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Accursed Mountains

Mountains cover about 70% of Albania’s surface area, with its borders contain around 3,445 named peaks, owing to its location amid several Balkan mountain ranges.

The tallest and most prominent of its mountains is Mount Korab, at 2,764m above sea level.

In the Northern Mountain Range are the Albanian Alps, an extension of the Dinaric Alps, within which Jezerca, the second highest peak in Albania.

The Southern Mountain Range, which Cika is the highest peak, beholds a dramatic and diverse landscape of gorges, hills, beaches, canyons, and passes, including the massive Llogara Pass.

………

Elusive and formidable, mountains of Albania have forever intrigued.

The mysterious mountains in Albania is a place known for its myths and legends. Strange tales are told of this place and has been named the Accursed Mountains.

Albania is a true adventure. With a fierce, rugged mountain range and one of the most spectacular rock formations in Europe.

But it’s a place with a warm heart, where hospitality, pride and tradition are intertwined, and a friendly smile is always a glance away.

http://gaialbania.al/tour/north-tour/

Photos and adventures credits:

Ervin Xhakolli aka Xhako Mountain

@mountainsalbania

#mountains #albania #mountainsalbania #internationalmountainday #11december

#women #move #mountains

#MountainsMatter #gaia #gaialbania #hiking #tour

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The city that rose from love and was destroyed by hatred!

How many cities can you name, which are built in the name of love?

Antigonea, the city that rose from love and was destroyed by hatred.

Antigonea was founded around 295 BC by King Pyrrhus (319-272 BC), king of the Molossians. The Molossians were one of the three tribes of Epirus, the ancient region comprising modern-day Albania and northern Greece.

The city was named after his wife Antigone, the stepdaughter of King Ptolemy of Egypt, a former general of Alexander the Great.

Antigonea was situated atop the hill of Jerma in the center of the Drinos Valley. It was also located along the highly important Via Egnatia road which stretched all across the Balkans into Thrace.

Antigonea, therefore, was directly connected to cities such as Dyrrachium (Durrës), Heraclea Lyncestis (Bitola, North Macedonia) and Thessaloniki.

While a settlement had existed here since the Hellenistic era, a new city was founded at this spot by Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD) who named it after himself. It’s just one of several cities throughout the former Roman Empire to bear the same name, Hadrianopolis, located about 13 km southeast of Gjirokastër.

Gjirokastër is undoubtedly one of Albania’s most endearing historical towns. But not many visitors realize that there were once large cities on the valley floor that thrived throughout the Hellenistic and Roman eras. While little of Antigonea or Hadrianopolis remain, those who put forth the effort will be rewarded with both stunning scenery and a true off-the-beaten-path experience.

Antigonea and Hadrianopolis are part of Illyricum Trail, a journey through the beginnings of the time 👉 info@gaialbania.al

#illyrian, #roman, #illyricumtrail, #albania, #antigone, #hadrianopolis, #gjirokaster, #history, #tour, #ac, #empire, #travelling, #lostplaces, #lostcivilization, #gaia, #gaialbania,

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Pelasgian Dodona and the Oracle of Zeus-Sun

The three great sources of knowledge respecting the shrouded part of humanity are the language, the mythology, and the ancient monuments of a country.

The Tomorri’s mountain deals with the mythology, strange and mystical superstitions, brought thousands of years ago.

The ancient legends led us to believe there was once a period when under the biggest oak in Pelasgian Dodona was built the Oracle of Zeus-Sun and that the whole human family, with one creed and one language, was created here.
It was said that the Oracle (fortune telling) came out from an oak in the shape of a dove and was written on a lead sheet.

It is also believed that an Apple Tree with the magic Fruit of Life, is found inside the Kapinova Cave, near the village Lybeshe and perhaps it is a coincidence that near this cave, there is the Source of Vitalem which in Albanian means the life-giving source.

A lot of Ciclopiche Stones were found at the northside of Tomorri with a lot of symbols engraved on them, from the Tree of Life to the Eden’s snake and the Sun.

All these almost accidental findings should be analyzed by experts, but in Tomorri Mountain, the Mountain of the Gods, the Olympus of the Albanians, stones and trees have started to speak.

– Distance: 2416 meters
– Duration: about 7-8 hours
– Level Difference: 1500 meters
– Getting around: combined (on foot and other means of transportation)
– Level of difficulty: moderate

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In the land of the Pomegranates

Pomegranate is deeply rooted in the Albanian culture since the wild pomegranate was domesticated during the Bronze Age, from third to second millennium B.C.
In the local language the fruit is called “Shege” as it is called another of our partner @agroturizem_shega located in the village of Murriqan, administrative unit of Ana e Malit of Shkodra city.

Ana e Malit is a subdivision of the Municipality of Shkodra with a population of just over 3,500 people. Divided into ten smaller settlements, it comprises mainly small holdings, each blessed with a few acres of land and very fertile land on which to grow a variety of goods.

The early study of the population of the territory of the municipality of Ana e Malit has a special significance for a series of demographic processes. Vestiges testify for the population of the region since late antiquity.

“Tell them that you weren’t hungry, tell them you followed the pomegranates seeds because they tasted like blood, like love.” ― Pauline Albanese, The Closed Doors

Take action: Turn to #sustainable#tourism to empower #locals and #protect the #environment

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How long can an action, production or a system that relies on certain resources (human, economic or natural) last?

It will last for as long as it is designed to and for as long as it is able to replenish the resources it uses.That’s the magic in a seasonal meals preparation. Like it is the “the laknor with walnuts”.

The laknor with walnuts is a typical phyllo sweet of the region of Pukë and it has been prepared historically for the Buzmi celebrations during Christmas. Marie, the lady behind Agrotourism Devin said that, “rich or poor, no matter their wealth, the Buzmi laknor would be present in all households”. Buzmi is a pre-Christian, pagan celebration announcing the winter solstice and the laknor with walnuts is an important part of the ritual festivities, and as such it can be presented with the full historical background of the dish as a worthy representative of the ancient culture of the region of Pukë.


It’s more than a slow food, it’s the love for the food.

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Travelers can make a difference in places that were already struggling economically before the pandemic.

One of this places is the Village of Qerret in Puka/Albania where one of our partners, @agroturizem_devin , is located.
The Village of Qerret is 131 km far from Tirana and 7,5 km from Puka.
Local stories tell the village of Qerret took its name from an area with bushes called Qarr, thus making the connection Qarr-Qerret.

There are famous caves nearby, mountain peaks and paths, crown of forests, lakes, a lot of history and genuine food.

“We need to diversify our locations to avoid mass tourism and focus on the places that can offer a really unusual experience.”
Take action: Turn to #sustainable#tourism to empower #locals and #protect the #environment.

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What makes food sustainable?

Sustainable food doesn’t actually have an official definition. However, in the 1990 Farm Bill, the term “sustainable agriculture” is defined as “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices that will, over the long term do the following: satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base, make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources, sustain the economic viability of farm operations and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

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