Foto: The castle of Gjirokaster (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Albania - From Fier, we head toward Gjirokaster. Part of the route is on an old, rough road, but much of it is on a new highway. Around 1:30 PM, we enter Gjirokaster. A very steep and narrow road takes us up to the castle via GPS. In low gear, we slowly drive uphill. I estimate the incline to be over 20 degrees. When we reach a sharp corner, we decide to park and continue on foot. Construction workers point us to a staircase leading to the entrance. Gjirokaster Castle dates from the 12th century and lies on the mountain slope. Since 2005, the castle and the historic center have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the central courtyard stands an old American aircraft. The pilot ran into trouble in 1957 and had to land in Albania, where the plane was confiscated. On the other side of the castle, there is a beautiful Orthodox chapel. On the way back, we pass the old prison and vaulted chambers, filled with old cannons and even a small tank.
The Amphitheatre of Butrint
Albania - The weather clears up at Butrint. The sun is shining and it’s quite hot—no sign of rain here. The ancient city of Butrint was founded around 500 BC on a small peninsula. Over time, it was expanded by the Romans, the Byzantines, and eventually the ...
The Castle of Kruje
Albania - The historic town of Kruja is located 32 km northwest of Tirana. From Barbullush to Kruja, it is a one and a half hour drive. Kruja is a medieval town and was first mentioned as a Christian religious center in the year 879. Later, Kruja became the main ...
The Castle of Shkoder
Albania - We then drive back to Shkoder. The GPS directs us onto a cart path through the city toward the castle. We hesitate whether to take this route with our Land Rover, but decide against it. From the other side, the road is better. The final stretch is quite ...
The Central Square of Tirana
Albania - Cars drive five rows deep on a three-lane road, yet everyone seems to be considerate. We carefully maneuver “Brutus” through the busy roundabouts. The street of our hotel isn’t recognized by the GPS. When we drive along a nearby boulevard, we know ...
The Old Ottoman City of Berat
Albania - In the center, most passengers leave the bus. A young man gestures that we should get out too. Outside, he points the way to the citadel. We quickly follow his directions and climb up to the citadel, located 214 meters higher. It’s quite a climb. The ...