Private Car & Driver Tour of Elbasan City and Petrela Castle

Elbasan is a historic city placed at the heart of Albania, home to the Summer Day festivities, a pagan feast holiday celebrating the end of winter and the start of summer. Upon arriving to Elbasan, you’ll be visiting the city Castle. Inside the castle you’ll visit the Saint Mary’s Church (Byzantine era church and the King’s Mosque, built during the Ottoman era on 15th century.

In the middle of the city’s castle, you’ll visit the Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church. The church was built between 15th – 16th centuries. It was built entirely in stone carved in the shape of a cross, which can still be seen today. After a fire in 1819 the church was rebuilt in 1830 on the original foundations. It has been an important cultural center for the Albanian language especially during the end of 19th century. The church building served as the first Albanian school of Elbasan in modern times, which opened in 1909. Because it had served as a school it was granted the status of cultural monument and was spared from the massive destructions of churches and mosques during communism regime in 1968.

Another jewel inside the castle, a testament of harmony between religions in Albania is the Architectural monument, Kings Mosque. A stone carved building with a wooden roof and a prayer hall in the middle and portico in the front, typical for the mosques of the 15th century. During communism regime the mosques tower was destroyed. The main building was spared to be used for other purposes. The mosque was restored in 2013 and is now open to the community for daily prayer. Must note that if prayer is in session, we have to postpone the visit inside until the prayer is finished.

Leaving the castle in the city center you’ll visit one the oldest basilica ruins discovered in Albania, with a beautifully preserved mosaic, - Basilica of Bezystan around 1400-1500 years old.

Closing the Elbasan tour, you’ll visit the Ethnographic Museum of Elbasan (18th century two-story house) full of folkloric jewels, showing the way Albanians used to leave through history.

You'll have the option to try some of the best traditional meals of Petrela region, in Fustanella Farm, a family restaurant. We recommend you order a mix of (meze) to get the most of the flavors the restaurant has to offer.

*Pease note! - Stopping to eat at Fustanella Farm is an optional experience, suggested to maximize the experience through food tasting of traditional cuisine. This is NOT included in the tour cost and is not an obligatory stop.

Petrela (Petrela) Castle, (estimated 1700 years old)
After a 30-minute drive and a short hike through a steep hill we’ll find Petrela Castle, strategically built during the late antiquity period 3rd – 4th century and reconstructed on the 6th century by Roman Emperor Justinian the First. The castle is located outside of Tirana (Albanian Capital). Its positioned on top of a hill with two watch towers, with 360-degree view point. Later during the 15th century, before the invasion of Albania by the Ottomans it was used as part of the defensive chain of castles that communicated early warning signals through fire and smoke with the central Castle of Kruja. On the top of the castle, you’ll be enjoying a fantastic view of the valley below, with the option while holding a glass of local wine from the bar integrated inside the castle.
In Petrela you’ll also have a chance to enjoy local traditional cuisine in a family owned, traditional restaurant.