From Monday to Thursday of next week, my boyfriend and I will be escaping the stuffy heat of the city and heading down to the South of Albania. We booked the mini-break a few weeks ago when the sun was high in the sky and the temperatures were in the early 30s. Unfortunately for us, the weather for the whole four days we will be away is for rain and thunderstorms, but we will not let it dampen our spirits! Coming from England, I am used to spending my summers dodging showers, swimming in the rain, and wearing wellies, so a bit of drizzle is not going to put me off. This is where we are hoping to visit over the four days, although, as ever, the programme is subject to change.
Gjirokaster
Gjirokaster is a city that is located in a valley that lies between the Gjer mountains and the Drino River. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is described as “a rare example of a well-preserved Roman town, built by farmers of a large estate”. The city is overlooked by the Gjirokaster Fortress which sits at 336m above the sea. It dates back in various forms to before the 12th Century and it is home to the National Folk Festival that is held annually. Gjirokaster has a mix of Muslim and Orthodox Albanians, as well as a large Greek minority and a consulate to Greece. The houses here have a very distinctive style that has earned the city the name “City of Stone”, and Gjirokaster along with Berat have managed to keep much of their architecture intact, despite the modernising building programmes of the communist era. I am looking forward to exploring the castle and getting some photos of its historical buildings.
Vlore
Vlore is the third biggest city in Albania and sits right in the middle of the famed Albanian Riviera. Sitting on the edge of the Adriatic Sea, it was founded by an Ancient Greek colony in the 6th Century and it became the seat of a bishopric. It also briefly served as the capital of Albania and the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed there in 1912. The port has been in use for centuries and mentions of it have been included in work by Ptolemy and Hierocles, before being leased out to the Soviet Union for use as a submarine base, during the communist years. It is a draw for tourists with beautiful views over the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, the Bay of Vlore, and the island of Sazan being close by. It is served by popular and picturesque beaches such as Palase, Dhermi, Vuno Himara, and Borsh- let’s see if I am lucky enough to be able to have a swim!
Sarande
This will be our base and we chose a reasonably-priced hotel on the seafront, with a beautiful view of the sea beyond. Whilst I hear that the city itself is geared towards the tourism industry, there are many places in and around it that have caught my interest, including a large number of Greek restaurants (Greek food is one of the few things I miss about living in Cyprus). A settlement has existed here for centuries and it takes its name from the Byzantine monastery of Agioi Saranda, which means “Fourty Saints”. Surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes, beautiful beaches, and just a short distance from the island of Corfu, it is incredibly popular with both local and international tourists. I am hoping to visit the Blue Eye Spring (Syri I Kalter) – a clear blue, more-than-fifty-metre deep pool that is famed for the incredible colour of its water.
Ksamil
A small village just outside of Sarande, and forming a part of the Butrint National Park, it is a very popular coastal resort. Ksamil Beach has been included in the Guardian’s 20 of the best beach holidays back in 2013. Whilst the beach is small and clean, I am interested in seeing the four Ksamil Islands that are located in the direct proximity of the Ionian Sea. They are small and remote, and can only be accessed by boat and offer beautiful sandy beaches and perfect bathing water- even if it is raining. Ksamil itself was once well known for the production of olive oil, lemons, and tangerines, but much of the remnants were demolished once the National Park was created.
Butrint
Butrint was an Ancient Greek, and later Roman city in Epirus. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and Buthrotum was a city of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians as well as later, a Roman colony. It fell into decline over the years before being abandoned in the Middle Ages after a large earthquake flooded the city. It sits on a hill near the Greek border and overlooks the Vivari Channel as well as being a part of the Butrint National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a range of historical sites that span an impressive 2500 years. I am looking forward to checking out the Roman Theatre, the Acropolis, public baths and mosaics, the palaeo-Christian baptistry, and the remains of the 6th-century Basilica.
Please cross your fingers for better weather conditions next week (as I typed this, I just heard an earth-shaking peel of thunder. It doesn’t bode well)!
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