Dropull

Dropull is a region rich in cultural and natural attractions, stretching along the Drino valley between Gjirokastër and the border with Greece. Visit one of the many stunning religious shrines, and take a hike in the Sotira Fir Nature Reserve. There is something for ancient history enthusiasts as well. Good accessibility is a great advantage of Dropull, making it an ideal destination for a day trip from Gjirokastër. 

Dropull derives its name from the Roman city Hadrianopolis, the remains of which can be found near the village of Sofratikë. The area, now divided between Albania and Greece, has since been called Dryinopolis. The Greeks have kept the name, whereas the Albanians have gradually changed it into Dropull. The region is still largely inhabited by a Greek minority.

The axis of the region is the Drino Valley, along which the highway from Gjirokastër to Greece runs. Most of the sights can be reached in just a few minutes after turning off this road.

So what to visit in Dropull besides the archaeological site of Hadrianopolis? Start at the Kardhoca Bridge (Ura e Kordhocës), located on the southern outskirts of Gjirokastër. The five-arches structure spanning the Drino River was built in 1820 by Ali Pasha of Tepelenë as a part of a once important road. But now, it leads virtually nowhere, with only pastureland at the other end.

About five kilometres south is the village of Goranxi, above which an impressive canyon begins. There is a road on the bottom of the canyon leading to the Ravena Monastery (Manastiri i Ravenës), built around 1600. The monastery is characterized by highly unusual “gothic” arches on the outer walls of the central church. The location atop a hill offers fantastic views on all sides. This is a great destination for a half-day hike around Gjirokastër, expect to walk for two hours on the way up. The steep road can be driven with 4×4 cars only.

Dropull is also the home of one of the most important Bektashi shrines in Albania, the so-called Tekke of Melan (Teqeja e Melanit), which is situated atop a hill near the village of Vllaho Goranxia. The building, surrounded by a beautiful park with cypress trees, was built around 1800. In the communist atheist campaign in the 1960s and 1970s it was heavily damaged and looted and for some time served as a barracks for border guards. After the fall of communism, it was repaired by the people of the surrounding villages and is currently occupied by a dervish (monk). Hundreds of pilgrims head to the tekke during the Bektashi holidays. From Gjirokastër, you can get there by car past the Glina bottled water factory. The asphalt road ends at the factory but the rest is still passable for regular cars.

Near the village of Peshkëpi stands another outstanding religious building – the recently restored Byzantine Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Kisha e Shenjtë e Lindjes së Virgjëreshës), which is one of the most beautiful in southern Albania. Its foundations are said to date back to the early 7th century AD. It is situated in a similarly spectacular location as the nearby Melan Tekke or Ravena Monastery: on a hill that juts out from the slopes of Mount Bureto. The church can be reached by asphalted road, taking about 15 minutes from the turn-off to the highway.

Sotira Fir (Bredhi i Sotirës) is a true hidden gem of Dropull. Visit the picturesque village of Sotirë, which is located in a side valley on the very border with Greece, at the end of an asphalt road. The usual hike in this nature reserve includes the 1806-metre-high Murgana, the mountain that forms the Albanian-Greek border. See map.

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