Pogradeci
You enter the region of
Pogradeci via the national
highway where the road from
Macedonia crosses Qafa e
Thanës. This crossroad offers
picturesque views of Lake
Ohrid, a true pearl “shelled”
between Mali i Thatë (“Dry
Mountain”) in the east and the
Mokra highland in the west. A
little ways down, you might
stop at the Lini peninsula and
in the like named village, 25
km outside of Pogradeci. It is
said that in ancient times, this
was the favorite holiday desti-
nation of the Roman emperor
Justinian’s parents. In addition
to the enchanting views are
the mosaics of the Bazilika e
Linit, dating back to the 7th-
6th centuries B.C. This ancient
artwork exhibits an amazing
ensemble of zoomorphic, flo-
ral, and geometric decorations
resembling those of ancient
Durrësi.
The road to Pogradeci passes
along the shore of the tecton-
ic Lake Ohrid, the deepest lake
in the Balkans (285 m). This 2-4
million-year-old lake (under
UNESCO protection due to its
unique value) houses 17 spe-
cies of aquatic animal, 70%
of which are native and 30%
migrant. The sponge of Ohrid
is found only here and in Lake
Baikal.
By the lake side you will find
an array of restaurants, clubs
and comfortable hotels. You
must not miss a taste of the
traditional fish dishes, espe-
cially the baked speckled trout
(Koran in Albanian), as well as
the famous pickles and kol-
lofacet. You might also sample
the various wines on offer,
but don’t miss the traditional
unique wine of Buti, or the fa-
mous Perla and Moskat raki of
Pogradec.
The city of Pogradec was set-
tled in the Neolithic period,
and it later became home to
the Illyrian Enkelejdë and De-
saretë clans, who built the Cas-
tle of Pogradeci on a hill at 870
m above sea level. The city,
with its mild climate, lends it
self to year-round visits.
