Montis is a hotel and spa on a hillside in the village of Kaninë, a few minutes’ drive from central Vlorë, with wide views over the city, its bay and the Ionian Sea. It pairs modern comforts with a quiet rural setting; contact the hotel for details.
Kaninë, VlorëTrip outside the city
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Kaninë Castle crowns a hill south of Vlorë, with views across the bay. Its origins are Illyrian, and it was rebuilt in turn by the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans; in the 14th century it was the seat of the Principality of Valona until the Ottomans took it in 1417. Its walls and towers can still be explored.
Kaninë is a village 6 km from Vlorë, gathered around its ancient castle. Walk between stone houses and along narrow cobbled lanes, stop at the quiet church of St Mary and try the local food before heading back to the city.
Built in 1542 under Ottoman rule, the Muradie Mosque is attributed to Mimar Sinan, the empire’s court architect. It stands in the centre of Vlorë, simple and elegant in form, with a plain, naturally lit interior; dress respectfully if you go inside.
The National Museum of Independence is housed in the building where Ismail Qemali’s first Albanian government sat after independence was declared in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Opened in 1936, it displays original documents, flags and patriots’ belongings.
Zvërnec Monastery, dedicated to St Mary, stands among pines on a small island in the Narta Lagoon, reached on foot across a wooden bridge. Its medieval church, usually dated to the 13th–14th century, keeps fragments of frescoes and has been a listed cultural monument since 1963.
Narta Lagoon is a shallow, brackish lagoon of more than 40 km² by the Vjosa delta, part of the Vjosë–Nartë Protected Landscape declared in 2004. UNESCO describes it as a key stopover and wintering site for migratory birds such as the greater flamingo, so binoculars are worth bringing.
