Shkodra

Shkodra, one of the oldest cities in Europe, is the traditional centre of the Gheg cultural region. In 500 BC an Illyrian fortress was already guarding the crossing west of the city where the Buna and Drin rivers meet. The road to Kosovo also begins here. Shkodra's skyline is dominated by the very impressive Sheik Zamil Abdullah Al-Zamil Mosque, which is located next to the Muzeo Popullor which features exhibits of paintings and historic photos. There is also a pretty good archaeological collection. A visit should also be made to the Catholic Franciscan Church on Rruga Ndre Mjeda. Rozafa Fortress, Located near the southern end of Lake Shkodra, is also worth a visit. Legend has it that a woman named Rozafa was walled in here, and she asked that two holes be left in the wall so she could still feed her baby. Nursing mothers come here today to smear their breasts with the milky water for good luck. Below the fortress is the many-domed Leaden Mosque, the only mosque in town to escape destruction during the 1966 Cultural Revolution. Shkodra is accessible by frequent buses and trains from Tirana, about 50 miles to the south, and infrequent buses from Durrës.