Tirana, the country’s dynamic capital!
Tirana has been the capital of Albania since 1920 and is at the same time the largest political, economic and cultural center of the country. It is located in a very favorable position in the center of the country, located at an altitude of 113 meters above sea level. To the west, the Adriatic Sea and the largest and most popular beach of Durrës are only 32 km away, while to the east, the Dajti Mountain, 1612 meters high, is only 26 km away. As a city, Tirana is relatively young. It was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pashë Bargjini, a local feudal lord who during this period built a mosque, a hammam and a bakery on the site where the monument to the “Unknown Partisan” is located today, which were also the first buildings of the new city. In 1816, the city fell into the hands of the Toptan family.
The most important event for Tirana is February 11, 1920, when the Congress of Lushnja declared it the provisional capital of Albania, whose definitive status Tirana would gain in 1925. After this act, the city experienced continuous growth, which took off especially after the 90s. The center of Tirana was designed by famous Italian architects of the Mussolini period. The main boulevard of Tirana “Dëshmorët e Kombit” was built in 1930, while the central square “Skënderbeu” was built during the years 1928-1929. In 1968, as part of the 500th anniversary of the death of the National Hero, his monument was erected. In 1988, the monument of the Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha was also erected in “Skënderbeu” square, but it was demolished on February 20, 1991 by students and the people of Tirana.
In Tirana there are institutions such as the Palace of Congresses, the International Center of Culture, the Palace of Culture with the Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as the government buildings of the Presidency, Parliament and the Council of Ministers. In addition to the large Park in the southeast of the city of Tirana, there are several other parks such as the Rinia Park, the park near the Parliament, near the Presidency, etc. Tirana is the main center in Albania for organizing conventions, conferences and seminars.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/tirana/
Durrës, as Catullus described it as the “Taverna of the Adriatic”!
Durrës is the second largest city in Albania and at the same time the largest and most important port of the country. Durrës is one of the oldest cities in Albania with a long history. Durrës was founded in 627 B.C. by colonists who came from Korkyra and Corinth on the lands of the Illyrian tribe of Taulants. Initially, it was known as Epidamnus and then Dyhrrahium (according to mythology, the grandson of Epidamnus). Later, Durrës became the seat of the Illyrian kings Taulant, Glauk and then of his sons Monun and Mytil. It is worth mentioning the fact that Durrës had its own constitution in 314 B.C. The city was conquered by Cassander of Macedonia while in 229 B.C. it was conquered by the Romans. During Roman rule, an amphitheater, aqueduct, etc. were built there. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Durrës experienced barbarian invasions such as those of Alaric of the Visigoths in 40 and then of Valamir of the Ostrogoths.
During the period of the Byzantine emperor Anastasius, who originated from Durrës, many temples, a hippodrome and numerous walls were built in the city. During the 7th – 12th centuries, it was the most important port of the eastern Adriatic. In 1368 the city fell under the influence of the Albanian prince Karl Topia who was forced to cede the city to Venice in 1386. The latter held the city for 108 years. In 1501 Durrës was conquered by the Ottomans. After this act the city began to decline and lose its importance. On the eve of national independence, the city was conquered by the Serbs who left in May 1913. Unfortunately, during the retreat they looted many rare archaeological values that are today exhibited in Belgrade museums. Today the city of Durrës is the largest and most popular beach in the country. The city contains very important objects that constitute very favorable potential for cultural tourism, such as: the Durrës Amphitheater (see archaeology), the Byzantine forum, the archaeological museum where the Greek and Roman periods are presented, the Venetian tower, the Fatih Mosque, the Monument of Resistance, which is dedicated to the armed struggle against the fascist invasion by Italy on April 7, 1939, the Ethnographic Museum, etc. The city is connected by ferry through the port to the Italian cities of Bari, Ancona and Trieste.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/durres/
Berat, the UNESCO City of One Window Over Another!
