Boasting 2,400 years of history and home to the final resting place of Albania’s national hero Skanderbeg, the northern Albanian ancient town of Lezha is becoming among the top destinations along Albania’s Adriatic coast. Recent improvements to tourism infrastructure and the construction of Highway of Nation linking Albania to Kosovo in the shorter way have made Lezha the closest and a favourite destination for tourists in neighbouring Kosovo with travel time from Kosovo’s capital to Lezha estimated at two and a half hours.
Lezha boasts 2,400 years of history which includes a castle dating back to the 4th century BC, and the ruins of the Shen Koll church where national hero Skanderbeg was buried in 1468. The Skanderbeg Memorial was built in 1981 to commemorate the national hero and the League of Lezha in 1444 when Albanian princes were united under Skenderbeg’s lead in the fight against the Ottoman rule. Lezha also boast the beautiful Shengjin beach and is home to one of Albania’s greatest Renaissance poets, father Gjergj Fishta.
More than 25,000 people, a considerable number of whom foreigners visit the Skanderbeg Memorial and Lezha castle each year, according to the National Tourism Agency.
The Rana e Hedhun, the Mouth of River Drin and Vain Lagoon are some of the destinations which cannot be missed when visiting the Shengjin beach.
Last year, the Shengjin commune inaugurated a coastal lighted promenade named Wilson after the the US president who played a critical role in securing Albania’s sovereignty during the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. Under a decision of the Noli government, Shengjin used to be known as Wilson in honor of the US president from 1924 until 1939.
Situated in northwestern Albania, Lezha was founded around 385 BC as a Greek colony by Dionysius I of Syracuse by the name of Lissos, an adaptation of the old Illyrian name of Lisi.
The geographical position of the city and its surroundings including the Shengjin Port dictated its importance as a commercial and political center of the region in the Illyrian-Albanian history.
Of special interest is the Medieval Castle, imposing on the hill above town. Current archaeological excavations around the castle and inside the Illyrian walls add new value to these monuments each year. The Franciscan Convent, founded by Saint Francis of Assisi himself in 1220 represents another point of interest in town that is both cultural and educational. The River Drin flows through town and runs into the sea, a mere 3 kilometers downstream. Lezha’s Mediterranean climate makes the region known for its agricultural products, especially vegetables. Certain products such as Kallmet wine, Lezha raki and the Zadrima turkey are all well known both nationally and abroad.
Close to the town, is the attractive coastal national park of Kuna and Vain, which has a surface area of 1800 ha. The park is well known in the Mediterranean for its rich flora and fauna. It is a good place to take a walk, enjoy the fresh air, watch many species of birds or engage in hunting or fishing.
Lezha, (ancient Lissus) is proud to trace its origins to the same period as the ancient Albanian cities of Durres, Apollonia, Shkodra, Berati, Butrinti. These cities together make up the cradle of the civilization of ancient Albania.
Sh쯧jini beach
Sh쯧jini beach is a sandy beach in Lezha district, situated 8 km away from the city of Lezha. Sh쯧jini beach is well known for its high quality of sand and has 200-300 sunny days per year. In the north of Sh쯧jini, before the Renci Hills, is the wonderful beach of Rana e Hedhun (Powdered Sand), which is well protected from the winds of this area. Lezha seaside has a wonderful natural ecosystem, ideal for the development of ecotourism, bird watching, etc. Because of the winds in this area, Drini River delta is recommended for surfing. The lagoon system of Kune-Vain is found at this delta, where tourists can easily observe a large number of sea birds. There are two lagoons comprising this system: Ceka, with an area of 235 ha, and Merxhani, with an area of 77 ha. The biggest surprise for tourists in this area is the sandy island of Kune, situated at the right side of the Drini River delta. This island is covered with hygrophilous vegetation and more than 227 kinds of plants, including wildly growing green Mediterranean bushes and willows. Regarding the fauna, there are a number of birds on the island, including wild ducks, pheasants, big redheaded ducks, and many more. From 353 species of birds found in Albania, 70 can be found in this area with many mammals and amphibians. In the south of Kune are additional beaches in the less-populated area of Tale.
The Memorial of Skanderbeg
The Memorial of Skanderbeg was inaugurated in 1981 in honor of Albania’s national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti. It was built at his burial place, over the ruins of the Church of St. Nicholas in the town of Lezha. After the Ottomans invaded Lezha, they destroyed the church and the tomb of Skanderbeg. The church was later reconstructed in the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the memorial, there are displayed a copy of Skanderbeg’s sword and helmet, along with emblems of the Albanian feudal families during the period.
In the district of Lezha there are several old churches in the villages of Balldren, Blinisht, Kallmet etc. (lezha.gov.al, albaniantourism.com, itravelalbania.com)
