Zvërnec

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.

Orikum is a small coastal town between the Bay of Vlorë and the start of the Riviera, where fishing, olives and vineyards carry on beside a modern port. In summer many families take in guests, and the ancient ruins, the lagoon and Llogara’s trails are nearby.

Set on a hill above the Ionian coast, Vuno is a small village of stone houses and cobbled lanes, with the churches of St Nicholas (Shën Kolli) and St Mary. Walks lead up the mountain or towards Gjipe canyon, and the nearest beaches are Gjipe and Jalë.

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.

Zvërnec Beach lies near the Narta Lagoon and the Zvërnec monastery, away from the crowded resort areas. The water is calm and the shore is framed by unspoilt landscape and woodland, a good setting for a quiet day and nature photography.

Zvërnec Forest, on the shores of the Narta Lagoon, is a pine wood planted in the first half of the 20th century to protect the sandy coast. Its paths are used for walks and picnics, and the monastery of St Mary is close by.