Home / Europe, Albania Tours / Culture & Historical
1 day(s)
Regular
2-30 people
easy
Depart from Durres at 9:00 a.m. The drive to Lezha takes approximately one hour. The city of Lezha dates back to at least the 8th century. We will start by visiting the Lezha Castle, which bears traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman architecture. From the top of the castle, you will enjoy a beautiful 360-degree view of Lezha, the Adriatic Sea, and the mountain. After we continue to visit the memorial tomb of Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero (it is one of the most touristy landmarks in the town of Lezha), it was inaugurated in 1981 over the ruins of a Saint Nicholas cathedral. We suggest having an optional lunch at an agro-tourism family restaurant between Shkodra and Lezha. We will taste some delicacies of this region, such as pickles, local cheeses, bio-olive oil, several kinds of bread, etc., in their rustic form. The main specialty of the restaurant is goat meat done in a very traditional way. We return to Durres.
Duration
1 day(s)
Max Group Size
2-30 people
Tour Code
Lezhatour
Departure Type
guaranteed
Tour Category
Culture & Historical
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Operated In
Age Requirement
0 - 0
Durrës
09:00
Durrës
17:00
The city of Skanderbeg league
The city of Lezha is located 47 kilometers south of Shkodra. It is one of Albania’s ancient cities, and in historical documents, it is mostly referred to by the name Lissus.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 “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 memorial tomb of National Hero Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg is one of the most popular tourist landmarks in the town of Lezha. It was inaugurated in 1981 over the ruins of a Saint Nicholas cathedral. It is supposed to be the place where our national hero has been buried since 1468. In the walls of the memorial tomb, there are exposed 25 shields, which symbolize the main battles led by Scanderbeg. There is also a copy of his sword and helmet.
Lezha Castle is perched on top of a hill 186 meters high, overlooking the town. Because of its strategic location, the visitor can see the outlet of the Drin River, the Adriatic Coast, and even Mount Tomorr and Sazan Island in the south. The castle dates since the Illyrian times but it has been reconstructed by Venetians in the year 1440. After that, the Ottomans did another reconstruction in the year 1552. The visitor can see ruins from the Illyrian, Roman, Venetian, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods.
Mrizi i Zanave is set in the village of Fishte, in the region of Zadrima, a location that gave birth to Albania’s national poet, Gjergj Fishta. Mrizi i Zanave is the most famous restaurant in Albania and one of the best. Its cuisine is part of the slow food mentality. They have reinvented Albanian traditional cuisine and taken it to the next level. Everything that we consume there is created on their farm and in the Fishta Village. Delicious, fresh, and great hospitality.
Entrance Fees