritually valuable objects found in this museum.
It commemorates the victory of 300 Albanian soldiers against the Montenegrin army of 3000, sent by King Nicholas I to invade the region of Dukagjin during World War I. The names of eighty-one fallen heroes are carved on this cross, an object that was all but forgotten during the Communist period. In fact, parts of it were used for other purposes. Fortunately, the cross has been restored to its original shape and can be admired by the public in this museum. In this museum, you may also become acquainted with the history and wonderful oil painting of the Saint known as Our Lady of Good Counsel. The cult surrounding this particular figure is important in Shkodër, especially so for the Christian population, and the museum is a great chance to learn more about it.
Shkodër Lake
With its rich variety of plant and animal species, and breath-taking views, the legendary Shkodra Lake is the ideal place to get in touch with Albanian nature. It’s also an excellent alternative beach hot spot during the warm summer months. In the Northwest of Albania lies the beautiful Shkodra Lake, the largest in the Balkan Peninsula, and one of the many natural wonders of this part of the country. With a vast surface area of 368 squared kilometres, the lake stretches beyond the country and across the border with Montenegro, with 149 square kilometres of it lying in Albania.
The lake beautifully frames the historic and artistic city of Shkodra, a calming and refreshing area. While you can drive along this road, many adventurers choose to cycle, or join a bike tour in order to fully immerse themselves in its idyllic natural beauty. In the summers, several spots along the lake’s shoreline serve as wonderful alternatives to the beaches along the coast – with its crystal-clear waters, and close proximity to the city. While you are here, you should definitely try the restaurants lined up along the waterline, which serve the famous local carp from the lake in all kinds of delicious dishes.
OPENING HOURS
Open 24 hours
ADDRESS
Lake Skadar, Shkodër
Shkodra Lake is also the ideal spot for avid birdwatchers, hosting an impressive 270 distinct species, in fact almost 80% of all the bird species that can be found in Albania are found here, including seagulls, pelicans, cranes, and eagles, to name but a few of the menagerie of feathered creatures that can be spotted here.
Historical Museum of Shkodra
The Museum-House transports visitors to the early 20th century when the northern city of Shkodra had not yet lost its splendour as the medieval centre of trade with the West. The first impressions many get upon viewing this house are visions of parties with traditional folk song and dance of the past century. This house and every object in it are masterfully crafted and decorated. While the roaring American 20s were known for their jazz and culture, the Albanians have the dances and folk music of old Shkodra, and the house of Oso Kuka that so gloriously hosted them. The residence of this famed Albanian patriot has doubled as a Historical Museum since 1947.
The historical journey begins as soon as you enter the beautiful grand entrance of this house. It takes you through the Neolithic period, Antiquity, the two world wars and the Communist era (1944-1991) in Albania. The house contains an exhibition that is rare around these parts. It includes objects and interiors which reveal what aristocratic life was like in northern Albania. Each separate space within the house is wonderfully captivating. The elegant interior and the cultural atmosphere radiate from every corner of the house. The museum is quite simply an historical and cultural mirror of northern Albania. One visit, you’ll be able to understand the lives and relationships of
OPENING HOURS
Monday-Friday
9:00-15:00
Saturday-Sunday
9:00-13:00
ADDRESS
Street "Oso Kuka" 32, Shkodra
the men and women of the time and other fascinating details about the famous Albanian tradition of hospitality. The period of the early 20th century is reflected in the organization of this residence.
Promenade of Shkodra
Just a few meters short of 1km in length at 800m long, the Promenade in Shkodra is paved entirely with beautifully decorated cobblestones. Recently renovated, this promenade recalls the architecture of ages gone by, when there was arguably a greater appreciation for time and patience when crafting things of lasting beauty. The Promenade has become one of the most alluring touristic attractions in the country in recent years.
Much like in the revered walkways of many old European towns, here the old and the new seamlessly align. Locals and tourists walk along it to the rhythms of music, their constant companion on this bustling avenue. This street has always been one of the city’s most populated since its construction during the 20th century. The Promenade in Shkodra owes its peculiar beauty to Kolë Idromeno, the most renowned painter from the city, and creative force behind its design. The talented artist painted the town with a Venetian-inspired aesthetic, whilst carefully leaving many of the traditional local elements in place.
