Elbasan Albania Travel Guide

I'm happy because I'm writing a post about my born city and I'm the first one and I'm so happy because I'm share with everyone this info about this hidden beautiful corner.
Elbasan it is one of the largest cities in Albania, with a population of 300000 and t is 20min away from Tirana the capital of Albania.Elbasan - A large, poor, intriguing industrial city that is full of life. The market is fascinating, and the breakfast "Bugace" legendary,also the sweet Bollokume  and Fergese Elbasani is amazing! The Via Ignatia, an old Roman road to Istanbul, runs through the city. The Lakes of Belsh near Belsh are also worth a visit.
Elbasan came into prominence in the Roman period, when it became a popular holiday spot known as Masio Scampa (Rural Retreat).The Romans built a substantial fortress here, about 300 square meters, protected by towers. In the third and fourth centuries, it became known as Hiskampis.

History of the City of Elbasan

The history of Elbasan has its origin in the II century BC during ancient Illyrian settlements. In the second century, the city known as "SKAMPA" later named "SKAMPINI" was dependent on Durrahu. Being situated at the crossroads of the region, North - South and East - West, it served as important crossing point and station, being referred to as the urban,military and Episcopal center. After blocking the Via Egnatia from the barbarian invasions, records are lost for some time and then recognized again with destruction during the Slav - Bulgarian migration somewhere during century VI - VII.
During the Turkish invasion of Albania, after the defeat it suffered in the second siege of Kruja, Sultan Mehmed II, the return of the old fortress was built to serve as a support point in the case of future invastions. In 1466 the town was named Elbe-san.
It quickly developed as an important strategic, administrative, military and economic center for Albania. Craftsmanship and trade took again a notable development extending connections and influence throughout the surrounding areas. A significant development took the represented  postbizantin art by the master and the great painter of Neokastrës Onufri (Manchester), who created an art peak which show up in particular force  excellent combination of genius and local tradition. His works, inherited to the present day, are the frescoes and icons and churches Valshit and Shelcanit from mid-century. XVI. Continuing the work of Constantine mentioned Onufri Shpataraku. A rapid development took the city of Elbasan in the century. XVII with the creation, organization and functioning of the 60 types of handicrafts in 45 guilds. It is worth noting at this time "Codex tanner guilds", May 15, 1658, considered among the oldest in the Balkans.
In the documentation of the time, proving that among the seventeenth century, Elbasan had 2000 houses, 900 shops working in leather, wool, silk and metals, especially silver.
Elbasan products were found in markets both domestically and abroad. This is shown by the fact that in three international exhibitions (Paris and Turkey in 1867 and in Chicago in 1894) Elbasan craft items such as rifles, pistols and production SILAH Albanian Shkoder, Elbasan, Prizren were exhibited. It is important that Elbasan is known for organizing fairs, with the first in 1381 followed by others in later periods.
At this time Elbasan, known for its powerful educational and cultural efforts, empowered Bugomili (Anonymous of Elbasan), Dhaskal Todri to spread its language and script. In the Albanian National Renaissance era,  Kristoforidhi Constantine, author of ABC Albanian Geg and Tosk vocabulary, holds an important place as he is regarded as the father of the Albanian language.


Elbasan has four museums:

• Ethnographic Museum (1982) held in an 18th-century building
• “Kostandin Kristoforidhi” house (started as a museum in 1978)
• Shkolla Normale Museum
• War Museum

Annual Art and cultural activities

Summer Day ": March 14 known as" Summer Day " has been named as a national holiday.   Celebrated since ancient times in the city of Elbasan, and today is celebrated in the entire country, the day includes the Feast of the renewal of the universe, the recovery of nature and the continuity of life. Summer Day tends to be a massive celebration with rituals and their characteristics, with outstanding games, celebrations with family and unique decoration dominated by flowers.  Also special,are sweets like "ballakumet" which is a characteristic Cake for this day. Although it has become national holiday, the Day of Summer remains an ancient celebration of Elbasan, where people gather to celebrate from all over.
"Youth Marathon" - a youth performance that includes participation of many schools in the city.  The purpose is of sharing the new talents in singing, dancing, acting etc of youth in Elbasan and is conducted during April and May.

