Sights · Our pick
Zvërnec Monastery
Across a wooden footbridge
A 13th-century church on a pine-shaded island in the Narta Lagoon, north-west of Vlorë.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Flladina Zilja · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 3
About Zvërnec Monastery
North-west of Vlorë, a long wooden footbridge crosses the shallow waters of the Narta Lagoon to Zvërnec, the larger of its two islands. There, among pines and cypresses, stands the Monastery of the Dormition of St Mary, its small church dating from the 13th century. It is a deeply peaceful place, with herons and egrets stalking the shallows around the island. Come in late afternoon, when the light turns soft and golden, and combine the visit with the lagoon’s flamingos and a swim from the beach nearby.
Our take
- Wooden footbridge
- Pines and cypresses
- Herons and egrets
- Address
- Narta Lagoon, the Balkans
- Our city guide
- On our Tirana guide
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Zvërnec Monastery before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Location
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