Living by Nature’s Rhythm: What Southern Albania’s Villages Can Teach Us

It was just last month that I drove a client through the winding road between Qeparo and Borsh. We were heading to view a villa perched above the Ionian Sea — one of those rare listings that feels like it belongs in a movie scene. He looked out the window, saw a shepherd leading a small herd of goats down the hillside, and smiled. “You don’t see this in London,” he said.

And he was right.

There’s something about the rhythm of life in the villages of southern Albania that slows you down — in the best possible way. It’s not just the scenery, though the Albanian Riviera never disappoints. It’s the people, the customs, the way the day seems to follow the light rather than a clock.

And I believe, if we pay attention, there’s a lot we can learn from it — especially in a world moving faster than ever.

Where Time Moves Like Olive Oil

In the villages around Saranda — think places like Pilur, Fterra, Piqeras, or even the upper hills of Borsh — mornings don’t start with a race to beat traffic. They begin with the clinking of coffee cups on ceramic plates. You’ll see elders gathered outside their homes, sitting under fig trees, exchanging gossip and blessings in equal measure.

Life here isn’t about urgency. It’s about presence.

I remember one early viewing in Borsh. I had scheduled a 9:00 AM meeting with the property owner. When I arrived (on time, of course), he greeted me warmly — but barefoot, still brushing his teeth outside with a twig of mastic. We didn’t get inside the house until nearly ten. First, there was raki, then stories, then a small tray of olives and cheese his wife had brought out. Business comes second. Hospitality always comes first.

It’s something that’s stayed with me.

The Land Shapes the Lifestyle

When you’re surrounded by mountains on one side and the Ionian Sea on the other, the land teaches you patience. You can’t rush the olives to ripen or the grapes to ferment. You wait, you observe, you adapt.

This slow rhythm has carved out a different kind of life. One that’s both peaceful and incredibly grounding. And for many of the clients I work with — especially those coming from cities like Berlin, New York, or Paris — that’s the very thing they’re looking for.

It’s why our luxury villas for sale in Borsh have started catching international attention. They’re not just homes — they’re retreats. Surrounded by nature, designed with care, and offering views that never get old.