22 Days Balkan Discovery

About the destination: Tirana è di gran lunga la città più grande dell'Albania e il suo centro amministrativo, culturale, economico e industriale. Oggi è una città interessante e affascinante, con una vivace vita notturna. Tirana è dove la vecchia e la nuova Albania si incontrano. C'è un'imponente moschea ottomana e il suo imponente minareto vicino a Piazza Skanderbeg, la piazza principale di Tirana. La costruzione della Moschea Ethem Bey iniziò nel 1798 e fu terminata nel 1821. Chiusa sotto il regime comunista, la moschea ha riaperto come luogo di culto nel 1991. Guarda gli affreschi all'esterno e nel portico che raffigurano alberi, cascate, case ottomane e ponti, motivi raramente visti nell'arte islamica. Il centro di Tirana è una deliziosa area di ampi viali alberati e grandi piazze, popolata da un'architettura brutalista indimenticabile ea volte estremamente colorata. Ha anche alcuni grandi esempi di realismo eroico e socialista, come l'enorme murale sulla facciata del Museo di Storia Nazionale. Tirana è una città affascinante e capitale di un paese affascinante. È molto rilassante, con persone amichevoli e ospitali, alcuni ottimi ristoranti e una vivace vita notturna. Puoi praticamente vedere tutto ciò che la città ha da offrire in un giorno o due, ma è un ottimo posto per partire per esplorare i luoghi vicini, come Durazzo e Kruja.

About the destination: Berat (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈbɛ:rat], definite Albanian form: Berati), is the ninth largest city by population of the Republic of Albania. The city is the capital of the surrounding Berat County, one of 12 constituent counties of the country. By air, it is 71 kilometres (44 miles) north of Gjirokastër, 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of Korçë, 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of Tirana and 33 kilometres (21 miles) east of Fier. Geographically, Berat is located in the south of the country surrounded by mountains and hills including Tomorr on the east that was declared a national park. For a total length of 161 kilometres (100 miles) the Osum River runs through the city before it empties into the Seman River within the Myzeqe Plain.

About the destination: Thessaloniki, one of the oldest big cities in Europe and the second largest city in Greece. It stretches over twelve kilometres in a bowl formed by low hills facing a bay that opens into Thermaikos Gulf. It is a thriving city and one of the most important trade and communications centres in the Mediterranean. The great fire of 1917 destroyed a large part of the city's historic centre, and further damaged was caused by a large earthquake in 1968. Nevertheless, there are countless examples of the city's rich history and many cultures, albeit hidden among the post-1917 development. This patchwork of building has produced an incredible blend of styles that are very unique to Thessaloniki. Roman monuments abut modern university campuses, modernist buildings face mediaeval churches and Ottoman structures will soon cap the tunnels of Thessaloniki's newest addition, the subway. The city authorities have done much to preserve the condition of the cultural heritage and one can only imagine that more will be done to ensure that it is not only a permanent part of the city's landscape but also that it is well explained and accessible to locals and visitors alike. Thessaloniki's greatness, however, is not just in its standing structure. This city is truly alive and not just in the sense of massive traffic or lots of construction. The people here like to express themselves out in the open and it is hard to spend time here without seeing some of the authentic and indigenous culture of the city. Plateia Aristotelou has some open air concerts during the summer, but there are also spontaneous gatherings that give visitors insight into the lives of ordinary Salonicans. Students spend time in front of the Rotunda strumming their guitars at night and the Roman Agora is sometimes the site of plays or shows organized by various groups in the city. Every two years this cultural flourishing takes the form of the biennale of contemporary art, the highlight of the city's artistic community's calendar. Byzantine churches, Roman constructions, Muslim buildings, modern architecture, intensive nightlife and stunning beaches are the essence of Thessaloniki. Being the second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki combines more than 2,300 years of history with every facility and excitement that a modern European city can offer a visitor.

