What to see in the city of Lezha? A guide to the center of Illyrian Kingdom

The city of Lezha (alb. Lezhë) in northwestern Albania, known for its rich history and heritage, is situated in the ethnographic region of Zadrima, only 8 kilometers from Shengjin and around 68 kilometers from Tirana. 

Since the 4th century BC, the city has carried a title as the main center of the Illyrian Kingdom and many centuries later, it became one of the most important places in Albanian history as it was the site of the League of Lezhë which was created by Skanderbeg and joined by Albanian leaders in order to fight the Ottoman Empire.

Lezha Castle, Photo: Adria. fun

Nestled in a valley below the Lezha Castle and the ancient city of Lissus, surrounded by the Drin River, this city has one of the most picturesque landscapes we have witnessed. In order to show you Lezha, in this article, we will mainly focus on it as a tourist destination and list a few things you can check out in this district.

Lezha Castle

Of course, the first and the most popular thing to see in Lezha is the castle itself. The medieval castle of Lezha sits 186 meters above the city and possesses one of the most incredible views of Stomi i Madh and the Adriatic Sea. Spreading across 2 hectares, Lezha Castle deserved a story of its own which you can check out here!

The castle is almost all the way reachable by car with a dash of climbing up the hill from the main parking lot.

Lezha Castle, Photo: Adria.fun

Orthodox Church Of Lezha

On your way from the Lezha castle, you will notice an interesting and not-so-common, Orthodox church of Lezha. Very little is known about her besides that is one of the oldest in Albania. According to some sources, the church was established in the 4th century.

Orthodox church of Lezha, Photo: Adria.fun

Skanderbeg’s Mausoleum

On the grounds where today’s Skanderbeg’s mausoleum is located, a Church of Saint Nicholas was built. After Skanderbeg passed away his bones were hidden in the church, which, once they found them, angered the Ottoman Empire. Hungry for an act of revenge, the church was then robbed and turned into a mosque.

Sadly, being one of the last Middle Ages buildings in Lezha, at the time of Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship, the mosque was completely destroyed.

In order to honor the birth of the League of Lezha, much later, a mausoleum was built in 1981.

Skanderbeg Memorial Photo: Planeti, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia

The city itself

Being home to both the historical, traditional, and religious grounds of Albania, the city of Lezha is definitely a place that intrigues many. Walking down the streets, you will notice a modern city with infrastructure and amenities to accommodate anyone. There are many restaurants offering traditional food, shops, and hotels which will make your visit even more complete.

If you stop by the city of Lezha, make sure to investigate it even further as it is full of all kinds of local traditions and customs.

We can’t wait to hear about your experience on our social media or in the comments below.