Interesting cities and towns of Albania
The official name of the state is the Republic of Albania. For some time it was in a certain isolation and was not popular. However, this is a great omission, as there are so many interesting things to see in this country. The area of Albania is 28,748 km2. The population is just under 3 million. Albania is bordered by such countries as Greece, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Albania has a good climate, many interesting cities and villages . Below you can find some of them.
The village of Bhege
Bohe, a small mountain village in northern Albania at the foot of the Cursed Mountains. People here live a quiet village life in harmony with nature in accordance with traditional customs, mainly they are engaged in agriculture and handicrafts . The village has a school, but no doctor. Although the journey here can be a little painful because of the quality of the local roads, at the end of the journey will appear a village untouched by modern civilization. Bohe with its stone houses under the mountain peaks, one of the most beautiful Albanian villages .
The village of Bhege
The beautiful city of Berat
Berat, a picturesque town whose characteristic white houses with red roofs are stacked on top of each other on the hillside. It is the old Muslim neighborhood of Manghelem with its narrow streets. On the hill is the citadel, where eight of the incredible 42 orthodox churches have been preserved. During Turkish rule, Christians lived in the citadel, preserving their faith and culture. Beautiful icons by the great Albanian master Onufri are preserved in the churches and a small museum . Below the hill there are several ancient mosques, and on the other side of the Osum River, the Christian neighborhood of Gorica. In addition, the entire city is surrounded by mountains, Partizanit peak of the nearby mountains Tomorri reaches a height of 2416 m.
The beautiful city of Berat
Borsh Village
Borsh, a seaside village on the so-called Albanian Riviera inhabited by Muslim Albanians. It is located in the historic district of Epirus and has been inhabited since ancient times. The castle, whose ruins today lie on the limestone mountain above the village at an altitude of 285 m above sea level, was also used by the Romans and later rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justinian.
Borsch changed hands several times during the Middle Ages, when the despotism of Epirus and the Norman invaders dominated. In 1431 it was ruled by the Ottoman Turks, and five years later, by the Albanian hero Skanderbeg, whom the Turks drove out after 11 years and subsequently reinforced the walls again . The castle was also conquered by the Venetians and was later repaired by the powerful ruler of Epirus, Ali Pasha of Tepelen. The village of Borsch lives mainly from tourism and olive oil production. There are also the ruins of a mosque with a minaret and a madrasah.
Borsh Village
Albanian Riviera
The term “Albanian Riviera” refers to the coast of the Ionian Sea in southern Albania. Its northern landmark is the peninsula of Karaburun behind the town of Vlora, from where it extends south to the city of Saranda and further to the border with Greece. The beaches of Albanian Riviera with fine sand and clear water are some of the most beautiful in the whole Ionian Sea. The beaches of Karkanik and Janiskari around Dhermi top the list. Due to the fact that Albania has long been isolated under the communist regime, its coast, unlike neighboring countries, is not so overcrowded with infrastructure .
There are deserted beaches and resorts with many restaurants and beach bars with a lively nightlife. The fact that the mountain slopes rise from the coast at an altitude of 2000 m, the area is also popular for hiking. Logara National Park, with beautiful views of the coast, is one of the most popular places. Throughout the Albanian Riviera you can find rough coves, cliffs and caves, mouths of mountain streams and charming villages with orthodox churches. The Riviera is bordered by a scenic road connecting resorts such as Dhömi, Himara, Saranda and Xamil.
Albanian Riviera
Dermi
Dermi, a picturesque town located on the coast of the Albanian Riviera . White terraced houses sit above a deep ravine on a steep slope. The local beach is famous not only on the Albanian Riviera, but in the whole of Albania. Turquoise blue waters of the Ionian Sea, clean sand and several restaurants. There are several ancient churches and two majestic monasteries of St. Mary and St. Theodore. Some of the locals claim Greek nationality.
Dermi
Durres, one of the largest cities in Albania
Durres, one of the oldest cities in Europe, was founded by Greek settlers in the 7th century B.C. under the name Epidamnos. In 229 AD the Romans took over this natural harbor, renamed it Dyrrachium and made it the starting point of the Via Egnatia, which stretched from the Adriatic to Constantinople. There was even a battle between the Roman commanders Caesar and Pompey nearby. In modern times Durres was the capital of the newly independent Albania between 1914-1918 and is still the most important port in the country . Such a rich history certainly had to leave a mark on the face of the city.
Here is the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkans of the second century, which could hold up to 15,000 spectators. Today there is also a Byzantine chapel with mosaics. The Byzantines also left behind the city walls, greatly strengthened by the Venetians, who ruled here in the 15th century. Turks turn to Fatih mosque, whose name comes from Sultan Mehmed II, who after the conquest of Constantinople became known as the Conqueror . Monument to King Zog, his palace. Rich finds from ancient times are stored in the recently opened Archaeological Museum. But there are also popular sandy beaches near Durres.
