Shkodër, Echoes of the North

Shkodër sits at the meeting point of three rivers, one of Albania’s oldest cities and once its cultural heart. History runs deep here, from the Illyrian strongholds to Venetian traders and Ottoman rulers who left their marks in stone, faith, and rhythm.

We stayed at Hotel Tradita, a 17th-century merchant’s house turned guesthouse and museum. Its walls are lined with old photographs, traditional costumes, and carved wooden chests that trace the story of northern Albania. Staying here is like opening a family album; every room tells a fragment of the past.

A walk through the city leads to Rruga Kole Idromeno, a pedestrian street filled with cafés, pastel facades, and quiet charm. The architecture shows hints of Venice, the legacy of centuries of trade across the Adriatic. At one end stands the Cathedral of Saint Stephen, rebuilt after decades when religion was forbidden, a quiet symbol of resilience.

Shkodër’s evenings come alive slowly. Music drifts from courtyards and small bars, and locals gather over drinks as the heat fades. The city moves at its own rhythm, proud of its past, content with its pace.

The next journey north begins at Lake Komani. Shkodër remains the gentle prelude, a city where Albania’s history hums softly beneath the calm.