Shkodra Backpackers Hostel – Mi Casa es Tu Casa

The house was built 200 years ago and previously owned by the Italian Fabiani family. Esterina (one of their daughters) fell in love with a promising Albanian boy, Kel Naraci, married him and moved permanently to Shkoder. Meanwhile in 1944 with the advent of the Communist regime her family escapes to Italy.

At that time private property was banned, so the house was confiscated by the state and used as a social house until 1992.

The son of Esterina, Nikolin Naraci, with his wife Alma Bazhdari returned from Italy and found the house mostly destroyed after the regime and together they began to renovate it.

In 2006, Niko passed away and Alma continues to take care of the house, pursuing her dream of creating a social center and meeting place.

In 2010, several developers proposed purchasing the house with plans to demolish it and construct a multi-storey building however Alma and her daughter Ani, despite many challenges, refused.

Today they maintain their home and work to stop gentrification by preserving the house with its original characteristics.

Alma fell in love with Giorgio and together they decided begin the hostel project. Thus the first hostel in the city of Shkoder was born.

A year later Giorgio passes away while attempting to discover a new trekking trail between the Shala River and Kiri Valley.

After this sad event Ani, who was living in Turin at the time, returns to Shkoder to help her mother continue the dream of developing a hostel that feels like home to each guest who passes through.

A UNIQUE PLACE

We called our hostel- mi casa es tu casa- because we felt and we knew this is what we are offering to travellers, backpaskers, school groups, families and so on. Confortable rooms and bright suites, equipped with vintage furniture; air conditioning and heatind system, Original paintings from national and international artist are hang on the walls. Now and then we organise social activities giving the city the opportunity to acquaint with the artists lodging at the hostel. It carries a homey feeling.

We take care of three friendly dogs, housed from the street. We manage a piece of land placed on the skirt of the city, where, the vegetables used for us and guests of the hostel, are grown. Another extension of the hostel is placed 25 km distance on the sea shore- Camping clandestino- It’s a wonderful point to swim, meditate, exercise, kitting, and, at night, get together around a wooden fire.

We encourage farmers and small artisans to produce more organic food and products.

In our hostel you don’t rent just a comfortable and clean bed. You rent the possibility off choosing between different areas to relax , the luxury of being on your own in a nice cozy corner of the garden or among other backpackers, sitting down in the verandas, conversing and having a beer or glass of wine from the local artisans. Within a bed you rent a kitchen too, where you can cook a meal, an organic and rich breakfast; various possibilities explained carefully for you to know the city and to explore the touristic places.