About the destination: Skopje is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as its political, cultural, economic and academic centre. Skopje is a new city, though one exhibiting architectural creativity. A major trade centre during the Roman and Ottoman Empires, the city was almost completely destroyed by a 1963 earthquake. There are reminders of Skopje’s past which, together with its contemporary wonders, deserve a look. Skopje is located on the upper course of the Vardar River and is a major north-south Balkan route between Central Europe and Athens. Overlooking the city is a large fortress that dominates the skyline over the Old Town. The Kale Fortress is on the highest point of the city and overlooks the river Vardar. After the earthquake of 1963, only a few restored walls, the main gateway and two towers remained. The present-day ruins date back from the 10th century enlargement of the fort under Tsar Samoil. One of the most famous landmarks in Skopje is the Kameni Most, or Stone Bridge. It straddles the river in the middle of town close by the city’s central square,Macedonia Square, and is something of a city icon, being featured on the town crest. The Old Bazaar or Carsija is a very interesting part of the city and is its oldest part. The Carsija is separated from the city by The Stone Bridge. During the daytime, it is a hustling community of craftsmen creating leather, copper and clothes, restaurants, café and bars, and interesting cultural sites, including churches, mosques and museums. In the evenings, the bars and restaurants are busy with customers and live music is played. There is a large concentration of cafes along the river from Macedonia Square, which seem to be full of almost unbelievably fashionable people eating and drinking. Affordable and refreshingly accommodating, Skopje is a city of many cultures and is well worth a visit.

About the destination: Pristina is a fast-changing city that feels full of optimism and potential, even if its traffic-clogged streets and mismatched architectural styles don't make it an obviously attractive place. Far more a provincial town than great city, Pristina makes for an unlikely national capital, and yet feels more cosmopolitan than many Balkan capitals due to the large UN and EU presence here. Outside the crowded city centre, with its international restaurants and smart cafes, you'll find yourself in the quaint Turkic hillside neighbourhoods that have defined the city for centuries, where the call to prayer still sounds from minarets overlooking the city's terracotta roofs and where the bustling bazaar remains the focal point of daily life.

About the destination: With a population of less than 150.000 people, Podgorica is one of the smallest capitals in Europe. Due to its almost total destruction during World War II, the city nowadays has not many exciting sights to offer. Many of the buildings in the city centre date from the socialist era of Yugoslavia, when Podgorica was named Titograd. One of the newer well worth seeing landmarks is the Millennium Bridge, Most Milenijum, which was opened in 2005. Trg Republike, Republic Square, is the main square of downtown Podgorica. It is a nice shopping area with lots of pleasant restaurants and bars. Stara Varos, the old Turkish town, is a typical old Turkish town with narrow and curvy streets. The Clock Tower is one of the most important monuments in the old town. With a handful of quirky sights, lots of students, a buzzing nightlife scene, enjoyable restaurants and transport connections, Podgorica is not that bad a place to spend a day or two. Podgorica has a reputation as a party town, and it's no problem for visitors to make friends in one of the city's many cafés, bars and clubs.

About the destination: George Bernard Shaw called Dubrovnik “the pearl of the Adriatic, a paradise on earth”, and, indeed, it may be one of the most beautiful cities you’ll ever see. Largely built and long inhabited by Venetians, Dubrovnik possesses a stately charm and striking architectural unity that draw thousands of visitors every summer. Founded in 7th century, Dubrovnik stood amid a great forest of oak trees, from which it took its name. Take a walk atop the old city walls for vistas of the old town and the surrounding coast. Just before exiting the old town through the western gate, turn right to visit the Franciscan Monastery and peaceful cloisters. Just inside the entrance is the oldest European pharmacy, founded in 1371. In the northern corner of the old city is the Dominican Cloister and Museum, with a polyptych by Titian. The impressive Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary stands in the centre of Poljana Marin Držić and its treasury can be visited; look for the work by Raphael. Dubrovnik has warm, crystalline waters; don’t just admire it from a distance and take a dive. The intrepid can dive and sunbathe along the rocks or swim around the walls of the city while others gawk above. Dubrovnik’s impressive battlements gleam in the early morning light, but by early afternoon, the sea’s clear blue waters beckon you away from the city and its tourist din. If you can stand the crunch, you, too, may find a piece of heaven.