Tirana, October 8 – The town of Kruja continues to attract visitors from Albania and abroad, drawn by its history and cultural heritage.

The Old Bazaar, the National Museum “George Kastrioti Skanderbeg,” and the Ethnographic Museum remain lively with tourists even in these autumn days.

According to the Albanian news agency (ATSH), visitor numbers remain high despite the start of October.

From January to September, the museum center welcomed 172,067 visitors.

More than 147,000 visited the “George Kastrioti” Museum, and about 25,000 toured the Ethnographic Museum.

ATSH reports that September recorded the highest number of visitors this year.

“Over 32,000 people visited the ‘George Kastrioti’ Museum and about 25,000 the Ethnographic Museum. In just the first week of October, both museums received around 6,000 visitors,” Museum Director Mehdi Hafizi was quoted as saying.

Most visitors come from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United States, China, Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

The growing interest in Albanian history and culture has turned Kruja into one of the country’s main cultural tourism destinations.

Located 608 meters above sea level, Kruja offers a unique view of the surrounding landscape.

Its importance is closely linked to Albania’s National Hero, Skanderbeg, who in the 15th century made the town a bastion of resistance against the Ottoman Empire.

The “George Kastrioti Skanderbeg” Museum stands within the castle walls, which date back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

Inside the fortress are also the Ethnographic Museum and the traditional Old Bazaar, near the castle entrance.

In the bazaar, tourists can find Albanian handicrafts, including embroidery, carpets, silver and copper items, alabaster, filigree, and traditional clothing.

/a.p./