Giro Express 2025
Together with the Giro d’Italia, we’ll take you on a journey that starts in Albania and crosses Italy. An itinerary of kindred cultures and shared beauty, discovering the wonders of Made in Italy: unique products, local traditions, innovative services, and authentic flavors that express each territory’s creativity and identity.
Giro Express 2025
Giro d'Italia Express - Stage 1 | Durrës – Tirana
THE VENETIAN TOWER
The Venetian Tower is the most striking vantage point for the start of the Giro d’Italia, which for the first time runs along Albania’s roads. Built in the 15th century to strengthen the defensive system of the Byzantine Castle, it stands 10 meters high, and from its summit you can enjoy privileged views over the Ionian Sea and the city of Durrës—which has so much to offer. Start with the historic center, where it’s a pleasure to wander among narrow lanes and stone houses, the perfect counterpoint to the lively, well-organized seafront at all hours.
AN ANCIENT HISTORY
The history of Durrës—strategically positioned on the western shore of the Ionian—is very ancient. Founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC and later developed by the Romans and Ottomans, Durrës tells its story through a rich archaeological and architectural heritage. One of the city’s symbols is the Roman Theatre, built in the 2nd century AD and among the largest in the Balkans, which once hosted up to 20,000 spectators. Next door, the Archaeological Museum houses artifacts from the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras, offering a window onto the millennia-old history of the city and region. Also worth seeing are the Fatih Mosque, dedicated to Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror and built in 1502 following the establishment of Ottoman rule, and the Byzantine Forum, with its fascinating series of Corinthian columns that formed the so-called Macellum (market) of the post-Roman era. It dates to between 600 and 800 AD and is paved with quarried marble stones.
ELBASAN & TIRANA
Leaving the coast, the stage heads inland, southward, crossing flat countryside to the foot of the Gracen ascent—the first King of the Mountains of the Corsa Rosa. Before the climb, however, it’s worth a very short detour to visit the city of Elbasan, with its castle built by the Ottomans in the 15th century on the ruins of a fortress dating back to Roman times. The route returns briefly to the plain to reach Tirana for a first pass, where the riders enter the final circuit that twice includes the ascent to Surel, a tiny hillside settlement and a pleasant excursion spot, especially as temperatures begin to rise. Ten kilometers of descent lead to the finish in Tirana, the capital, which will be the focus of the Giro’s entire following day.