As a student in Venice in the 20th century, he became
OPENING HOURS
Open 24 hours
ADDRESS
Rruga G'juhadol nr 7 Shkoder
fascinated with the glowing, alluring atmosphere of the great Italian city, and decided to bring some of that magic to his hometown. Today, the pleasant low-rise buildings, pretty gardens, decorated windowsills, narrow cobblestone alleys, and the glow of the evening lamps create a relaxing city centre. The promenade connects the city centre with the Museum of History. This road is filled to the brim with street artists, alongside a huge variety art and photography shops and studios. Among them, you’ll see the impressive, newly renovated Marubi National Museum of Photography, a beautiful symbol of modern architecture which contains the oldest, most extensive collection of Albanian photography in the country.
It also includes the first-ever photograph of Albania, taken in 1858 by Pjetër Marubi. The centre of the town forks into two separate boulevards where the traditional old houses from the 1800s beautifully intermingle with the new ones. On the right, the traditional houses line up along the street to create an almost openair museum, alongside the oldest neighbourhood in town. These Venetian-style, two-story houses create a distinctive atmosphere within this famed northern city, one that is equally Albanian.
Lead Mosque, Shkodër
The Lead Mosque was built in 1773 by the Albanian pasha Mehmed Bushati of the noble Bushati family, who was vizier of Pashalik of Scutari at the time. Through this act, he intended to give his city of birth, the feeling of the capital. It is said that the mosque's edifice was built on land owned by the catholic church. Mehmed Bushati was personally involved with the construction and stones were incised under his patronage.
Almost every day, he stepped down from his residence, the Rozafa Castle, to follow the progress of the works. The first Imam of the mosque was Haxhi Ahmet Misria, who was of Egyptian origin. He came to Albania after the contacts he had with Mehmed Bushati. After him, other Imams served and also took care of the mosque. During the 1900s, the mosque begun to be damaged and the lead that covered the cupolas was gradually stolen. In 1916, the remaining lead was removed by the Austrian army during the Austrian rule in Albania. In 1967, lightning destroyed its minaret, which had been previously reconstructed in 1920 by Xhelal Bushati, descendant of Mehmed Bushati.
OPENING HOURS
Open 24 hours
ADDRESS
Tabakëve Street (Rruga e Tabakëve)
In 1967, Lead Mosque was closed down, just like the other religious institutions, after the anti-religious communist leader Enver Hoxha declared Albania an atheist state. Unlike many mosques that were destroyed during this time, it survived from the communist regime, probably because it was declared a Cultural Monument in 1948. On 16 November 1990, the Lead Mosque preceded other mosques in Albania to reopen when religion was again allowed in the country. The very first religious rally was held in this mosque by Hafiz Sabri Koçi, after 23 years of state atheism.
The Lead Mosque has an Ottoman architecture, unlike most other mosques in Albania which follow an Arab architecture. It closely mirrors the classical Ottoman architecture of Istanbul, Turkey, which was pioneered by architect Mimar Sinan of the 16th century. The mosque is built with hewn stones of almost the same size, which creates a pleasant construction symmetry. Stones were brought from the nearby village of Gur i Zi by people who aligned to each other over kilometres passing the stones to reach the construction point. The mosque has been repaired numerous times during its lifetime: in 1863, 1920 and in 1963.
Mesi Bridge
Mesi Bridge is a bridge in the village of Mes, about 5 km northeast of Shkodër, in northwestern Albania. It is a monument of Postribë culture, turning the site into a tourist attraction with a lot of visitors from all around the world. For foreigners, the architecture of the bridge is intriguing with round slick stones and stone plates. The surrounding panorama gives the bridge an even more picturesque view. The Albanian Development Fund invested 13 million lekë so the tourists could step on the bridge and watch it closely because there was no entry way to the bridge. It was built in the 18th century, around 1770, by Kara Mahmud Bushati, the local Ottoman pasha, and spans the Kir River.
The building was divided in 2 phases where the first phase was only the middle arc and the arc near it and the second phase included the other 11 arches. The purpose was to connect the city of Shkodër with the city of Drisht and other cities of the northern side. It is 108m long, 3.4 meters wide, 12.5 meters high with 13 arches, and is one of the longest examples of an Ottoman bridge in the region. It was built as part of the road that goes up the Kir Valley, eventually to Pristina, Kosovo.
OPENING HOURS
Open 24 Hours
ADDRESS
Mes, Shkodër
Shurdhah Island
Along Drin River, the longest one in the country, and approximately 15 km from Vau i Dejës, you will come across the mysterious city-island of Sarda, present-day Shurdhah. The construction of the Vau i Dejës hydropower plant here created an artificial lake that, in turn, encircled the hill on which the ruins of the medieval city of Sarda sit, transforming the entire area into the island it is today.
