Shkoder - Scutari

Shkodra (Shkodër or Shkodra) is a city ofNortheastern Albania capital of the district of the same name.

To know

Shkodra, also known as The cradle of Albanian culture it has always been an important place for the culture of the country. Among the other pseudonyms with which the city is known we remember: Florence gods Balkans.

Geographical notes

The city is located in the north ofAlbania, near the border with Montenegro and halfway between the beaches of the Adriatic Sea and the Albanian Alps.

Lake Shkoder is the largest in the Balkans. Rivers flow near Shkodra Drin, Buna is Kir. Shkodra is also surrounded by a group of mountains including: Cukal (1,722 meters), Maranaj (1,576 meters) and Tarabosh (593 meters).

When to go

Thanks to its geographical position (overlooking the lake), Shkodra has a prevailing temperate climate of the Mediterranean type. The district of Shkodra is characterized by hot and dry summers, mild and wet winters in the lower part and in the city, while wet and cold winters in the mountainous area. On average it has temperatures of 7 ° C in January and 24/25 ° C in July.

Background

Shkodra was founded around the 5th-4th century BC. The origin of its name could be Sco 'Drinon or «the place where the river Drin passes». From the archaeological excavations carried out at the Rozafa Castle, it can be deduced that the center was already inhabited since the Bronze Age. It was subsequently occupied by the Romans in 168 BC, by the Slavs in the year 1040, then by the Balshaj family of Norman origin and by the Venetians, and finally by the Ottomans in 1479 after a legendary resistance in the citadel, until the independence of the country.

How to orient yourself

Neighborhoods

The city is divided into several districts among which the most important are Hairdresser is Skenderbeg; the latter is the most important Catholic neighborhood and is also one of the largest in the city. In it is located the Catholic cemetery "Varrezat e Rrmajit" (once one of the most beautiful Catholic cemeteries of the Balkan peninsula) recovered, in recent years, from decay, it preserves several monumental tombs. The oldest districts of the city are "Gjuhadol", "Perash", "Zdrale", "Dugajt e Reja", "Dudas", "Ajasëm". More recent, however, are the districts of "Parrucë", "Xhabije", "Baçja e Çakejve", "Rus".

How to get

By car

The city is located near two border crossings with the Montenegro:

• Hani i Hotit, On the way to Podgorica it is only 36 km
• Muriqan, On the way to Ulcinj and the Adriatic Sea at 18 km.

By bus

• Suburban bus station. Buses or vans from Tirana to Shkodra depart every hour. The trip takes 2 hours, 116 km long and costs 500 leke.

For Shkodra there are also buses from Montenegro is Kosovo, the trip can cost from € 5 to € 15. 

How to get around

Shkodra is the first city in Albania for cycling.

What see

• 42.04633219.4931 ^{[link not working]}Rozafa Castle (Kalaja and Rozafës), Rruga Kalasë. 200 Lek. Founded by the Illyrians, rebuilt by the Venetians and Ottomans. Rozafa is a woman buried in the ramparts, which support the structure. The museum, renovated and located inside the castle, tells the story of the castle and the area of ​​the former city now eroded by the rivers that flow in the surroundings. The museum cost another 200 Lek but there is a private guide to ask specific questions. There are some wonderful views from the highest point.  
• 42.06919919.5092312 History Museum of Shkoder (Muzeu Historik i Shkodrës), Wrinkle Oso Kuka 32, ☎ 355 22 243213. 150 Lek. 09:00-14:00. The Museum is located in a traditional house Shkodran with precious artifacts in every sphere of social life in the area. 

• 42.11424519.5749983 Ponte di Mezzo (Ura and Mesit). Bridge built in the 18th century by Kara Mahmud Bushati, the local Ottoman pasha. Located just 8 km from Shkodra on the Kir River. In the past there have been three bridges on this river. "Ura and Shtrenjtë", "Ura and Kirit" and "Ura and Mesit", today only the latter survived which connects Scutari to Drivasto (Drisht) and the province of Cukal. It is one of a kind and represents a "monument of culture". The bridge has 13 arches and its length is 103 meters. 
• 42.125419.61194 Dhrsht Castle (Kalaja i Dhrsht). It is a ruined castle. The first traces of fortifications date back to the late Neolithic. The current walls and towers date back to 1396-1478 in the Venetian era. 
• 42.07137319.6523495 Island of Sarda (Ishulli i Shurdhahit). It is located in the Vau i Dejes Reservoir, which is fed and drained by the River Drin. It can be reached by tourist boat in summer from Vau i Dejes or Rragam. It contains the ruins of the medieval city of Sarda. You can visit the ruins of the medieval castle dating back to the 11th century, which includes two rings of defensive walls and towers (some unfortunately submerged in the lake), the remains of a Byzantine church and other medieval walls. The setting on the steep rocks rising from the lake is particularly impressive. 
• 42.06541419.5199836 St. Stephen's Cathedral the Protomartyr (Katedralja and Shen Shtjefnit Protomartir), Sheshi Papa Gjon Pali II. The history of the Cathedral has ancient origins. The Ottoman government did not hinder the construction of churches, for the needs of believers, because freedom of religion was always guaranteed starting with Sultan Mehmet II Fatih, the conqueror of Constantinople. On April 7, 1858, with an official ceremony, the cross was placed where today there is the great altar. Many personalities were present at the foundation ceremony including: Abdi Pashe Cekrezi, governor and commander of Shkodra, who for the occasion read the letter from the Sultan. For the construction of the cathedral, the Sultan had sent 700 gold Turkish liras as a gift, Pope Pius IX also donated 1000 gold scudi and in 1867 proclaimed it a metropolitan cathedral. [1] During the Siege of Scutari (1912-1913), the cathedral was severely damaged by bombing by the Montenegrin army. In 1967 it was closed to worship and transformed into a sports facility by the atheist regime, only to be reborn in the 1990s. In 1993 it was visited by Pope John Paul II.  

Events and parties

What to do

• 42.06846219.5155941 Street Kolë Idromeno (Rruga Kolë Idromeno), Rruga Kolë Idromeno (In the center of Shkoder). Take a walk on the main pedestrian street of the city, full of bars and clubs in the evening hours. 
• 42.05261719.4943782 Promenade pier (Shetitorja Molos), Shëtitorja and Molos (Along the bank of the Buna River). Totally romantic panorama on the river bank. 

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

Where stay

Safety

How to keep in touch

Around

• `42.05942619.4530961 Shiroke - Location on Lake Skadar easily accessible by taxi or public bus.

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Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Shkodra
• Commons contains images or other files on Shkodra

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