AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY TOUR

 ALBANIA - 13 days

Day 1:TIRANA

Arrival at the “Mother Teresa” Rinas Airport and transfer to the centrally located Hotel Rogner Europapark .Dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 2: TIRANA - Touring begins with visits to Albania’s two major archaeological collections at the Archaeological Museum and the National History Museum.We then continue to Durres, the ancient Greco-Roman port city of Dyrrachium, to visit the town, including the Byzantine city walls, Roman amphitheater and the new Archaeological Museum. At Arapaj we will see the foundations of one of the largest early Christian churches in the Balkans and at the foot of the cliffs of Petra, we will find a section of the Via Egnatia as well as the remains of Pompey’s camp. We return  to Tirana for dinner at one of the city’s popular restaurants.                              (B/L/D)

Day 3: TIRANA - Leaving Tirana again, we drive north, stopping first to visit Zgerdhesh, a lovely Illyrian town whose impressive walls, towers, gates and acropolis are spread across a hillside. After drive to Kruja, a medieval town built around Skanderbeg’s great castle, the site of several battles against the Turks. We will visit its small museum and stroll through the beautifully restored bazaar before continuing to Lezha, an Illyrian settlement that flourished in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. After climbing up to the acropolis to see the remains of the ancient site, we visit the Byzantine church of St. Nicolas(Shen Kolli) and the adjacent Illyrian gatehouse and walls. Return to Tirana.   (B/L)

Day 4: POGRADEC : Following the Roman Via Egnatia to the east, we visit Mutatio ad Quintum near Bradasheshi, a Roman way station complete with baths and nymphaeum. We stop briefly at Elbasan (ancient Skampa) to see its fine Ottoman walls and continue to Selca, an Illyrian town known for its rock-cut tombs and fabulous views. Lastly, we arrive at Lake Ohrid and visit the tiny stone village of Lin,where wonderful mosaics have been found in an early Christian church on the acropolis. Hotel Enkelana.(B/L/D)
Day 5 & 6: KORCA : During our two-days stay here we will visit the Archaeological Museum housed in a lovely wooden Ottoman house, the Museum of Medieval Art, where we will see paintings and icons by famous local artists, the architecturally important 15th- century Xhamija e Mirahorit mosque and the Old Bazaar and the Han of Elbasan. Traveling out of Korca to Mborja, we visit the Church of Christ’s Ascension(Kisha e Ristozit), with its outstanding frescoes and drive into the pine-forested mountains to the little rural settlement of Voskopoja. Seeing it today, it is hard to imagine that it was once the second largest city after Constantinople in Turkish Europe. We will visit several of the most interesting and accessible of its churches, including Shenkolle, notable for its frescoes by the famous painter David Selenica. (B/L/D)

Day 7: GJIROKASTRA : A spectacular drive takes us through the awesome Gramoz mountains, whose snowcapped peaks divide Albania from Greece. We will visit the 10th-century church in Labova, reached by a rough mountain track.Hotel  Park of Palms. (B/L/D) 

Day 8: SARANDA : Situated  on a mountain saddle above the Drinos valley, the site of ancient Antigonea is reached after a hike across pastures studded with ancient masonry. Founded by Pyrrhos of Epiros on the site of an Illyrian settlement, the remains of the Hellenistic city have only been partially excavated, leaving much to our imagination. After a full morning in this idyllic setting and with a stroll alo.ng the streets of the lovely old Ottoman town of Gjirokastra, we depart for Saranda. We will stop shortly at the Sofratika Theatre. Hotel Butrinti. (B/L)

Day 9: SARANDA : We will then travel down the coast to spend the morning at Butrint, perhaps the most romantic archaeological site in Albania. As we stroll through wooded glades, along wonderful polygonal walls concealed by rambling vines and past exuberant frogs frolicking in the water-logged orchestra of the Roman theater, it will be very easy to imagine life here on this sparkling blue lake with wonderful vistas beyond the gates of the fortifications. We return to Saranda and drive and stop at the unusual Church of St.Nicholas at Mesopotam, with its fine carvings of mythological beasts and explore the Greek settlement of Phoinike. (B/L/D)
Day 10: VLORA : A spectacular drive up the coast with vistas of the Bay of Porto Palermo and via Orik (classical Oricum).From the mountain road we look down on dozens of concrete bunkers now painted in vibrant colors peppering the pristine white beaches. We climb the Cika mountains via Llogara Pass and driving through Vlora up to Amantia. We find the remains of an Illyrian settlement and evidence of rebuilding in the time of Justinian and Byzantine.Hotel New York.                                      (B/L)

Day 11: BERAT :After breakfast we will make an excursion to Byllis, originally built as an Illyrian stronghold, but later described by Pliny in the 1st century as a colonia. It remained an important center of trade throughout the Classical period and became a bishopric in 431.The joy of discovery will be ours as we climb over this remarkable, untouched site. Continuing through Fier to the ancient Greek settlement of Apollonia, famed in antiquity as the model for Aristotle’s description of oligarchy.Nevertheless, we shall enjoy visiting the remains of its multilayred history.Hotel Tomorri.(B/L/D)
Day 12: TIRANA : This morning we will tour the Old Town, including the lovely painted Mosque of the Bachelors, the Leaded Mosque and the Tekke of the Helvetis, with its beautiful portico and carved ceilings, as well as the historic houses and the Citadel. Our last stop will be the Onuphre Icon Museum, which contains some of the finest examples of his work as well as other outstanding Albanian artists. We will return to Tirana, with time to stroll in town before our farewell dinner at a fine international restaurant.  (B/D)
Day 13: After a morning at leisure we board our back flight.