Pjeter Vukaj, a wood carver from Kelmend, had a passion for drawing ever since his childhood. His family was very poor, and therefore he did not have the means to buy paper or pencils for his drawing passion. Therefore, instead of paper he used tree trunks, and as pencils he used a knife.

At the age of 20 he created his first carved work out of walnut wood which was a portrait of Scanderbag, the national hero of Albania, holding a lute (a folk instrument).

After this, he made many other pieces. He started selling his pieces in 1989 without doing this in the open as this was not allowed during the Communist times.

Many of his works are inspired from female beauty, but also religious figures, history, culture and natural beauty inspire him. He uses different kinds of wood, like maple and walnut wood.
"For many people the wood I use, is a simple piece of wood, but I can see beyond what it's visible, on them I can see my creatures which become visible through my chisel even for the others", says Pjetri.

Come and visit his atelier. Admission is free!

Opening time is : 09.00-15.00

Direction: Follow the narrow road in front of Selca Church. Or ask for Pjeter Vukaj.

Shkodra, also spelt Shkoder, is home to the legendary Rozafa castle and the myth of creation of the Illyrian and Albanian nation, but it is also the one city that can teach all the rest of the country a thing or two about "joi de vivre", cultivated arts and social events.

The fortress of Rozafa, dominating the town of Shkoder, is one of the most famous monuments in Albania. Built on a hill dominating the confluence of the rivers Buna and Kiri, it has an oval shape, a perimeter of 600 m and an area of 6 ha. The fortress and its seven towers were successively rebuilt by the Venetians and the Ottomans on the foundations of an early Illyrian fortress. Due to its geographical location and contact with the foreign countries, Shkodra has always been a main centre of the Albanian culture, especially before the foundation of the Albanian state. We offer a range of Hotels in Shkoder and Hotels in Valbona for you to discover these monuments. If you're travelling through Tirana, don't forget to check out our Tirana Hotels booking portal!

The fall of the Roman Empire in 395 ad., saw Shkoder allocated to the borders of the Eastern Empire (Byzantine Empire). In the 11th century, it was transferred to Serbian lords from Zeta (today, Montenegro), who developed the economy of the town. Shkodra was then transferred to the Albanian family of Balshaj, rulers of northern Albania and parts of Montenegro. Threatened by the Ottomans, the Balshaj sold the town to the Venetians in 1396; Shkodra became an advanced post of Christendom. The Ottomans laid the town under siege in 1474 and 1478. They eventually seized and sacked it in 1479 after the one-year siege depicted on a famous painting by Paolo Veronese (1528-1588). The fall of Shkodra caused the exile of many of its inhabitants to Italy, where they formed the Arbëresh / Arbaresh communities in Calabria, Sicily and elsewhere. If you'd like to visit Shkoder be sure to check out our full range of Hotels in Shkoder and homestays in Albania.

The historian Marin Barleti (d. 1512) lived in Shkodra during the three sieges by the Ottomans; after the defeat, he moved to Italy where he published in Latin De obsidione Scodrensis (The siege of Shkodra, Venice, 1504) and Historia de vita et gestis Skanderbegi (History of the life and acts of Skanderbeg, Rome, 1508). The latter book was translated and spread all over Europe and significantly contributed to the fame of Skanderbeg. Before visiting Shkoder or Northern Albania make sure you know the full Weather Forecast of Shkoder and Albania.

Gjon Buzuku, another writer from northern Albania with a nearly totally unknown biography, published in 1555 in Venice the Meshar (The Missal), a series of prayers and preachings made after the Gospels. This 188-page book is the oldest known book published in Albanian language. Our local site offers information about Shopping in Shkoder as well as Shkoder Transportation, including getting to Shkoder.

Under the Ottoman rule, Shkoder re-emerged in the 17th-18th centuries; at that time (1767-1773) was built the Lead Mosque (xhamia e plombit), covered with lead leaves, which can be admired from the Rozafa castle. In 1756, Mehmed Pasha Plaku founded in Shkodra the Bushati dynasty, which set up his own rule and established diplomatic relationships with the other European states. Under Kara Mamoud Pasha Bushati, Shkoder had 70,000 inhabitants and was renowned for its craftsmen. In 1831, the Sultan set up a military expedition to get rid of the Bushati rule.

During the Albanian national rebirth (Rilindja), insurrections against the Ottomans broke out in Shkodra in 1876, 1880, 1910, 1911 and 1912. The Serbs and the Montenegrins besieged the town during the Balkan Wars, to no avail. During the First World War, Shkodra was placed under an international administration, then occupied by the Austrians, then by the French (1918-1920), and eventually incorporated into the new Albanian state.

The most famous writer from Shkodra is the poet and novelist Migjeni (Milosh Gjegj Nikolla, 1911-1938). Born in an Orthodox family, he studied in Bar (Montenegro) and Bitola (Macedonia). Back to Shkodra in 1932, he became a school teacher. He died from tuberculosis in an Italian sanatorium on 26 August 1938. Migjeni's only volume of verse, Vargjet e lira (Free Verses), was composed over a three-year period from 1933 to 1935. A first edition of this slender and yet revolutionary collection, a total of thirty-five poems, was printed by the Gutenberg Press in Tirana in 1936 but was immediately banned by the authorities and never circulated. The second edition was released only in 1944. The main theme of the Free Verses and of Migjeni's prose, is misery and suffering. Though he did not publish a single book during his lifetime, Migjeni's works, which circulated privately and in the press of the period, were an immediate success. Migjeni paved the way for a modern literature in Albania. His series of short stories entitled Tregimet nga qyteti i Veriut (Chronicles of a Northern City) give a vivid description of Shkodra under Zogu's feudal regime, insisting on prostitution, something that was then completely taboo in Albania.

All rulling elites have left their mark on the city's architecture and urbanistic vision. You will be able to explore and compare as you stroll around Sheshi 2 Prilli (April 2nd Square), probably the largest public square in Albania, where ottoman, austrian and communist architecture blend together in a suprising and unique manner.  Follow the 13 Dhjetori Street (named after the December 1990 revolt that put an end to communist rule in Shkodra once and for all, as the socialists have never again been able to get the vote of the Shkodra people), the longest  and most refine pedestrian area in Albania, and enjoy the truly unique atmosphere produced by the elegant buildings lined on both sides of this famous street, that will take you through the very heart of the city.

The National Park is a treasure house of flora and fauna. For the nature lover the formations of the Hormoq trees are worth the journey. Besides these, the park is abundant with wild apple, bilberries, strawberries, beech wood, arnen, walnuts and chestnut trees. The wildlife includes bears, wild cats and wolves. The turquoise water of the Valbona is home to the marble trout, a very tasty fish. This region and the entire valley, including the park, have heavy snowfall that starts in November and continues till May. It offers one of the most genuine trekking experiences ever. However, this hectic trek is recommended only for those of you who are fit enough for the long walks and climbs. Also, do not expect the comforts of city hotels in this wilderness. The only houses that are available for resting at night are the traditional houses of the Albanian highlanders, the malesore.

So, if comfort is not your priority, then this Alpine adventure holds the promise of fishing, trekking (the valley and the Cerrem and Kukuaj streams), canoeing the navigable river zones and much more. For the serious climbers, the Jezerca Mountain (the second highest in Albania) climb starts at Valbona. However, if you are not confident of taking an eight hour trek, there are options of transport from Valbona to Thethi. You can take a taxi from Valbona, board the ferry and then take a vehicle to Thethi. Though you will miss out the adventure and fun of a delightful trek, you will still carry back the memories of one of Europe's most pristine natural surroundings.