Elbasani
Located at the Shkumbini Ri-
ver, where it crosses the fa-
mous Egnatia Road, the city of
Elbasani – ancient Scampini –
is just 50 km away from Tirana.
In ancient times, Scampini
was a typical Roman fortifica-
tion, but in the 4th century it
received a new administrative
status and, with its new name
Hiscampis, it became one of
the major cities of the new
Epirus, home of the area’s only
Roman legion.
According to the historian Tit
Livi, King Pyrrhus of Epirus was
the first to teach others how to
put up a camp, which is why
the city’s fortification is in the
form of a square.
In the 6th century, the city
broadened beyond the walls
of the castle due to its needs
as center of the episcopate,
with several cathedrals and
a large basilica on the hill of
Tepe, near the castle.
In 1466, the Ottomans took
control of the castle of Skampini and reconstructed it al-
most entirely. They renamed
the city Elbasani and it be-
came center of the sanxhak
between the 17th and 18th
centuries. This was a time of
heavy trade, both in and out
of the country, which encour-
aged the significant develop-
ment of handicrafts. Today
tourists can visit the Church
of Saint Mary and the King
Mosque (inside the city walls).
The Mosque of Naziresha (a
very rare case because of its
feminine name), the Ethno-
graphic Museum etc.
In the district of Elbasani
there are also two very unique
churches painted by Onufri,
the famous albanian painter of
XVI century. You should travel
to the villages of Shelcani and
Valëshi, in the region of Shpa-
ti, to visit them.
On the other hand, just 4 km
before the entrance of El-
basani, coming from Tirana
there is the Monastery of
Shën Gjon Vladimiri.
It dates back on 1381, construc-
ted by the albanian prince Karl
Topia , who buried there the
bones of the Saint Gjon Vladi-
miri. Few kilometers far from
Elbasani there are the “llixhat”,
the hot springs used since
the roman times. You can find
accommodation and other fa-
cilities.