Durres, one of the largest cities in Albania
17 beautiful cities of Albania (+ Photo and description)
Albania is nestled on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by beautiful neighbors Greece and Montenegro. Among the picturesque mountain scenery and magnificent beaches, the Albanians have built small, but cozy and beautiful settlements. Cities of Albania, let them be inferior in size to many European cities, but not lacking in originality and flavor. So let’s go on a journey through the streets and avenues of the cities to see all the Albanian sights, namely the most beautiful cities of Albania.
Tirana
Let’s start, of course, with the Albanian capital city of Tirana. The city was founded in 1614, but here the status of the capital of Albania was obtained in 1920.
Located in a picturesque mountain valley 40 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, Tirana in recent decades has become a place of pilgrimage for tourists from around the world. Its streets are filled with the spirit of antiquity and the surrounding countryside fascinates the eye with its mountainous scenery.
The main city of Albania is a twin city of the Russian capital. In addition, both European capitals have a radial-ring plan in their architecture.
Pogradec
One of the most beautiful resorts of Albania is situated on the shore of the largest lake of the Balkan Peninsula with the poetic ancient name Likhtinida. But now the lake is called Lake Ohrid, and it is located near the border with Macedonia.
It is a relatively young town, but already has a glorious history. It has a special mountain climate that makes the resort popular among tourists. Near the town among the majestic gardens is the national park Drilon.
In this place of Albania you can not only have a recovery, but also visit mountain springs and get acquainted with historical monuments of the Antiquity period.
Lushnia
There are few cities in the world that were founded by women. But the Albanian city of Lushnia is known for it. During the years of Ottoman rule over the Albanians, it was founded by a woman named Salusha.
The grateful Albanians glorified her name in the naming of the town settlement, and the old-timers still affectionately call their homeland “Salusha.”
In 1920, the city was the capital of Albania for several months. But after a small council of clan leaders held in one of the buildings of Lushni, it was decided to move the capital to Tirana.
Vlora
The beautiful port city became the first capital of independent Albania in 1912. The first settlements on its territory appeared in the VI century B.C.
The city and its surroundings are full of sights from different periods of history. It was here that Albania’s independence was proclaimed, and during the war with Italy in 1920 it became a place of stubborn resistance of Albanian insurgents to the onslaught of the Italian army.
During the socialist period there was a Soviet naval base not far from the city but it is now abandoned but popular with tourists.
Founded in the I century BC by the Syracuse tyrant Dionysius the Elder, the city was called Lissos. The modern area of Lezhi is rich in monuments and beautiful sites in the area.
Here the river Drin flows into the bay of the same name, and the mountain peaks attract the eye with their majesty and monumentality. The air is clean, and among the attractions stand out a mosque and a prison that operated during the reign of Hoxha.
Specialists note that this region of Albania has a huge tourist potential, but so far tourists prefer to visit the more famous resorts and beautiful places of Albania.
Durres
The list, which includes the most beautiful resort towns, continues with the majestic Durres. It was founded in 627 BC by Greek settlers and was called Epidamus in Antiquity. The ancient city was one of the causes of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
Today Duress is a modern resort and cultural-industrial center of Albania, with magnificent historical monuments and picturesque streets. Here you can see the charming frescoes of temples and monumental castles of the Middle Ages. By the way, most-beauty.ru once wrote about the most beautiful streets in the world.
The resort is world famous for its beaches with incredibly white sand and warm sea water. It is not for nothing that the Albanian resort is called the “Terrace of the Adriatic”.
Korca
In the southeast of the Balkan state Korca is one of the most beautiful and, moreover, the second largest city of Albania, although it is populated only by about 76 thousand people.
A small urban settlement from the late 18th century began to play an important role in the region as the largest trade and craft center in southern Europe. After liberation from the Ottoman yoke, the first school in the country was opened in Korca, where education was conducted in the native language.
Remarkably, the city was the birthplace of the largest number of celebrities who made Albania famous. Situated in a mountainous area, Korca is an excellent ski resort, attracting thousands of fans of winter sports.
Saranda
Another great resort in the prefecture of Vlora. Perfect for holidays with children. Small, with a population of only 16 thousand inhabitants, it is almost lost in the mountains on the shores of the Ionian Sea.
Tourists are invited to visit the beautiful sites and historical sites left here since ancient times. In the center there is a unique temple from Antiquity, whose style and architectural elements are reminiscent of the Acropolis in Athens.
Saranda is often called the southern gate of Albania, because it has a port which receives commercial and passenger ships from different countries of the world every year.
Kukes
The small town is surrounded by the mountain peaks and the mountain valley in which it is situated is intoxicated with the many colors of mountain herbs. The unique place is located at the confluence of two rivers – White and Black Drin.
