Top Things to do in Shkoder
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Shkoder, Albania
Discover the best top things to do in Shkoder, Albania including Rozafa Castle, Shkodra Lake, Marubi National Museum of Photography, Venice Art Mask Factory, St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral (Shkoder Cathedral), Site of Witness and Memory, Rruga Kole Idromeno (улица Коль Идромено), Mes Bridge, Ebu Bekr Mosque, Monument to Mother Teresa.
Restaurants in Shkoder
1. Rozafa Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 534 reviews
Reviewed By GoranWembley
Rozafa Castle is this big fort overlooking the rivers of Bojana and Drim, Lake Shkodra and the town of Shkodra. Beautiful views stretching from the Adriatic Sea into the Albanian Alps as well deep into the Montenegrin distant Mountains beyond the largest lake in Balkans.
2. Shkodra Lake
Overall Ratings
4 based on 186 reviews
Reviewed By Ciaran32 - St Helens, United Kingdom
My wife and I visited here on an excursion organised by GLOBTOURS, based in Budva, Montenegro. The scenery is simply stunning and easily rivals our own Lake District although on a smaller scale. It is extremely picturesque and a good spot for bird watchers. We thoroughly enjoyed this excursion even though it was quite a long trip from our base in Montenegro.
3. Marubi National Museum of Photography
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By 4oystercatcher - Washington state
Tucked away on the pedestrian mall is this architectural gem. Although the front desk man was grumpy and unhelpful the displays and collections were fascinating. It tells the history of photography but also the many changes in Albania. They are lucky to have this collection. Reasonable ticket price, allow an hour.
4. Venice Art Mask Factory
Overall Ratings
5 based on 78 reviews
Venice Art Showroom Exclusive production of baroque hand crafted luxury Venetian masks in paper mache and ceramic. Decorated with first choice materials like authentic plume feathers, gold and silver leaf, Swarovski crystals and pearls for Carnival, masquerade balls, masked events, theatre, weddings and home decoration.
Reviewed By ErmirNasi
Original venetian art and hand made product's. They represent a centuries-old tradition of Venice, Italy. Venetian masks are characterised by their ornate design,featuring bright colours such as gold or silver and the use of conolex decorations. Best place to visit in Shkodra Albania..Art in the perfect form..
5. St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral (Shkoder Cathedral)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 69 reviews
6. Site of Witness and Memory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Short historical background The “Site of Witness and Memory” is the first site of remembrance in Albania, which commemorates the victims of the communist regime in Shkodër. The building was first erected in the XIX century as a private property, then the Franciscan Fathers, in 1930, bought the property and opened here a College for training parish priests. In 1946 the building was confiscated by communists and transformed into Dega e Brendshme (Local branches of Ministry of Interior) and preserved this role till the 90’s. It was an institution where suspected were interrogated during pre-trial detention under severe torture and abuse.Starting from September 2014, the “prohibited” area has been opened to the public. The parcours, which starts with some general information about communism persecution in Shkodër, permanent exhibition of objects and documents of the time, ends in the original pre-trial holdings cells where prisoners were kept and tortured until their initial trial appearance. Our Mission is to create a collective memory of recent past, to educate the new generation who should become aware of the past mistakes and never repeat them again. Shkodër “the prison city” The entrance hall is dedicated to facts about communism in Shkodër, staggering numbers about the city persecution and a general map of all prisons in the city. There we count 23 of them, mostly family houses and religious institutions converted into places for terror and tortures.An important sector is the audio-visual room where you can watch some video materials of the time and a small library with prison literature, provided by the Institute of Communism Crimes and Consequences in Albania.The passage to the cells area runs through a newly-built gallery conceived as the prisoners walk to suffering and pain with elements symbolizing tortures. To the cells of terror The exhibition room offers a collection of objects used and manufactured in prison, manuscripts, letter-writing between prisoners and their families. This small collection has been donated by former political prisoners and their families. Of great interest is the glass panel which shows some documents of the time stating the force and brutality of the regime towards Shkodra people.This leads to the pre-trial holding cells, with a small opening for natural light, commonly called holes/biruca (because of their small dimension and few light).Space is divided into two floors, but political prisoners were kept on the ground floor, where we can count 23 of them. This instrument of repression and denial culminates in the tortures room where both physical and moral tortures were inflicted. This area has been kept original from 1946 and remains the most striking evidence of communism terror.
Reviewed By Theo C - Sydney, Australia
Chile's brutal history under the dictatorship of a military junta led by August Pinochet from 1973 to 1989 is described through photos, documents and firsthand accounts.
The museum's purpose is to prevent such events happening again and to honour the victims.
A good English audio guide was essential since very few exhibits have English labels.
This is not a comprehensive history by any means but it does cover the years of the dictatorship in reasonable detail (including the torture and murders of almost 40,000 people).
The coup d'etat took place on September 9, which adds a chilling link to the World Trade Centre attacks on the same day 27 years later.
Despite its grim subject matter this was an engaging and poignant place that was well worth the visit.
7. Rruga Kole Idromeno (улица Коль Идромено)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By Peter D - Belgium
Restaurants, bars, banks, shops and the very good museum of photography. Inevitably, you will walk through it a couple of times. Pedestrian and bicycle street.
8. Mes Bridge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By ermirk69 - Shkoder, Albania
A great place that will bring you back in time (bridge its 300 years old). The bridge its amazing espetialy when visitted in spring the river is full of deep blue water and the view its amazing. Its not far away from the city of Shkoder and the street its in good condition. They are not so much other to do in this place but since its not far away from the city its worth to visit.
9. Ebu Bekr Mosque
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Ciaran32 - St Helens, United Kingdom
I visited this Mosque in September 2017 with my wife. The building is beautiful and the surrounding " park " or grounds are perfectly manicured and serene in stark contrast to the streets nearby. On one side of the Mosque is the main street but on the other side is a very run down area with groups of men wandering in and out of various run-down establishments. We even came across a lone guy behind a bush with a handful of fake banknotes wafting them in the air as if looking to trade some in. As I took my camera out of its case he ran off. I felt quite safe in the grounds of this Mosque but not on the periphery.
10. Monument to Mother Teresa
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Pitbullsaver - Pittsburg, California
It is lovely to be walking down the street and happen upon a statue to Mother Teresa. Clean and well kept with many flowers placed in her honor!
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