Summer Flight Timetable for Flights to Albania
(Version 5 Effective 05 March 2021)
LEZHE
The city of Skanderbeg’s league!
Lagoon of Patok
The Lagoon of Patok is a lagoon of the Adriatic Sea on the Mediterranean Sea in the central coast of Albania. Created during the Holocene period, this area was characterized by a geo-morphologic dynamism. Its development spanned four phases, which correspond to the formation of four lagoons, separated by littoral cordons. The fourth lagoon is the current one.
A fifth lagoon is in an active formation process, also influenced by a rapid development of the littoral cordon in the western part. The whole area is flat and characterized by an intensive tectonic process and numerous underground water bodies. During the second half of the twentieth century, human activities played an important role in the changes of this ecosystem through activities such as drainage, dam construction and deforestation. The average annual temperature is 15.5 °C.
St. Anthony Church
The St. Anthony is a 13th century church in the Albanian town of Laç. The church was first built around year 1300, and dedicated to St. Mary, then renamed after Anthony of Padua in 1557. In 1971 it was destroyed by the communist regime, and eventually was rebuilt in the 1990s. It is a Franciscan church. Many renowned clergy have served in the church, including Shtjefën Gjeçovi, Vinçens Prennushi, Klement Miraj, Robert Ashta, and Zef Pllumi. Each week before the 13th of June, on the hilly heights around the town of Laç, thousands of believers gather at the Saint Anthony Church of Laç.
The church is named after the Franciscan priest, born in Lisbon in 1195, who dedicated his life on earth to his faith and spreading hope to the people. What makes him an especially well-respected figure is the fact that he served under the Franciscan Order despite being born into a royal family in Portugal. He refused life as a descendant of nobles and, instead, spent it spreading the word of the Gospel. His devotion to the Catholic Church and unending support for the needy brought him to Albania, where this famous church honours his name.
Despite the communist regime’s strict ban on any religious activity, Albanians believed in this saint of miracles so ardently that they secretly climbed the hill to faithfully seek his help. To this day, the people’s march toward the Church of Laç is such an impressive sight that it has attracted the attention of international media. After visiting the Church, many people descend to the Cave of Saint Vlash Martyr, and many other pilgrims stop by the corner of candles to pray to the Saint.
Castle of Lezhë
Lezhë Castle is a castle dominating the city of Lezhë, northern Albania. Its highest point is 186 metres. Lezhë Castle is at an elevation of 322 metres. The castle originates from Illyrian times. In 1440 it was reconstructed by the Venetians, and in 1522, after the Ottoman conquest, it was also rebuilt by the latter. The castle bears traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. Interesting places to visit are the ruins of the Ottoman buildings inside the castle, the mosque, the tower of the south-eastern wall with a Roman arch, and the Illyrian tower on the southern wall.
The Lezha castle is a cultural monument. The castle offers a beautiful view of the Lezha fields and the Adriatic Sea. The secrets of Lissus, as Lezha was called in Antiquity, rise over the ruins of the ancient Acropolis, an area that was gradually transformed into a proper city. In the architecture of the stone fortress, multiple civilizations left their respective traces, beginning with the Illyrians during the 3rd century B.C. Then, the Byzantines, in the distant year of 592, made their repairs after the fires caused by Slavic incursions. It was a few decades later that the Venetians (1440- 1451) gave the Castle the shape it still holds to this day.
The construction of Lissus’ walls, in the 4th century B.C. is attributed to Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse. The last restoration dates back to 1521, at the time of the Sultan Suleiman Selim Bayezid Han, after the castle was burned by Lezha’s own citizens as a counterattack against the Ottomans. When Suleiman understood the kind of harm that could be caused by the Venetians and the Albanian rebels, he ordered the rebuilding of new castle walls over the Venetian ones.
The city of Lezha, sitting under the dominating castle, awaits visitors, brought there from their curiosity about its history, the legends of Albanian rebels, the echoes of their union under the rule of Skanderbeg, the famous Albanian national hero, the famous local cuisine and nationally-renowned craftsmanship of the locals. Yet, the castle retains a magnetic pull and mystery that leaves an impression on all those who tread on its stone grounds. This powerful appeal is described in Ana Komnenna’s words on the ancient city of Lezhë: “A castle in the air, the right eye of Durrës,” confirming the city’s immense beauty along with its dominating and strategic position on the land and in Albania’s history.
Memorial of Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg’s connection to Lezha began with the Lezha Covenant, signed on March 1444. With this covenant, Skanderbeg united all the previously separated Albanian principalities against the Ottoman invasion. Though raised in Turkey, Skanderbeg remained loyal to Albania until his death in 1468. His long triumphant reign and 25-year resistance against the Ottoman army is well-known in the history of the world. For this reason, the country honoured Skanderbeg with a majestic monument in the ancient city of Lissus, present-day Lezha.
Echoing the grandiose structures devoted to ancient gods, like the Parthenon or the heroic political figures, like the Lincoln Memorial, Skanderbeg’s Memorial is a grand monument supported by marble pillars. Completed in 1981, during Communism, this monument sits atop ruins of an old cathedral. The memorial covers an area of approximately 225 square metres which includes remains of the 14th century St. Nicholas Cathedral. The Cathedral honours the hero’s 25-year war against the Ottoman invaders hence the 25 words and Skanderbeg’s bronze shield that decorate the cathedral’s walls. While there are many legends about Skanderbeg’s sword, the most famous tells of the sword’s incredible heaviness.
