Travel & Discover Albania - Global Business Partners

110 Pages·2009·3.78 MB·English

A walk along Albanian territory.
Running from north to south,
the visitor may experience
so many things inside a small
country, as Albania is.
If you are looking for an active
holiday, you will find plenty
of things to do. Through this
pocket brochure we offer you
10 suggested itineraries to
choose from. There are a different
attraction including mountains
treks, deep valleys, national
parks, lakes, archaeological sites,
museum cities, castles, coastline
and much more. A visit in our
country means that you’ll return
home relaxed and energized
at the same time.
Welcome and enjoy your stay!
Travel & Discover
Itineraries all over Albania
INDEX
TOUR 1 3
TOUR 2 13

TOUR 3 23
TOUR 4 33
TOUR 5 45

TOUR 6 51
TOUR 7 59
TOUR 8 75
TOUR 9 83
TOUR 10 95
2
TOUR 1
Tepelena
Gjirokastra
Delvina
Finiqi Kakavia
Saranda
Ionian
Sea
Butrinti
Greece
Qafë Boti
Saranda - Butrinti 18km Saranda - Finiqi 10km
Saranda - Gjirokastra 56km Saranda - Ksamili 15km
Gjirokastra - Antigonea 12km
3
TOUR 1
Saranda rule, Saranda was called by its
Saranda, or “the south Alba- ancient Greek name, “Onches-
nian seaport” is located on a mos”, which was the name of
natural shelf facing the island the father of the Trojan prince
of Corfu. There are daily ships Aeneas, who was born at the
that depart, connecting Sara- Mount Ida by the Greek God-
nda with this Greek island. Sa- dess Aphrodite. The city lies at
randa’s name originates from the southern tip of Albania’s
an old Christian monastery Ionian coastline and has a very
of “the Forty Saints” (Saranda pleasant avenue, full of palms
means “forty” in Greek). The and pebbled beaches. In the
ruins of the monastery lay in center of the city stands the
Qafa e Gjashtës, near the city ruins of the ancient city of On-
entrance. Prior to Byzantine hezmi, destroyed in the fifth
century A.D. by barbarian in- changes its appearance. Four
vasions. In 2002, a synagogue small islands emerge in the
was uncovered in the same Ksamili area, covered by Medi-
area. Just 2 km south of Sara- terranean vegetation and sur-
nda, on the top of a dominat- rounded by wonderful marine
ing hill, is the Castle of Lëkurs. flora and fauna. A salt lake,
The castle was built by the Sul- which is a lagoon of tectonic
tan Suleiman during his mili- origin near Butrint lies inland.
tary campaign against Corfu. In antiquity it was known by
Today a restaurant sits in the name Pelodes and it connects
fortress, offering a rich cuisine with the sea through the cha-
and breathtaking views of the nnel of Vivar, 3.6 km in length.
deep blue of the Ionian Sea. A large number of sea birds
Heading south, the coastline nest there.
TOUR 1
Butrinti presence of the Trojan prince
South of Burtint Lake, 18 km Aeneas during his travel to
from Saranda, sits the ancient the temple of Dodona. He
city of Butrint, the most im- paid tribute to the oracle of
portant archaeological site in Dodona by sacrificing a bull
Albania, and a UNESCO World (Buthros in Greek) in the place
Heritage Site. The name of where the city of Butrint be-
Butrint has been wellknown gan to rise. The Roman poet
since the seventh century B.C. Virgil also mentions the visit of
as the most important city of Aeneas to Butrint in his poem
Epirus. According to Dionysius “The Aeneid”.
of Halicarnassus, the building There are many destinations
of Butrint was linked to the to visit within Butrint.
The Archaeological Park of Butrinti
The most interesting ones are the Venetian fortress of Ali Pa-
the Temple of Asclepius, a sec- sha, and many others.
ond century B.C. God of good Besides its historical value,
health; a 1,500-seat theatre Butrint is renowned for its
from the third century B.C. marvelous ecological system.
(which now hosts the Interna- The ruins and the buildings of
tional Theatre Festival every the city stand amidst an amaz-
September); the Baptismal, a ing subtropical jungle, with
paleocristian monument; as lots of laurel and other high
well as the nymfeu, the baths, woods.
the stoa (covered walkway),
the Lake Gate, the Lion Gate,
7
TOUR 1
Gjirokastra just 10 km away from Saranda,
As you leave Saranda, the na- you will find Finiqi, the capi-
tional highway will lead you to tal of the Kingdom of Epirus
the unique city of Gjirokastra, (and named Foinike at the
only 56 km away. On the way, time), which was founded in
the third and second centuries