Nationwide Marathon of Folk Music – this program is a collaboration with several private entities and TV Klan. Held every year in July-August and aims to introduce new urban folk music.

"Star Academy" - is a spectacle that takes place for months on TV Klan, where new talents in various fields of art compete among themselves.  The winners held a tour in several cities in Albania. Elbasan welcomes these talents every year in July-August.

"Giffoni" - Children's Film Festival - now several years old tradition and Elbasan in Albania, organized with the support of several private entities. This activity includes different films from Europe and the Balkans. The jury is composed of both film professionals and children.
International Theatre Festival "Skampa" – this important artistic activity, developed since 1999 in Skampa Theatre, occurs during October-November. Presented in this festival are artistic, creative and interpretative values in the field of scenic arts. Theatrical troops from Albania, Russia, Italy, Argentina, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia, etc. attend each year.

"Elbasan Roses” an international poetry festival. The traditional poetic annual two-day activity, where poets come from speaking lands, but others from the Balkans and beyond. Another promoter for the development of artistic and cultural activities is the "Kristoforidhi Constantine Writers Club" Poets visit the cultural city of Elbasan, its most beautiful museum and surroundings.   They aslo develop competition with the recitation of their poems during the evening of poetry, and the jury determines and announces several awards. The prize  for the winner is to have a tree planted, in his/her name in “Writer’s Garden,” in front of city hall. Our intention for this year is to organize the festival in October.
Some other activities that enliven the artistic-cultural life in the city of Elbasan are:

• "Studio of literature" and "Little Genius"
• Two comedy type  theatrical premieres
• Concerts of the Ensemble "Isuf Myzyri"
• Artistic recitals of  Elbasan
• Various book promotions etc.

WHAT TO EAT

Dish with Nuts

Prepared with turkey, walnuts, a little flour and butter. Take an amount of nuts, to be crushed. Take some butter and mix with flour and crushed nuts. Then take the broth of a roasted turkey, a little garlic and a little vinegar and allow it to boil. After cooking, divide  into small portions in the casserole and bake in clay oven. When ready, take from the oven and pour it over the pieces of roasted turkey.

Dish with Pestil

A winter dish of ram meat prepared in a typical clay casserole dish of Elbasan. Meat is the main ingredient, except onions, which are added with salt  and crushed red pepper in casserole. Divide meat, oil, a little rice and pestil in individual clay dishes and put in oven.

Elbasan Ballakume

Ballakume is traditional dessert of the city of Elbasan. Currently all Albanians from South to North come to buy ballakume in the city of Elbasan. There are two types of this dessert: Dough Ballakume, prepared with wheat flour and less sugar and Sugar Ballakume which is synonymous with the Summer Day festival. Its preparation is this: in a copper pot, exclusive for ballakume, add in specific order while beating with a wooden spoon, melted butter, pressed sugar, eggs (one by one), yeast, corn flour and lye. The amount of dough is divided and shaped into rounds and enters the oven. Its “secret” is in beating by hand (no mixers) and the grilled wood oven.

Bugaçe

Prepared with wheat flour, the salt water eases back into the dough in warmer conditions. Divided into cakes and turns into noodles by hand throwing. In each pan lies three pitas, among melted butter. Then baked in the oven, placed in a hot pan with butter and then served inside a bun or waffle. This is a breakfast item only and is characteristic only of Elbasan.  Bugace is has been cooked regularly for two centuries.

Casserole with yogurt (casserole Elbasan).

Known Elbasan Casserole in Albania and abroad. Prepared with lamb or goat, that after washing is tossed with salt and oil and placed in the inserted clay casserole in the oven. When removed from oven and cooled, its added to a bowl with eggs, flour and more yogurt. Introduced back in the oven and once removed from heat and served cold. Used most frequently in the season of spring and summer.

