NORTH MACEDONIA
Breath Taking Landscapes
8 days
1st Day: Risan – Perast – Kotor – Budva (40 km)
Tour in the evocative net of inlets of the Adriatic Sea in the bay of Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor). The tour begins from Risan, one small town on the bay of Kotor, famous by its archeological sides with roman mosaics. Then we proceed to Perast, “the baroque city”, that between XVII and XVIII centuries was a very important marine city with in the period good 4 building sea sites and more than a 100 boats.
Curiosity: Perast is the most antique place for living in the region(the very first human traces return to 3500 BC); it is the town with biggest number of hours of light. From Perast we go by boat to the island of Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks), a small artificial island of 3.030 m² created on a bastion of rocks on which were sink hundreds of ships full with stones. A return to the dry land all the way to Kotor. Visit to the historic city surrounded of 4,5km of walls and the cathedral of the XII century. Proceeding to Budva, with its 38km long coast and the capital of Montenegro. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
2nd Day: Budva – Kruja – Tirana (225 km)
Visit of Budva, one fascinating city fortified with walls and a castle built on the islan during venetian epoch. Today the historic centre, founded in 4° century BC is rich of thin streets and it is characterized of one continuous line of shops, bars and restaurants. Finished the visit we proceed in direction to Albany. A break in the medieval city Kruja, one of the most popular destination because of its history that tells the events of the national hero Skanderbeg. Visit of the castle which is a host of the historic museum and the ethnographic museum after that shopping in the typical bazaars.
Curiosity: According to some legend, the name Kruja comes from the word “krua”, meaning source, that were present in entire city and characterized not only by the fresh water coming from the mounts, but also by the shadows centuries-old oaks.
Proceeding to the capital Tirana, dinner and overnight in a hotel.
3rd Day: Tirana – Durres (40 km)
With a start from the Skanderberb square, guided visit of Tirana with the Museum of natural history rich of objects that testimony the grand history of Albany,the E’Them Bey Mosque, the Tower of the Clock, the big boulevards of the ministers and universities. Finished the visit of the capital, departure to the antique city of Durres, with the most important seaport of the nation. It is possible to admire the biggest amphitheatre of the peninsula Balkan with a capacity of more than 15000 viewers surrounded by one mural established of mosaics, and to visit the archeological museum. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
4th Day: Durres – Berat
After the breakfast we depart to Berat. In few km before entering in the city, we stop for a break and a degustation of wines anf cheeses in one Albanian wine cellar. We continue to Berat and while we enter the city we will be impressed by the typical buildings. Visit of the castle built on a little rock hill on 260 m ASL, of the mother church that hosts the “Onufri” museum, of the 2 mosques, of the bridge Gorica and the beautiful palaces of the 18° and 19° centuries. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
From 1901, a year of their institutions the Nobel prices were assigned only to 1 albanian: Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhi better known as Mother Theresa of Calcutta; received in 1979 year the Nobel price for Peace, “for a work released in the fight to win the poverty and the misery, which are also a threat for the peace.”
5th Day: Berat – Elbasan – Ohrid
After the breakfast, departure to Macedonia. During the trip we make a break in Elbasan to visit the ruins of the castle in the town. We advice to drink one coffee inside the castle. After the break we proceed to the Albanian-Macedonian border
To arrive in the afternoon in the cave church of Kalishta that is going to be visited and then to Struga. Dinner and overnight in a hotel on the lake of Ohrid.
6th Day: Ohrid
In the morning visit on foot (around 3 hours) of the historic centre of Ohrid. You can admire the Church of the Mother of God, the Gallery of the Icons, the antique theatre, the fortress, the church of Saint Clemente and Saint Giovanni. We have few hours at disposal before departure in direction to the lake where we are going to visit the Monastery of Saint Naum. If somebody wants there is a possibility to make a short cruise on the river Black Drim. Dinner and overnight in Ohrid.
7th Day: Mavrovo - Skopje
In the morning departure to Mavrovo,coasting the lake created by the river Drim. Visit to the biggest monastery in Macedonia, the Bigorski. Arrival in Skopje in the afternoon and visit on foot of the city, of the antique bazaar of Skopje, of the fortress, of the church Saint Spas. The visit on foot continues in the city where we enter in the Memorial House of Mother Theresa. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
8th Day: Return
After the breakfast return to Italy.