Origin of the Albanians
- The origin of the Albanians has been for some time a matter of dispute among historians. Contemporary historians conclude that the Albanians are not descendants of a single ancient population and apart from a possible connection with prehistoric Balkan populations, such as the Illyrians, Dacians or Thracians, there is an additional admixture of Slavic, Greek, Vlach, Roman, Celtic and Germanic element. Little is known about the ancient Balkan people, and they blended into one another in Thraco-Illyrian and Daco-Thracian contact zones even in antiquity.
The Albanians first appear in the historical record in Byzantine sources of the 11th century. At this point, they were already fully Christianized. Very little evidence of pre-Christian Albanian culture survives, although Albanian mythology and folklore are of Paleo-Balkanic origin and almost all of their elements are pagan, in particular showing Greek influence.
The Albanian language forms a separate branch of Indo-European, first attested in the 15th century, and is considered to have evolved from one of the Paleo-Balkans languages of antiquity.
Studies in genetic anthropology show that the Albanians share similar ancestry to many other Europeans and especially other peoples of the Balkans. The Albanians are also one of Europe's populations that has most common ancestors within their own ethnic group even though they share ancestors with other ethnic groups. DAY 1 - Arrival
Meet at Tirane International Airport and depart for Durres for the overnight stay.
DAY 2 - Lezhe and Shkoder
Leave for Lezhe and visit of the site, Skanderbeg’s Memorial and the Citadel (German Albanian Excavations). Continue trip to Shkoder and visit of Rozafa Castle, Mes bridge (Ottoman bridge from the 18th century) and the Historical Museum. After lunch, travel back to Durres for the overnight stay.
DAY 3 - Durres and Kruje
After breakfast, a walking tour around Durres and visit of the old city walls, the archaeologic museum, the forum, and the amphitheater. Leave for Kruje. Visit the castle of Kruje, the museum of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, the ethnographic museum and the old bazaar. After lunch, travel back to Durres for the overnight stay.
DAY 4 - Apollonia
Leave for Apollonia. Walking tour through the site and visit of the stoa, the Odeon, and the monastery (museum of Apollonia) at Apollonia. Coach to Fier for the overnight stay.
DAY 5 - Berat and Byllis
Drive to Berat and visit of the citadel of Berat, Onufri’s Museum, Saint Vlacherna, Saint Todri, and Holy Trinity churches King’s Mosque, Han, tekke, Bachelor’s Mosque, and the ethnographic museum). Coach to Byllis. Visit of Byllis ancient city and the theater. Travel to Vlore for the overnight stay.
DAY 6 - Kanine and Ali Pasha's fortress
Visit the castle of Kanine. Continue trip to Sarande, with a quick visit stop at Muradie mosque and Independence Monument at the center of the city, Ali Pasha’s fortress in Porto Palermo and a coffee break at Borsh, Himare. Walking tour on foot of Sarande (the walls and the ancient synagogue). Overnight at Sarande.
DAY 7 - Butrint, Blue Eye Spring and Gjirokaster
Travel to Butrint and visit the site. Depart to Gjirokaster, with a quick stop at Syri I Kalter (Blue Eye Spring) and St. Nicholas Monastery Church in Mesopotam. Arrival in Gjirokaster and visit of the castle, Zekate house, and the old bazaar. Overnight in Gjirokaster.
DAY 8 - Kamenice
Leave for Korçe. Coach to Kamenice and visit of the tumulus and museum of Kamenice. Check-in at the hotel and overnight in Korçe.
DAY 9 - Korce and Voskopoje
Walk to Korçe’s Archaeological Museum and Mediaeval Art Museum. Coach to Voskopoje, visit the medieval churches. Coach back to the hotel in Korçe. Overnight at Korçe.
DAY 10 - Lower Selce and Elbasan
Leave for Selce e Poshtme and visit the site. Continue to Elbasan; walk around Elbasan and visit the ethnographic museum, Elbasan’s old city walls, paleochristian basilica, King’s mosque, hammam, and Via Egnatia. Continue to Tirane for the overnight stay.
DAY 11 - Departure
Walking tour of Ottoman house in Rruga Murat Toptani, Parliament building, Tanner’s bridge, the tomb of Kaplan Pasha, Mosque of Ethem Bey and the Clock Tower. Visit the archaeological museum. Depart for Tirana International Airport.
FULL DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
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