Photos from Albania

Çorovoda (or Çorovodë in a sentence with a preposition) is the main town of the Skrapar District. It is about 40 kilometres southeast of Berat. Its name is derived from Bulgarian “černa voda” (black water). The town has a population of around 7,000 inhabitants. It could be one of the oldest in Albania because of the ruins of a castle and churches found near here.

The road from Berat to Çorovoda passes through the valley of the Osumi River, along rolling hills and farmlands. After 16 kilometres, it reaches the town of Poliçani, with almost 7,000 people. It has a now derelict munitions factory and was built entirely for that purpose in the 1960s during communist rule.

Çorovoda also has derelict factories, but the main sight is “Pirogosh”, the canyon of the Osumi river south of the town, with towering cliffs and caverns. There is also a tiny place of worship of the Bektashi branch of Islam overlooking the canyon.