Berat is one of the rare cities where life begins in ancient times and continues uninterrupted to this day. Two stone hammers date the beginning of life to the early Bronze Age (2600-1800 BC). Archaeological evidence shows that in the 7th-6th centuries BC, a pre-urban settlement developed here, with its pottery workshops and a differentiated social life.
On the border of legend and history, this settlement is said to have been the ancient Orestiada, so called because a tribe of Pelasgians, the Orestes, lived there, the first of whom was Orestes, the son of Agamemnon. The proper city was founded in 313-310 BC, as a fortress-city of Dasaretia, named Antipatrea by King Cassander in memory of the general-regent of Leka the Great. This is the first name of the city. After the Roman conquest in the 2nd century BC, it was called Albanorum Oppidum (Fortress of the Arbans). In the 5th century, under the Byzantine Empire, it was strengthened and changed its name to Pulheriopolis (Beautiful City). Conquered by the Bulgarians in the 9th century, it was called Belgrad (White City) – today’s Berat.
In 1961, Berat was officially declared a museum city. It is a museum city with a considerable wealth of monuments and with diverse values by genre, which constitute a testimony to the cultural, historical and artistic heritage, of life and work, skillfully realized generation after generation by its inhabitants. By zoning and by determining the category of monuments, the city is divided into three zones: museum zone, protected zone and free zone.
Today, Berat inherits 210 museum objects, of which 150 are standing objects. Of these, 60 are monuments of the first category and the others of the second category. On July 8, 2008, Berat was registered on the UNESCO List by the World Heritage Committee at the Conference held in Canada. Berat was considered a rare example of typical Ottoman architecture.
The castle or fortress, as it is called by the Beratans, is built on a rocky hill in the shape of a triangle, with a perimeter of walls of 1440 meters, with 24 towers and two gates. With its Illyrian foundations, rebuilt several times in the 6th, 13th, 15th and 19th centuries, it is today not only one of the largest inhabited castles, but also a stone archive that offers a variety of styles and contributions from different eras: Illyrian, Roman-Byzantine, Albanian and Turkish.
The castle is part of the old and beautiful legend of Tomori and Shpirag.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/berati/
Vlora, the city on two seas!
Vlora is the second port of the country and one of the largest and most important cities in Albania. The distance from the country’s capital is about 130 km and from the “Mother Teresa” International Airport 120 km. It dates back to antiquity in the 6th century BC under the name Aulona. In the city center, near the Flag Square, fragments of the massive surrounding walls of Aulona have been discovered. In 1081, the city fell under Norman rule.
In the 14th century, it was included in the “Kingdom of Arbëria” under the leadership of the Balshajs (principality of the Balshajs). In 1417, it was conquered by the Ottomans. In 1812, the city fell into the hands of Ali Pasha Tepelena and a century later, on November 28, 1912, it became the first capital of independent Albania, with a government headed by Ismail Qemali. Objects of interest in the city of Vlora are the museum of “Independence” (built in the former headquarters of the first government), that of “History” and “Ethnography”.
Among the religious objects, it is worth mentioning the Muradie Mosque built in 1542 by the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire Mimar Sinani, (architect Sinani), who was of Albanian origin. This mosque is the only work left in Albania by him. On a dominant hill above the city is the religious site of “Kuzum Baba”, the object of the Bektashi sect. From here, a beautiful and magnificent view is offered towards the city of Vlora, the Karaburun peninsula, the island of Sazan and the Narta lagoon. There are also nice bars and restaurants here.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/topdestinations/vlora/
Shkodra, the capital of Northern Albania, the cradle of Albanian culture!
It is the most important center of Northern Albania and with a very rich cultural tradition for all of Albania. It enjoys a very favorable geographical position since it can be considered as an “entry port” to the magnificent Albanian Alps on the one hand and a point from where you can travel to the sandy beach of Velipoja on the Adriatic Sea. The Shkodra area is distinguished by its outstanding natural features and rich cultural heritage.
In this area, in addition to the important natural objects, such as: the Lake of Shkodra, the Buna River, the Kune-Vaini Lagoon, the Drini River, the Albanian Alps, the Malësia e Madhe, the Drini Bay, etc., there are also the important historical cities of Shkodra and Lezha. The tourist potential of the Shkodra area is numerous, which provides an opportunity to develop the type of tourism that is preferred.