The tomb’s marble plaque keeps a copy of Skanderbeg’s sword and his famous goat-head helmet. The original swords, a helmet, and a prayer book, however, are at The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Famed sculptor Odhise Paskali and architect Latif Lazim designed the Memorial of Skanderbeg, faithfully reflecting the hero’s significance for the country. Actually, Paskali has celebrated the hero multiple times with his art. He is behind some of the most significant sculptures in major cities of Albania. The most well-known are the Skanderbeg Statue in Tirana and the Unknown Soldier sculpture in Korça.
Shëngjin Beach
This wonderful spot is the most nostalgic and historically popular beach in Lezha. Both a beach and a port, Shëngjin is beautifully framed by the blue lagoon which surrounds it. According to locals, Shëngjin’s name is connected to the Forest of the Fairies, Pylli i Zanave, which is located between Shëngjin and Velipoja. This area was also once known as Medea, like the famous Medea of the Argonauts. The small harbour and beach here have managed to survive the highs and lows of history, and are widely known and popular locally, though less so than the famous Southern Riviera.
The beach here has a particular charm and exclusivity that’s difficult to find anywhere else in the region. Surrounded by gentle pine forests, and with a backdrop of picturesque hills, the beach is located near the national road, so it is easily accessible by car. Furthermore, the accommodation here is comfortable and economical, which gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy Shëngjin’s natural beauty at first hand. Some of the local favourite restaurants are located in the town of Shëngjin, where you’ll also find several stylish pubs which liven up during those wonderfully warm summer nights.
Shkopet Lake
At 60 meters in length, back in 1963, this gorge accommodated the hydropower plant of Shkopet. If, during your explorations of the gorge, you would like to sit, relax and enjoy a refreshment, you will find a very pleasant cafe beautifully situated among the cliffs. You may simply sit and enjoy the spectacle in front of you or opt to rent a boat and take a ride along the lake. If you have the chance to go further into the hills that surround the lake, you will see many small waterfalls scattered here and there, all flowing into the lake.
The latter, with a depth of 75 meters, is populated by a variety of fish like carp or sardine catfish, among many others. The lake stretches for about 11 kilometres, making for a gorgeous long ride along its clear turquoise waters. The Shkopet Lake and surrounding area are part of the greater Ulza Regional Park which reserves many other spectacular surprises for those of you hungry for more. Ulza Lake is one among them, offering equally breath-taking panoramas to Shkopet and, in the summer, becoming an ideal spot for diving and a variety of water sports.
Kunë-Vain-Tale Nature Park
The Kune-Vain-Tale Nature Reserve is a nature park located within the Lezhë County forming the Drin river delta and facing the Adriatic Sea in northern Albania. It spans an area of 43.93 km². The nature reserve was established in 2010, it encompasses the Kunë Island, the Kunë-Vain lagoon, the woodlands, and several ecosystems. Notably, it has been also identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
The Kunë-Vain-Tale falls within the Illyrian deciduous forests and Mediterranean woodlands and forests terrestrial ecoregion of the Palearctic temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome. The climate is typically mediterranean. The nature reserve is characterized by its high vegetation and biodiversity. There are approximately 277 species of plants. The fauna is represented by 341 species; 23 species of mammals, 196 species of birds, 10 species of amphibia, 59 species of insects and 58 species of fish.
Spaç Prison
The Communist prison has by now become a spot of remembrance for Albanians as well as those who remain fascinated with Albania’s history during the Communist regime. Located near the city of Lezha, Spaç Village is fairly easy to get to. Yet, while the road may be easy, the visit will be emotionally taxing. The prison was built on mountain slopes and, right above it, five entrances led into the mine found inside. Situated above a river and entirely isolated due to the surrounding mountains, it would be an understatement to say that this place leaves an impression on you.
The notorious prison-camp went into function in 1968 and remained opened for two years following the fall of the Berlin Wall, in 1991. It is impossible to speak of the communist dictatorship in Albania without also recalling Spaç Prison, a place of maximum security, which housed all those who were once considered enemies of the regime.
For many Albanians, Spaç is synonymous with torture and death. Countless dissidents and thousands of other individuals were imprisoned here before the 1990’s. Traces of the torture rooms, offices of the prison guards, cafeteria, prison cells and paths connected to the mines are still there, though the building and surrounding area are somewhat dilapidated. It was in Spaç Prison that the prisoners’ revolt rose and fell in 1973, suppressed by the oppressive regime of the time. The consequences of this revolt are still felt to this day, especially among the families of the former protesters.
Spaç Prison is a nationally and internationally protected monument of remembrance. As one looks at the run-down windows of the prison cells, hidden within an unforgiving mountainous landscape, one gets a distinct sense of its doomed prisoners, who never got to live their much-awaited freedom. Several columns of the Spaç copper mine comprise part of Postblloku Memorial in Tirana. Located 60 km from Spaç, this monument is another spot that honours and commemorates its victims. As with many other atrocious sites around the world, time has turned Spaç Prison into an attraction. In addition to the mine columns exhibited in the central boulevard of Tirana, in 2017 the prison underwent a renovation in order to continue accommodating the increasing waves of visitors to the site.
