Zvernec Monastery

Zvernec Monastery History: Zvernec Monastery was abandoned through the Communist period in Albania, but its significant function in the community was restored quickly after its collapse. Named after St. Mary, every August 15th, locals and others begin their pilgrimage to the monastery to glorify the woman’s birthday who gave birth to Christ. The monastery is […]

Ali Pasha Castle (Porto Palermo Castle) History: Porto Palermo Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Porto Palermos) is a castle near Himarë in southern Albania. It is situated in the bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of Himarë along the Albanian Riviera. Huffington Post ranked Porto Palermo first among 15 Undiscovered European Destinations for 2014. The area together with Llamani beach will be proclaimed a […]

Cave of Dragobia The ‘Cave of Dragobia’ is actually a rock formation buried deep in the forest of MasKollata, making a natural sort of fortress. Safety information There is an extremely healthy (and prolific!) family of Brown Bears here, and we have the pictures to prove it! Being that we KNOW they’re having babies, they […]

Valbons Waterfall The spring of Valbona, is a natural spring that creates at the same time an attractive waterfall (Rragam Waterfall), located near the village Rragam i Shales, at the top of the Valbona valley, in more or less the same direction as the path to Thethit. The spring of Valbona, is a natural spring […]

Old Mill in Valbona Valley Description: Build more than 100 years ago, the Old Mill in Valbona, with its particular local architecture stands along the Valbona river, in the valley entrance. This attraction is also the last meeting with the Valbona river being that it gets hidden for 25 km along the valley, appearing again […]

Jezerca lakes Description: The hike to Jezerca lakes starts from the Valbona National Park, near the school. You take the path to Kukaj village, where you can find the last water source. Then the trail runs through boulders and meadows, eventually entering the beech forest until you reach a small grassy plateau with a mountain […]

Lake Xhema Lake of  “Xhema” is a natural lake located at the entrance of the inhabited area of Valbone village, part of Valbona National Park. This is an attraction accessible to any age group, of “easy” degree of difficulty, suitable for a walk with the family or for an afternoon walk – before dinner. At […]

Valbona Valley National Park The Valbona Valley National Park (Albanian: Parku Kombëtar i Luginës së Valbonës) is a national park inside the Albanian Alps in northern Albania. The park covers a total area of 80 km2 (31 sq mi), encompassing Valbona River and its surrounding areas with mountainous terrain, alpine landscapes, glacial springs, deep depressions, various rock formations, waterfalls and the Valbona Valley with its dense coniferous and deciduous forest. It is characterized by its very remote areas which […]

Cave of Pellumbas History: The Cave of Pëllumbas (Albanian: Shpella e Pëllumbasit or Shpella e Zezë) is a karst cave in central Albania, located in the Skorana Gorge close to the village of Pëllumbas in Tirana County. It lies about 500 m (1,600 ft) above the Adriatic, on the slopes of Dajti, a mountain chain that rises to an elevation of 1,613 m (5,292 ft). The cave is one of among six […]

Castle of Tirana History: Fortress of Justinian (Albanian: Kalaja e Justinianit) or simply known as Tirana Castle (Albanian: Kalaja e Tiranës) is a castle in Tirana, Albania. Its history dates back before 1300 and is a remnant from the Byzantine-era. The fortress is the place where the main east–west and north–south roads crossed, and formed the heart of Tirana. The current fortification has three […]