5 Places Worth Seeing in Shkoder
Shkoder is the fourth largest city in the north of Albania. It was founded in the 4th century BC and is located nearby Tirana. Shkoder is famous for its Skadar Lake, which is almost equally owned by Montenegro. There are also mountains and the fortress Rozafa. And the amazing lake Komana is located close to Shkoder.
Interesting fact: there isn't any traffic light here! There are roundabouts everywhere and a lot of bicycles.
There are 5 unique attractions in the city:
1. Shkodra Lake
Skadar Lake is the largest lake in Europe with more than 40 islands in its waters (It is 43 km long and 26 km wide and 6 rivers flow into it). It is surrounded by the picturesque mountains of the Dinaric Alps and divided by Albania and Montenegro.
Every year, the lake attracts a large number of birds. Pelicans, cormorants, numerous types of herons, black ibis, a variety of ducks, and even pink flamingos can all be found here. There are no crocodiles and other dangerous inhabitants The water is covered with a blanket of water lilies, and a water nut called "Devil's Horns" (a local delicacy).
2. Mesi Bridge
Mes Bridge was constructed in the 18th century to connect the Kir River's two banks.
It is one of the longest surviving Ottoman bridges, with a length of 108 meters, 13 arches, and a height of 12.5 meters.
3. Rozafa Fortress
Rozafa Fortress rises above Lake Skadar. The border between Montenegro and Albania is also located on the same lake.
According to legend, this fortress was constructed by three brothers. everything they managed to build during the day was magically destroyed at night. So, the ancient "sage" instructed them to sacrifice a young girl to the gods and bury her alive behind the rebellious walls. Each of the brothers had a woman, and they agreed that woman who came first the next day would be sacrificed. The two older brothers warned their wives, and the third younger brother was honest and said nothing to his wife, so she came to the brothers. Her name was Rozafa
The legend is scary but the fortress is very beautiful and it offers a magnificent view of the town of Shkoder and the two rivers Drin and Boyan and the best sunset in the city.
4. Old Town of Shkodra
This is a real open-air museum, with narrow stone-paved streets, brilliant two-story houses in the Mediterranean style from the early twentieth century, wooden shutters, carved enormous doors, little balconies with thousands of flower pots, and so on.
And there are gorgeous temples of several religions. Abu Bakr's Grand Mosque and the Orthodox Church of the Nativity Church of the Franciscans and The Catholic Cathedral of St. Stephen, built in the 19th century (the most extensive in the Balkans!) The Catholic Cathedral of St. Stephen survived Hoxha's control when it served as a gym.
5. Xhamia e Plumbit
Xhamia e Plumbit (also known as Lead Mosque) is the real old mosque. It was constructed in the 18th century and is designed in the same style as Istanbul's Blue Mosque.
But it is the mosque's construction technique that makes it truly remarkable. Molten lead was used to hold the stones in the brickwork of its walls together!