The Monastery of Ardenica sits on a wooded hilltop about 30 kilometres east of Fier and is one of the finest examples of Albanian Orthodox monastic architecture. The main church, dedicated to Saint Mary, was built in 1743 and contains an outstanding iconostasis — the carved and gilded screen of religious paintings that divides the nave from the sanctuary — created by the Zografi brothers, among the most celebrated icon painters of 18th-century Albania.
The monastery is still inhabited by a small monastic community and remains a place of active worship. The position on the hill gives views across the Albanian lowlands toward the Adriatic, and the approach road passes through olive groves that are lovely in spring. Visiting requires modest dress; a guide from Fier can be helpful for context.