The former settlement was flooded by the waters of the reservoir, and a beautiful town, the pride of which is its magnificent natural surroundings, was built nearby. The small town, with a population of just over 16 thousand people, has its own airport.
In addition to the two rivulets, on the other side of the city there is another river with the romantic name of Luma.
Shkoder
The city has changed its name several times over its century-old history, but one thing that has not changed is that for a long time it remained the center of Catholicism in the Balkans.
This is reflected in its architecture and sights, which make it one of the most beautiful and amazing Albanian cities. A fortress built almost 2.5 centuries ago has been preserved within its borders.
It is because of the large number of historical sites Shkoder is popular with European tourists and travelers. And it is not far splashing waters of the magnificent lake.
Berat
The oldest urban settlement in Albania, founded about 2.5 thousand years ago, called the “City of a Thousand and One Windows. The terraced location of the houses on the mountain slope creates an incredible impression.
The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is in this part of Albania where the Ottoman period buildings are well preserved. The monuments of the Middle Ages are monumental and varied: from the royal mosque to the Orthodox churches of the XII-XV centuries.
With a population of 60,000, it is the administrative and county center of the prefecture and county of the same name.
The medieval town is situated 32 kilometers from the capital, and is famous for the fact that it is closely connected with the life of Georg Kastriot-Skandeberg, a fighter for freedom in Albania. The name itself is translated from the Albanian language as “Spring”.
This settlement in the XII century was the capital of the first state-ethnic formation of Albanians – the Principality of Arberia, founded by Prince Progon.
Near the city there are defensive walls and towers of the fortress, which now houses the State Museum. Tourists like to visit the old market, where you can clearly feel the color and spirit of Albanian traditions.
Gjirokastra
Nestled in the beautiful Drina River valley Gjirokastra has the official status of a museum city, and is also famous for being the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the leader of Soviet Albania.
The magnificent city began its history in the first century A.D., and today, keeping the spirit of antiquity, it is the administrative and district center. One of the oldest citadels in Europe is preserved on its territory. Which was built in the XII century.
Since 1968 every five years the largest festival of folklore music is held on its squares gathering thousands of lovers of songs of Albania.
Gramsci
Another ancient city that received its status relatively recently. The ancestors of the legendary Italian communist Antonio Gramsci come from this city.
During the Ottoman rule the city was called Grameç and was the center of the Turkish province. Here, as in the Middle Ages, trade was developed, and craft workshops grew into large industrial enterprises.
The leader of the Albanian rebels, whose signature is under the declaration of independence of the country, was also born here.
Ksamil
One of the most exotic and beautiful places in the country, the town of Xamil is famous for its picturesque scenery. It is in this part of the coast the best beaches and access to the sea, and in beauty they can hardly be compared with the other sandy beaches of Albania.
Many tourists note that this place reminds landscapes of the Caribbean archipelago and other exotic oceanic islands. The coast is cut by small bays, and in the sea there are many islands immersed in the greenery.
In addition to the amazing nature, the beaches have a developed infrastructure with restaurants and play areas, where you can not only relax but also have fun.
Apollonia
A unique monument of archeology, the Ancient Greek polis Apollonia, founded by the Corinthians in the territory of modern Albania, is now included to the world heritage of Humanity.
As a result of a natural cataclysm, the inhabitants were forced to leave the city and move to the neighboring Vlora. The reason is that the area had started to swamp, and the inhabitants died en masse from the epidemics connected with it.
Excavations have unearthed amazing temples, an ancient Greek amphitheater, residential and artisan quarters, sidewalk paved with pebbles.
Butrinti
We will finish our journey with a unique historical and archaeological reserve. This is an ancient city in southern Albania, known by the name Buraton, which was given to it by the Greeks.
It was the Greeks who founded it in the sixth century BC, and in the first centuries of the first millennium the polis became a Roman province. There have been extensive archaeological investigations on the territory, which have given the world the most unique archaeological finds and discoveries.
In 1992 the Venetian Fortress was included in the unique complex which is situated not far from the unique historical monument.
Map of towns in Albania with marked cities from our article
As you can see, small but cozy cities of the Balkan state began its history back in the period of Greek colonization of the Mediterranean coast. The Republic of Albania fought the Ottoman rule for many years, and many have become symbols of the struggle for independence, as well as the glorious Albanian history.
Today, new modern neighborhoods are in harmony with the narrow ancient streets, and tens of thousands of tourists flock to this once most closed country in the world to touch the preserved monuments of antiquity and the Middle Ages.
The editorial staff of most-beauty asks you to write in the comments what beautiful cities of Albania you have visited or want to visit. share your thoughts and impressions with our readers!
Editor’s note: This article has been updated since it was originally published in February 2018.
