Page 82 - Vas DMC Europe & Balkan Catalogue

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B015

Balkan Passions in 7 countries

offering photo opportunities of the natural the Albanian Nobel who, after serving Day 12:
landscape, unique village settings, and the Ottoman Empire as governor, led a Budva – Dubrovnik
fortresses rebellion against it in 1443. You also tour After breakfast at the hotel, depart for
Continue driving to Porto Palermo, where ethnographic museum offering unique Dubrovnik (2.5 hrs.-border procedures
you will visit the Castel of Ali Pasha perspective of the cultural life of northern included). Upon our arrival to Dubrovnik,
Tepelena. By the middle of the 17th Albania. Enjoy cobble stone pathway to start touring Dubrovnik, the pearl of
century, the Ottoman Empire system of the ottoman bazaar, with wooden shops Adriatic. Take a walking tour through
administration of provinces changed into and displays of different gifts and antique the white limestone streets, baroque
the near-autonomous governance of household goods. After lunch, drive buildings and ancient city walls that
local rulers who were known as pashas. back to Tirana. Visit highlights of Tirana, protected the Republic of Ragusa for
At the end of the 18th century the sultan Scanderbeg Square & Statue; Et’hem Bey centuries. A wealthy maritime power that
appointed a certain Ali from Tepelena as Mosque; Clock Tower; Italian buildings rivaled Venice, it was self-governing until
the governor of the most of the Epirus /of and Martyrs’ of the Nation Boulevard. conquered by Napoleon in 1808. Have
the present day southern Albania/ and the Visit the ex-communist buildings, painted lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy some
large part of the Greek mainland, with his with vibrant colors and the expansion free time to explore or hunt for souvenirs
court at Ioannina Lunch on the way, and of city. Optional Tour National Historic in the many fine shops. Have dinner and
continue driving to Vlora for dinner and Museum. overnight at the hotel
overnight
Day 11: Day 13:
Day 09: Tirana – Budva – Kotor – Budva Dubrovnik – Mostar – Sarajevo
Vlora – Berat – Tirana After breakfast, depart for Budva in Set out on three hours’ drive to the
Travel to Berat. Upon your arrival, start Montenegro, with stop en route to historic town of Mostar. Have lunch at
touring this wonderful Medieval Town Shkodra for refreshments. Continue to a local restaurant and then start the
listed in UNESCO Heritage Site, with a Kotor, after border procedures. Head to walking tour of Mostar Old Town. It was
unique style of architecture, known as the Kotor, located along one of the world’s conquered by the Ottoman Empire in
“city of thousand windows”. Visit fortress most beautiful bays. A city of traders and the 15th century. In 1565, Suleiman the
of Berat and “Onufri” Iconographic famous sailors, Kotor is a walled medieval Magnificent had the Stari Most Bridge
Museum city of twisting, pink-paved streets and build by Sinan, one of the great pieces
After lunch, continue driving to Tirana for eclectic markets. Built between the 12th of Ottoman architecture. In the 1990s
dinner and overnight in Tirana (2night) and 14th centuries, the architecture civil war most of the historic town and
reflects Byzantine and Venetian the old bridge were destroyed. The Old
Day 10: influences. Proceed through the narrow Bridge was recently rebuilt and many
Tirana – Kruja – Tirana streets to St. Triphon's piazza to visit the of the edifices in the Old Town have
Depart after breakfast to Kruja, for 1-hour cathedral of St. Triphon. been restored or rebuilt with the help of
drive to Kruja to visit the Fortress. Within Free time in the old town and drive to UNESCO. Continue driving for 2.5 hrs.,
the walls of the castle, you will find historic Budva (40 min). Dinner and overnight in spanning the deep valley of the Neretva
museum dedicated to Scanderbeg, Budva River, towards Sarajevo for dinner and

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