As an increasing number of European countries battle overtourism, one beautiful but underrated destination is actually asking for more visitors.
The Drino Valley in Albania is home to impressive historic monasteries and churches, with heritage campaigners trying to protect them by boosting tourism in the area.
The deserted monasteries – approximately a dozen in total – are scattered across the hills south and east of the city of Gjirokaster, along the Drino river that goes through southern Albania.
Most of the sites consist of a small cluster of monastic buildings centred around a main church, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries – when the Byzantine Empire had succumbed to Ottoman rule.
These ancient monasteries have withstood the test of time, largely due to their secluded positions in the highlands above the valley’s lush plains.
However, as they are in such remote locations, they have been adandoned in various states of disrepair.
Last month, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) featured them of their “watchlist” of 25 historic sites globally that are confronting significant threats such as neglect, climate change, overtourism, and natural disasters.
Despite the growing influx of tourists to Albania, the Drino Valley remains largely unexplored by visitors.
The WMF said promoting tourism could provide a sustainable solution to preserving these sites, while honouring the rich history and stimulating the economy. It proposed a cultural route for tourists, linking the valley’s monasteries.
This would involve refurbishing existing trails and access paths, installing signposts, providing visitor information, training local guides, and collaboration between local businesses and other stakeholders.
Richard Hodges, involved in obtaining Unesco World Heritage Status for Gjirokastër, told The Telegraph of his hopes that the historic sites become more popular, but with a priority on conservation efforts.
He said: “A priority is to safeguard these treasures with an assessment of conservation priorities before encouraging the steadily increasing number of tourists to Gjirokastër (which is Albania’s second most popular visitor destination) to visit these jewels.”