Though small, this island contains interesting fragments of history within it that are worth visiting. It is well known that this area was inhabited starting in the 7th or 8th centuries. Thus, once you visit the site, you will be able to witness the necropolis situated outside of the city as well as have access to the ruins of a roman castle. Once, the distinct cultures of Malësia (Highlands), Mirëdita and Zadrima beautifully joined here.
Lekë Dukagjini is one of the most legendary figures, second only to Skanderbeg, from this particular period of Albania’s history. His story is connected to Sarda Island as, once upon a time, this city was his residence. In fact, the entire Dukagjin family ruled over this city until the moment of the Ottoman invasion.
OPENING HOURS
Opening hours vary based on tours
ADDRESS
Shurdhah, Shkodër
Buna River
The Buna River Velipoje Protected Landscape is a protected landscape area in northwestern Albania, encompassing the estuary of Drin, the lagoon of Viluni, the river of Buna with its estuary, and the gulf of Drin that runs across the city of Velipojë alongside the Adriatic Sea. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has noted the park as Category V and has been further recognised as a wetland of international importance by designation under the Ramsar Convention. Being part of the European Green Belt, the landscape is, in addition, an Important Bird and Plant Area, because it supports extraordinary threatened and endemic bird and plant species.
Stretching between the Dinaric Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, the river of Buna is an outflow of the lake of Shkodër, the largest lake in Southern and Southeastern Europe, which ultimately runs through the river until it drains into the Adriatic Sea. The landscape is an essential migration corridor at that season for hundreds of species between the Adriatic Sea and the inland.
OPENING HOURS
Open 24 hours
ADDRESS
Buna River, Shkodër
Kopliku Winery
Kopliku Winery is one of those typically wonderful surprises you can only find in places like Koplik. This two-story winery, its welcoming atmosphere and package group deals that bring loads of wine lovers here, are all reasons to experience it for yourself. Shaqir Hysa, founder and director of the company, has devoted his life to this winery and is currently seeing the fruits of his labour of love. While he aimed at producing a quality Albanian wine, he also wanted to create a welcoming “home” for his guests who now enjoy talking long walks along the vineyards, help harvest the grapes of the season and enjoy the area’s traditional foods.
Kopliku Winery has become one of the most well-known names in Koplik thanks to its wonderful space that includes a terrace with views of the vineyards and Shkodra Lake. You can find three grape varietals here including the famous authentically Albanian Kallmet. The Kopliku label enjoys success not only in the area of the greater highlands of Albania (Malësia e Madhe) but also in the surrounding cities, including Tirana. Becoming acquainted with the grape varietals, enjoying wine tasting, and taking in the breath-taking views of the sunset on the lake, which colours the vineyards in hues of orange and pink, while the lights of the surrounding villas beam in the distance is a truly unforgettable experience.
OPENING HOURS
Monday-Friday
12:30-20:00
Saturday-Sunday
9:00-20:00
ADDRESS
Agroturizem Kantina Kopliku, Kopliku Shkodra
The Franciscan Church
The Franciscan church and convent were destroyed immediately upon the Ottoman invasion in 1479. It took more than 400 years for the Franciscan community to return to the city and open the first Franciscan elementary school in Shkodra in 1861.
Having barely secured the permit from the Sultan, the construction of the church and convent began in 1905. Severely damaged during Communism, the church, convent, and school complex were rebuilt and renovated post-Communism.
One of wings of the convent, designed by the famous Franciscan friar and renowned national writer Father Gjergj Fishta, is the only one that has survived entirely in its original condition.
OPENING HOURS
Open Everyday, 06:00-12:00, 15:00-18:00
ADDRESS
Rruga At Gjergj Fishta 42, Shkodër
The Orthodox Church of Shkodra
More than 200 years ago, the Orthodox community of Shkodra requested the help of the Russian Consulate in the city to build this church. Having collected the money and secured permission from the Sultan of the time, they began construction.
Destroyed at the peak of the anti-religious campaign in 1967, the Orthodox community built a construction thereafter. However, it was subsequently destroyed by a fire. Today’s Orthodox Church was built in the same location as the very first Orthodox church in the city had stood until the 18th century.
It is now found beyond Buna River, on top of the ruins of the former Church of Saint Nicholas.
OPENING HOURS
Open Everyday, Hours may vary
ADDRESS
Rruga Hasan Riza Pasha 39, Shkodër
