| Croia Kruja | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Albania | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Northeastern Albania | |
| Altitude | 600 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 372 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 13.113 (2011 estimate) | |
| Prefix tel | 355 511 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 1501 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Croia (Krujë or Kruja) is a city ofAlbania.
To know
Croia was the de facto capital of medieval Albania. Seat of the Kastrioti family and city that gave birth to the Albanian national hero, Giorgio Castriota known as Skanderbeg.
Given its position on the side of a mountain, it was in fact possible to communicate with the nearby castles.
Croia was the scene of several sieges by the Ottomans, who fought against the League of Lezhë, an alliance of all the Albanian princes of the time, led by Skanderbeg.
Ten years after the death of the national hero, the Turks managed to conquer first Croia, destroying the fortress which they rebuilt, however losing its importance, then all of Albania.
In 1920, the city consisted of only the castle and some outer streets. After the Second World War, a massive building work began which continues today.
Geographical notes
Croia is located on the side of the mountain of the same name.
When to go
Croia being a historical city can be visited all year round. In winter there can be occasional snowfalls in the city and abundant in the mountains. Tourists usually prefer summer as the season to visit Croatia.
How to orient yourself
Croatia: full screen map.All means of mass transport stop in the town hall area, where there is a small square with a fountain. From there it is possible to take the pedestrian street that leads to the citadel and the castle.
How to get
By plane
Tirana airport is 15 minutes from Croatia in fact the city is visible from the airport and vice versa.
By car
It can be reached via the SH38 after crossing a very winding road surrounded by pine trees. In this section there is a Bektashi shrine (an Islamic order followed in the Balkans).
The nearest port is that of Durres about 50 minutes away.
On the train
There is no station in Croia, the closest station is that of Vorë about 25 minutes from Croia, however it is not recommended to use the railway as it is very inconvenient as a means of transport.
By bus
There are no real public buses that arrive in Croia. The only regular line is the one that comes and goes to Fushe Krujë (the downstream city that you pass before going up to Croia), the ticket costs 30 lekë, however there are numerous buses and cars that come and go from the main Albanian cities ( mainly Tirana and Durres) The couriers do not have precise timetables, they leave when they are full. From Tirana, the "hub" from which they depart is between the "Zogu i Zi" and "Don Bosko" areas in one of the first perpendicular streets on the right starting from the roundabout of Zogu i Zi and proceeding along Asim Vokshi street. The place is very hidden as most of these are illegal.The cost of a Tirana-Croatia route (and vice versa) is 150 lekë (obviously being abusive it is not a fixed price).
How to get around
Croia is a small town and can be easily explored on foot.
By car
Once in Croia there are two main directions: the road to the castle and the road to the mountain. For the castle there are two roads, a pedestrian one, which passes through the historic center and the bazaar, and a paved road for cars.
What see
- Old Bazaar. It is both an attraction and the best place to shop. Here you will find a lot of cute little objects, often handcrafted, which are well suited to become souvenirs of your visit to the city.
- Croia Castle. Croia Castle was built in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. on the remains of a previous Illyrian settlement of the third century BC.
Thanks to successive expansions, at the end of the 12th century the castle reached its complete form and became a center of the Byzantine garrisons.Thanks to the long impregnability of the castle, a stronghold of the Scanderbeg domains and of the resistance against the Ottoman Turks, it became one of the most notes in medieval Europe. On 15 October 1478, only thanks to a negotiation did the Turks manage to enter the castle of Croia. Once inside, breaking the pacts, as their custom, all the people found inside the castle were put to the sword.
- Skanderbeg Museum (inside the castle). In the magnificent castle of General Skanderbeg there are a series of not only historical but above all artistic testimonies, the work of renowned Albanian artists.
- Ethnographic Museum. Located very close to the castle, in an Ottoman house, the museum has collected over time a whole series of furnishings, furniture and other artifacts that testify to the standard of life of local people and their traditions.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
The main shopping center of Croia is the old bazaar where you can buy various souvenirs and handicrafts made on site. There are several minimarkets where you can buy all the basic necessities.
How to have fun
Where to eat
There are several restaurants in the castle and old bazaar area and also several fast food outlets selling souvlaki (sufllaqë) or sandwiches made with a dough similar to that for pizza.
Where stay
There are several hotels in Croia and almost all of them are around 20-40 euros per night.
Safety
The police station and the fire brigade are located in via della Montagna (Rruga and Malit) which is, as easily understood, the road that leads to the mountain of Croia.
It is not uncommon to see policemen on duty around the center (city hall area).
The number to call the police is 129 or the single number 112.
