Albania by Gloyer Gillian;

Author:Gloyer, Gillian;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Ltd
Published: 2022-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

This eerie place, in its bleak setting amid bare, harsh mountains, is a depressing but fascinating place to visit. Information panels in English have been installed around the site and work has begun to stabilise the buildings so that the the prison camp can be transformed into a museum, along the lines of Robben Island in South Africa. A Turkish mining company has built new installations, on the hillside directly opposite the historic site, and is using the same mineshafts that were once worked by the political prisoners. The mining company has also upgraded the road up to Spaçi from the highway. The 17km from Repsi are on an unasphalted but well-maintained road, signposted at every junction. There is no public transport beyond Repsi.

Caves and kulla The easiest of Mirdita’s caves to visit is the Vali’s Cave (Shpella e Valit), near the district boundary with Mati. (A vali was a provincial governor in the Ottoman administration.) The cave is 3–4km from the road and has stalagmites and stalactites. To its south, in Mati, is a cluster of three further caves. One of the longest of these is blocked with earth and it is thought that it may be connected with the Vali’s Cave. The Marub Hotel near Rubiku (Click here) and Vila Bruçi in Burreli (Click here) can organise excursions to these caves.

There are also caves in the commune of Fani, in the far northeast of Mirdita. Fani is the most traditional part of Mirdita, due to being completely surrounded by high mountains (nearly 2,000m above sea level). Until a few years ago, it was almost impossible to get to. Now, though, the main village, Klosi is right next to the new highway and slip roads have been built along it to provide access for the villagers. These include exits on either side at the entrance to the Kalimashi Tunnel, which is 5.6km long and cuts through the mountains to Kukësi district. Fani has 17 villages, many in spectacular settings, with traditional fortified houses (kulla) still occupied. One that can be reached in an ordinary car is Petoqi, 800m above sea level. The village of Domgjoni is less accessible, but has a 4th-century aqueduct system, a very unusual structure that provided water to the ancient settlement of Sukbukëra.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.