Religious tour in Albania: land of tolerance

Morning

The second day in Albania will begin with breakfast.
Then we will move to Kruja, an ancient Albanian capital, located just 32 km from Tirana, a symbol of anti-Ottoman resistance, as well as the city of the national hero George Kastriot Skanderbeg.
Here we will visit Kruja Castle, the National Museum of Scanderbeg, the Ethnographic Museum and we will walk among the route of the ancient bazaar of the artisans of Kruja.
Kruja Castle became one of the most important Byzantine garrisons thanks to its long impregnability. It was in fact a cornerstone of the domains of Skanderbeg and resistance against the Ottoman Turks, which is why Kruja became one of the best known cities in medieval Europe.
The National Museum of Skanderbeg, located inside the castle, is a tribute to the honor of the national hero George Kastriot Skanderbeg, organized in exhibitions that tell of his life and his military deeds in the 15th century.
The Ethnographic Museum, housed in a house belonging to one of the wealthiest families in the city, is a real cross-section on the traditions of local Ottoman life.
The Kruja Bazaar is famous for being one of the oldest in Albania, whose construction dates back over 400 years ago. It represented the starting point of free trade among the most successful merchants of the city; to accomplish this, it was located on the main road leading to Kruja Castle.

Lunch

After the morning visit to the main attractions of Kruja, we will have lunch in the charming restaurant housed in the Bardhi castle. Here, in a warm convivial atmosphere, we will taste excellent traditional local food with an amazing panorama of the surrounding nature.

Afternoon

Next, we will move to Sari Saltik's Teqe, located on the top of the mountain. Sari Saltik is one of Albania's most significant religious destinations. In this enchanting place, surrounded by nature, we will discover a 15 meters long and 4 meters high cave which houses a holy water fountain inside.
Sari Saltik was a highly respected religious figure in the entire Balkan area, to the point of being considered a symbol of religious tolerance.
After this last stop in Kruja, we will return to Tirana.

Dinner

Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Morning

The third day in Albania will begin with breakfast followed by check-out to be completed by 9.00 am.
Later we will leave for the Church dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padova, known by the Albanians as ""Kisha e Lacit"". It is an important religious site where pilgrims from all over the world meet in prayer.
The pilgrimage culminates on June 13 during which thousands of Albanians from different cities become part of the Catholic community hoping that by lighting a candle inside the church, or walking around it three times, or sleeping one night in its vicinity, or praying to Inside the cave, Saint Anthony grants a yearning for holiness to alleviate the sufferings of everyday life.

Lunch

We will have lunch in a restaurant not far from the sanctuary of Lac where we will taste some dishes of the local culinary tradition, among which soups and grilled meat stand out.

Afternoon

The religious itinerary will continue by visiting the ancient Shelbuem Church in Rubik located in the region known by the name of Mirdita. Here, since the fifteenth century, more than 200 churches have been registered, a number that demonstrates how this region was densely populated and had a deep-rooted religious tradition among the local population.
We will be able to attend mass at the Cathedral of Jesus Savior of the World located in Rreshen. The cathedral was built in 2002 at the behest of the bishop of the diocese Cristoforo Palmieri and was inaugurated on November 9, 2002. It is the main Catholic building in Mirdita.
In the late afternoon we will return to the 4 star hotel in Rubik where we will check-in before room accommodation.

Dinner

Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Morning

The fourth day in Albania will begin with continental breakfast followed by check-out to be completed by 9.00 am.
Soon after , we will drive towards Shkodra.
On the way we will stop in Lezha, the city where the famous "League of Lezhe" was born on March 2, 1444. The meeting, wanted by George Kastriot Skanderbeg, took place at the Church of San Nicola di Bari to strengthen the alliance between the most important Albanian noble families against the Ottoman invaders.
We will visit the monumental Franciscan monastery of Lezha, a real green oasis of peace and spirituality. The complex is both a monument of sacred art and a spiritual center (the church and the convent), both a historical monument (the tombs of the Bourbons), and a cultural monument (the library of the convent). The Franciscan fathers have been taking care of all this for over 200 years.
We will then be able to attend mass at Lezha Cathedral, the city's main Catholic building.
Later we will leave Lezha to reach Shkoder, called ""the house of Catholicism"" in Albania.

Lunch

We will have lunch in a restaurant located in the center of Shkoder where we will taste traditional local cuisine.

Afternoon

During the afternoon we will visit the city of Shkoder and the famous pedestrian where it will be possible to admire architectural elements reminiscent of Venice, which dominated during the 1400s.
Visiting the charming town, we will have the opportunity to discover the Convent of the Franciscan Friars which during the first years of the communist regime was transformed into a prison sadly known for being a place of ruthless torture. Now the light and mercy of the Lord illuminate the shadows that have obscured these long corridors for years.
After the visit to the convent, we will be able to participate in the holy mass celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen Protomartyr; building dedicated to Santo Stefano completed in 1867.
After the celebrations we will visit Rozafa Castle, an ancient fortress perched on top of a 130-meter high mountain, famous for being the site of great battles and prodigious resistances against foreign invaders.
Inside there are the ruins of the original church dedicated to Saint Stephen which, after the Ottoman occupation, was partially destroyed and converted into the mosque of Sultan Fatih Mosque.
At the end of the visit we will move to an 4 star S hotel in Shkoder where we will check-in.

Dinner

Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Morning

The fifth day in Albania will begin with breakfast followed by check-out to be completed by 9.00 am.
Soon after we will drive towards the capital Tirana. We will visit its main religious buildings: the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ and the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Paul. During this last stage we will be able to participate in the holy mass celebrated by the Archbishop Mons. George Frendo.
After having dedicated the morning to the places of worship and having attended the Holy Mass, we will move to the vault of Mount Dajti, located 1600 m above sea level, and reachable by cable car.

Lunch

Lunch will be served at a restaurant located on a panoramic platform, whose wonderful view gives the feeling of having the beautiful Tirana in the palm of your hand.

Afternoon

We will return to the same 4 ✰✰✰✰S hotel that hosted us during the first two days of our religious itinerary in Albania. Upon arrival we will carry out the usual check-in.
The rest of the afternoon will be free for guests, so they can relax inside the hotel or stroll through the quiet streets of Tirana to take some souvenir photos or buy souvenirs before returning.

Dinner

Dinner will be served in a restaurant in Tirana.

Morning

The last day in Albania will begin with breakfast followed by check-out.
After the greeting with the Tour Leader, the departure for the respective return destinations will follow. Hope you enjoyed the tour!