Cultural Heritage

On the north side of the Shkumbin River, where it crosses with the famous Egnatia Road,  lies the city of Elbasan, ancient name- Skampis. Throughout ancient history Elbasan often changed his name, but for the first time we find written in historical documents of the II century as the name Scampis depending on Dyrrahu.
Scampisi was castle built in typical Roman century III, a fortress surrounded by strong walls. Of the four sides of a moat with water and 26 towers of different shapes (the U-shaped and horseshoe) strengthen its defensive power. The castle had four entrances, one for each side.
In century VI outside the city’s center was an Episcopal castle with a cathedral and basilica on the hill near Kala Tepe. In 1466 the Elbasan Castle fell to the Ottomans, who almost entirely rebuilt, and then named the city Elbasan. With this name became the Sanjak Center during centuries XVIII- XVII, having a highly developed craftsmanship and trade at home and abroad. At this time, the city was home to 900 stores, 2,000 houses. The professions of most citizens were making leather, making silk and silver (ornaments and weapons).
In addition to homes and shops, Elbasan also contained a large number of cult buildings such as churches, monasteries, mosques and hammams (public baths).
1. Castle's Skampis
Scampis's Castle was built in the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). It is built entirely by the Roman “opus mixtum” technique. Wall construction period to 3 m located anywhere in the lower level of the castle.
2. Via Egnatia
This road is the continuation of the Via Appia's starting from ancient Rome to Brindisi. Via Egnatia in our country starts from Apollonia and Dyrrachium, two branches that join near Scampis's on the left bank of the Zaranikës stream and continues north east of Lake Ohrid to Thessaloniki. This route is thought to be built between 146-120 BC
3. Royal Mosque
Royal Mosque is one of the earliest shrines Albania, dating to 1492. This sanctuary complies with all other mosques were built royal designated by Sultan II Bajaziti in the late fifteenth century. The mosque was closed during the communist dictatorship in 1967 and reopened after 1990.
4. Church of St. Mary Elbasan
Church of Saint Mary is located within the castle of Elbasan and was rebuilt in 1833.
5. Castle Hammam
Hammam within the castle, also known as the Women’s Hammam and belongs to the sixteenth century.  The hammam’s original setup consisted of three main rooms: the dressing, isolation and washing rooms. During the twentieth century, Castle Hammam was used for food storage. Today, the building has been transformed into a bar.
6. Clock Tower
Clock Tower first arose in Elbasan in the seventeenth century and was ruined before the year 1854. A second tower of wood was raised during years 1865-1869. After toppling, it was replaced with remaining stone tower in 1899.
The inscription on the entrance gate of the tower says: "King of the World goodness / and drew this beautiful and zemërledhatues kohëtregues / tried many, cared and was interested Aqif Beg / dhashtë lord of all the best reward of this world / when it sounds, announces his voice to charm the exact time / so perfect on all four sides showing minutes / since vjershëtorit owns your intuition / O Refit in building his / it was built in early 1315 (which belongs to the year 1899).

Sahati Elbasan

 SEE ALSO

Byshek is a well known tourist area for the entire region. The water resources have made this place famous, turning it into a potential tourist attraction.Byshek is situated in the Southern part of the city of Elbasan, at the Shkumbin Valley, at the Shushice village. It is an area full of century old plane trees and cold watered springs that make its beauty very impressive. 

Byshek Shushice

LLIXHE 

Located near the city of Elbasan. These sources are known and used during the Roman period.
The Llixha Elbasan hot springs are among the most important geothermal

springs of Albania. Balneological use dates back centuries, but the first modern

usage started in 1937.The temperature of the water is above 60°C Analysis of these water resources are carried out by specialized engineers Czechs, who have recorded high therapeutic value. Here handled numerous diseases of the respiratory, nervous system, skin, stomach, etc.. Spa Elbasan and cosmetic value. Today there are many private hotels that offer spa services in the following.