Gjirokastra or so called “The town of one thousand steps” or “The stone town” is of particular interest for its native architecture. The dwelling houses have the form of medieval towers constituting a building ensemble with a characteristic architecture. The castle of the city stands like a balcony over the city. It enables the visitors to enjoy the very beautiful landscape. The National Museum of Weapons is housed in the interior of the castle.
Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana also Tirona in the local dialect) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. It was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha and became Albania's capital city in 1920.
Vlorë or Vlora is the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 (2009 estimate).
The modern name for the city is the Albanian form Vlorë or Vlora, pronounced [vɭoˈɾə]. Vlorë was created in antiquity as a Greek colony in the territory of Illyria. Its first name, still used today in Greece, is Aulón (Greek: Αυλών), which means valley and may have been a reinterpretation of a pre-Greek name.[2]. In early 20th century, Vlorë was referred to in English as Avlona or by the Italian name Valona. The Turkish name is Avlonya.
Shkodër (Albanian: Shkodër or Shkodra; see the etymology section for other names), is a city located on Lake Shkodër in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population as of 2004 is 90,000; if the surrounding region is included the population is 110,000. As of 2009 the current population is 228,000 including the surrounding region, villages and mountains.
The Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Ardenica or simply Ardenica Monastery (Albanian: Manastiri Lindja e Hyjlindëses Mari Greek: Ιερά Μονή Γεννήσεως Θεοτόκου Αρδευούσης) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, distant ten kilometers north of Fier, Albania, along the national road that links Fier to Lushnjë.
Built by Byzantine Emperor, Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1282 after the victory against the Angevins in the Siege of Berat, the monastery is famous as the place where, in 1451, was celebrated the marriage of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania, with Andronika Arianiti. In 1780 the Monastery started a theological school to prepare clerics in Greek Orthodoxy.
Durrës, historically also known as Durazzo and Dyrrachium, is the second largest city and a municipality of Albania. It is central on the coast, about 33 km (21 mi) west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari (300 km or 186 mi away) and Brindisi (200 km or 124 mi away). Durrës is home to Albania's main port, the Port of Durrës, and to the newest public university, the Aleksandër Moisiu University.
Korçë (Albanian: Korçë or Korça) is a major city in the Korçë District of south-eastern Albania, located at 40°37′N 20°46′E. It has a population of around 57,758 people (2008 estimate), making it the seventh largest city in Albania.
It stands on a plateau some 850 m (2,800 ft) above sea level, surrounded by the Morava Mountains. According to the Albanian census of 1989, Albanians comprise 97.8% of the population of the district, Macedonians 2%, and others, less than 0.2%.
Fieri (Albanian: Fier or Fieri) is a city in southwest Albania, in the district and county of the same name. It is located at 40°43′N 19°33′E, and has a population of 82,297 (2005). Fier is 8 km (5 mi) from the ruins of the ancient Corinthian city of Apollonia.
The history of Fier is bound up with that of the oil, gas and bitumen deposits nearby. It was founded by the Vrioni family, beys of Berat, as a market town in the 18th century.
Berat (also known in Albanian as Berati, Greek Bulcheriòpolis Πουλχεριοπολις, Antipàtrea-Αντιπατρια, Veràtion-Βερατιον) is a town located in south-central Albania. It has a population of around 45,500 people (2003 est). It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat. The old town was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2008.Berati është qytet në Shqipërinë jugore.
Pogradec is a city in southeastern Albania, situated on the shores of Ohrid lake. It is the capital of the District of Pogradec, in the County of Korçë, located at 40.87°N and 20.70°E with a population of around 30,000 (2005 est). The total area of the district is 725 km². Pogradec alone occupies about 15 km². This city is surrounded by hills on the southern and western side. The lake is in the eastern and northern side of the city. The highway linking to Tirana, Elbasan and Korçë passes through the city. It is located SE of Elbasan, SW of Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia, N of Korçë and NW of Florina in Greece . The name of the town comes from the South Slavic languages: Pogradec = Po(d) (under) and Gradec (little town) and means literally "Under the little town".
