What to see in Albania for an authentic holiday? For a few summers this small nation has been on everyone’s lips: those who have been there, those who have decided they want to go and those who still haven’t understood why it should be done. We met Fjona Cakalli (read as Ciacalli), content creator and communicator in the tech and automotive fields, born in Albania and moved with her family to Italy at the age of 4to let us tell you about the wonders of her country, now that she has decided to let us discover them herself, by organizing some tour in his land: «When I was little they insulted me, calling me Albanian, I decided to integrate in reverse and to take the Italians to see what Albania is.» which is much more than just beaches.
But perhaps the first thing to know about this small country is that it has 3 million inhabitants and other 5 million Albanians have emigrated and live in other parts of the world: there are more of those outside than those inside the border. This – and not only that, certainly – has made them very proud and very attached to their land, both those who emigrated and those who stayed at home.
Albania, wild nature
So, what to see in Albania? We asked Fjona to tell us her favorite places in Albania, the most authentic ones, where you can discover the essence of the country, its culture and its traditions.
«The beauty of Albania is above all in its nature. Those who love wild places, who seeks authenticity before comforthere you will find a treasure, especially in the north. The beaches of Albania are a new destination for Italy (Here are some of our travel tips for the summer season), but from other Balkan countries that do not have access to the sea, have always been frequented. For me the real surprise is the hinterland».
We start from the north and from the most natural side, from Valbona Valley National Park: «Here you can do a lot trekking and you can travel kilometers off-road, meeting the local populations. You sleep in the shepherds’ houses and you really come into contact with their traditions. There are some hiking trails that are also challenging, and if you want to move by car you can only go in off-road vehicles equipped and accompanied by locals”. In the surroundings of this park, remaining in the north of the country, the Mrizi Izanave farmhouse (the fairies’ hideout) has become very famous for eating delicious traditional cuisine.
In the north, the beautiful Shala River (Lumi i Shalës) and the Theeth National Parkwith caves, waterfalls, woods and meadows, you sleep in local houses transformed into inns and you forget about the world.
Albania is a country that campers will really like, according to Fjona, because you can still sleep wherever you want: «it’s a place that’s not very organized, you shouldn’t expect high standards, but you live in uncontaminated nature».
Tirana and other cities
To meet the essence of Albania, of course, you must also pass through its capital, Tirana, which has about a million inhabitants. «Tirana is a city to live in rather than to visit – says Fjona -. Many buildings were destroyed during the war and during the Socialist period, but it is becoming very interesting: it is a city full of different types of places. My advice is to start the day having the real Albanian breakfast with the byrek (pronounced burk), a kind of cheese pie served with salted yogurt, diluted with water, which costs about 50 cents. And I also recommend the Oda restaurantwhere you spend €15 per person and eat only traditional and simple cuisine: so lots of lamb, pilaf rice, yogurt; or go to the new market where you can find a bit of everything and there are restaurants with grills».
A visit to Tirana, which is a relatively small city, cannot ignore the Bunk’Art Museum 1 and 2built inside anti-atomic bunkers that tell what life was like during the period of Communism and the regime. “They are very touristy places, but they help to understand the 40 years of darkness of our country” says Fjona. Another recommended place is her pyramid, Pyramidwhich was born as a mausoleum of the dictator Enver Hoxha for his son and which today has become a cultural center and an innovation hub. «If you want to go and drink a good glass of Albanian wine, I suggest going to Filari, inside the castle of Tirana. A mandatory stop at Komiteti, a café-museum entirely furnished with collectibles of the Albanian tradition. Don’t forget to drink a glass of raki (a cross between grappa and brandy)».
North of Tirana, a city worth visiting is Kruja (Croia in Italian), the ancient Albanian capital, about 45 minutes from Tirana, a city that is a symbol of the anti-Ottoman resistance, as well as the city of the national hero Scanderbeg, in Italian Giorgio Castriota (there is a museum dedicated to him that you can visit to discover his story).
South of Tirana other recommended stops are Gjirokastera UNESCO heritage city, characterized by its stone buildings and an ancient central bazaar. Its castle is also not to be missed. And finally Beratdeclared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its ancient citadel continuously inhabited for more than two thousand years and also known as the city of overlapping windows. Nearby Fjona recommends visiting the Osumi River Canyonthe natural spas of Bënja near Përmeta former Ottoman village in the Vjosa River valley where you can stop and enter freely.
But what will conquer you, according to Fjona, will be the human factor: «for Albanians, the guest is worth more than their own family and it will not be rare that while traveling someone will invite you to their home to offer you a dinner». It also happens during the tours organized by Fjona Cakalli, in which meetings with Albanian citizens and entrepreneurs are always guaranteed for a total immersion in the territory. Here find the next dates of Fjona’s tours in Albania.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
