The Church of Shna'Ndou (In Albanian: Kisha e Laçit), dedicated to St Anthony of Padua, is located in Lac, near Lezhe District in a 4.7 mile (11,000-step) route. This route has an elevation gain of about 1079.1 ft. This church is of a particularly importance for Albanians and it is called / known as the “Miracle place”. If Albanians (believers and nonbelievers) are asked where they turn to in times of trouble, many will mention this church.
The history of this place dates back to the 1300s and it was built by the Franciscans. Throughout the following centuries, only during the communism period it proceeded to cause some damage to it in 1971 but failed in their overall objective to destroy it. It was rebuilt in the 1990s.
The church sits up on a hill and overlooks the entire valley, it’s a stunning location. There is also the Cave of Saint Blaise (Shpella e Shen Vlashit) is a small cave. It is thought to have been the place where Saint Blaise lived, and is a major pilgrimage center.
The church is named after the Franciscan priest, born in Lisbon in 1195, dedicated his life on earth to his faith and spreading hope to the people.