Lezhe And Kruja Tour From Tirana

The city of Lezha is located 47 km south of Shkodra. It is one of Albania’s ancient cities, and in the historical documents, it is mostly preferred by the name Lissus. In 1398, after the construction of its castle, the city was under the direct control of the feudal family of Lekë Dukagjini, but was eventually conquered by Venice. One of the most important historical events for Lezha, and indeed for all of Albania, was the famed “the League of Lezha” on March 2nd, 1444, where under the leadership of national hero Skanderbeg, the Albanian princedoms united against the Ottomans. The Memorial Grave of Skanderbeg is here, at the ex-Cathedral of Shën Kolli, where he was buried in 1468. The Castle of Lezha, another Illyrian monument, is situated on the top of the hill overlooking the city below. Inside the castle, ruins of an Ottoman mosque. 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 historic town of Kruja is located 32 km northwest of Tirana and 20 minutes by car from the international Airport of Rinas. From Barbullush until Kruja it is one and a half-hour drive. Kruja is a medieval town, though it was mentioned for the first time as a Christian religious center in the year 879. Later on, Kruja became the most important town of the Topiaj Feudal Family and the capital of the Arberia Principate. The ottomans occupied Kruja two times, in 1396 and 1415. After the revered National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti (Scanderbeg) return from Turkey in 1443 Kruja became the symbol of the popular resistance against the Ottoman Empire and was famous all over Europe for its resistance.

Today the town of Kruja rises 560 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Sari –Salltiku mountain. It provides to the visitors a great view of majestic landscape and a rich collection of historical and cultural objects.

The most important is the castle of Kruja, which was built during the 5th and 6th centuries and has an elliptical shape with a total area of 2,25 hectares. The surrounding walls are reinforced by nine towers, which served as an observation and signaling post during times of war. Within the walls of the castle, there can still be found the remains of a few houses. The Gjergj Kastrioti (Scanderbeg) Museum is located inside the castle and is dedicated to his deeds courage and bravery to protect Albania from the Ottoman invasion. Inside the castle, there is also the Ethnographic Museum.

An attractive medieval-type bazaar is also located in the town of Kruja. Its main peculiarities are that all the shops are made of wood. Here tourists can buy traditional handicrafts such as filigree, alabaster, silver, copper, wooden made objects, wool carpets, and other interesting items.

Having visited the town you can rest and have lunch at one of the many traditional restaurants situated along the Old Bazaar street, or in a characteristic house on the top of the castle, while spending the night at the “Skenderbeu” and “Panorama” hotels in the town center of Kruja. We visit Skanderbeg Museum, inside the Castle, and the medieval Bazaar in the way to the castle with traditional handicrafts such as filigree, alabaster, copper ....all the shops are made of wood,

Departure from Your hotel with English speaking guide.