10 Most Beautiful Churches in Albania

Churches in Voskopojë

In the former town and nowadays the village of Voskopojë near Korçë you will find five magnificent three-nave basilicas. Although the frescoes decorating their interiors require the intervention of restorers after years of neglect, their beauty is nonetheless fascinating. The churches are scattered throughout the village, some of them now standing somewhat unusually in the open countryside in the middle of the pastures due to the disappearance of the surrounding buildings.

Churches in the Berat Castle

In Albania, Berat Castle is a unique place: nowhere else will you find such a high number of old churches in such a small area as here. The museum in the Basilica of the Assumption, which displays an extensive collection of Orthodox icons by Albania’s most famous painter, Onufri, is also unique. Add spectacular views of the suburbs of Berat and nearby  Mount Tomorr, and you get one of the most spectacular locations in Albania.

St. Nicholas Church in Mesopotam

The architecturally exceptional Byzantine Church of St. Nicholas was once part of the monastery. Today, it stands alone on a tiny hill near the village of Mesopotam, and all that surrounds it is a cemetery and a row of cypress trees. It was built in 1224 with limestone blocks from the nearby ancient city of Phoenice, the upper parts are brick. At times, the church feels like a fortress – narrow windows are found all the way below the roof, and one of the walls is reinforced with a massive pillar. Once, the church and the whole monastery were protected by a wall.

St. Anthony Church on Cape Rodon

The Church of St. Anthony on Cape Rodon used to be part of the now-defunct Franciscan monastery. The building dates from the 12th century and underwent a Romanesque-Gothic rebuilding during the reign of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg in the 15th century. The interior is decorated with a painting of a rider on horseback and a double-headed eagle, which is likely the earliest depiction of the present-day national emblem of Albania. A mineral water springs directly in front of the temple. Every year on 13 June, a pilgrim is held here.

Church of Labova

The Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in the village of Labovë was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. It is believed he has married there and also donated a splinter from the cross of Jesus to the shrine. Therefore, locals call the church Labova of the Cross (Labova e Kryqit) and consider it a pilgrim place.

Rubik Church

The Church of the Ascension in Rubik is one of the most important Catholic buildings in the region of Mirditë. As part of a Franciscan monastery, it was built in 1166 on an elevated site in a bend of the Fan River. The monastery was destroyed during the Second World War and has since been abandoned. The church is the only building in the complex that has been restored and is still serving its original purpose.

Theth Church

The silhouette of the Franciscan church against the backdrop of the Albanian Alps is an iconic sight in what is arguably the most famous Albanian mountain village, Theth. The church dates from 1892 and used to be part of a small complex of buildings that included a school or accommodation for priests. During communism, the church fell into disrepair and was converted into a medical centre. After the fall of the communist regime, it was renovated with money from Theth natives living in the United States.

Cathedral in Shkodër

The Catholic Cathedral of St.Stephen (Katedralja e Shën Shtjefnit) in Shkodër was the largest church of its kind in the Balkans at the time of its completion in the second half of the 19th century. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Shkodër and is the most important Catholic shrine in Albania. At the cathedral, you will find a museum that will guide you through the history of Albanian Catholicism.

St. George Church in Shipskë

One of the most beautiful rural churches in Albania is the church dedicated to St. George in the village of Shipskë near Voskopojë. The church dates from the 15th-17th centuries, but was built on the site of a much older early Christian church. With the help of money from the European Union and private donors, the church, including the 17th-century frescoes depicting the life of Christ, has undergone a thorough restoration.

Church on Maligrad Island

The Church of the Virgin Mary belongs to the “top 10” thanks to its location on the island of Maligrad in the middle of Prespa Lake. The Orthodox Church was built in 1369 in one of the island’s rock overhangs by the Serbian nobleman Kesar Novak, who declared himself ruler of the Prespa region. The church is an important pilgrimage site for Orthodox Albanians.