Here can be developed: Coastal tourism, with a focus on the Velipoja area, which is only 30 km away from Shkodra and the Shëngjin area, very close to Lezha, which also have a relatively good tourist infrastructure.
Lake tourism, in the part of the Lake of Shkodra.
Mountain tourism, for the healthy climate and for the possibility of practicing winter sports, offered by areas such as Razma, Boga and Thethi, which are located only 46 km from the city in the middle of the Alps, where a thick layer of snow is preserved almost throughout most of the year.
Hunting tourism, especially on the Lake of Shkodra, in the Buna River delta, the Kune-Vaini tourist complex in the Drini Delta, which are distinguished by their diverse biodiversity.
River tourism, in the entire rich network of rivers and streams suitable for practicing kayaking. (on the Buna River).
Cultural tourism, for getting to know a large number of historical and cultural monuments of two of the main cities, Shkodra and Lezha, rich in centuries-old history of every period.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/shkodra/
Gjirokastra, the unique city with the largest castle in Albania!
Gjirokastra or Gjirokastër, is a city in southern Albania, whose inhabitants are called Gjirokastrians. The city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005, as one of the few surviving examples in the Balkans of Ottoman-style trading cities. Situated in southern Albania, Gjirokastra stands on the steep slopes of the Drino River Valley, dominating a landscape rich in history, the borders of which are demarcated by high mountain peaks.
This is the “city of a thousand steps” that includes hundreds of Ottoman-style tower houses with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and stone walls sometimes whitewashed with lime. Dominated in turn by the majestic castle that rises on a steep hill, Gjirokastra is a magical city with a turbulent past. From a bastion of feudalism to an Ottoman jewel and then an important center of the Italian fascist invaders, the city has known many rulers and has inspired many poets, writers and artists. The city, with a population of 40,000, is the economic and administrative center of the district of the same name.
The present-day city of Gjirokastra includes the Old City, with the castle (the first core of the settlement) and the Ottoman-style neighborhoods, built on ridges, that come moving away from the castle to the bottom of the valley, where the modern buildings and the university complex are located. The traditional neighborhoods extend in a radial pattern around the castle with the names: Cfakë, Dunavat, Manalat, Palorto, Varosh, Meçite, Hazmurat, Pazari i Vjetër.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/gjirokastra-2/
Kruja, the city of the national hero Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg!
It is one of the most historical cities in Albania. It is located at a close distance from the capital, only 32 km away. The name and importance of Kruja is related to the work and 25-year activity of our national hero, Gjergj Kastriot (Skanderbeg) who, during the Middle Ages in the 16th century, transformed Kruja and its castle into a point of unyielding resistance to the Ottoman threat and making it known and famous in all diplomatic offices of Europe.
The name of Kruja derives from the Albanian word “krua”. In the Byzantine period it is mentioned as an episcopal center. Around 1190 the first Albanian feudal state was created there. Later it came under the rule of the Albanian feudal family of Topiaj. In 1430 Kruja became the center of the Albanian uprising led by Gjon Kastriot, the father of Skanderbeg.
The most glorious period begins on November 28, 1443, when the fortress of Kruja was taken under the control of Gjergj Kastrioti, who organized the long anti-Ottoman resistance. Since this period, Kruja under the leadership of Skanderbeg broke three sieges by the Ottomans in 1450, 1457 and 1466.
Only 10 years after Skanderbeg’s death in 1478, the Ottomans conquered the fortress and destroyed the city. They called Kruja Akcahisar (white fortress). The remaining part of the population converted to Islam. Today, the city rises on the slope of the Kruja mountain at an altitude of about 600 meters above sea level, possessing a panoramic view. From the city of Kruja, the Adriatic Sea is clearly visible.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/kruja/
Pogradec, the Albanian city on Lake Ohrid!
You will enter the city of Pogradec from the national road, which intersects at the peak of Qafë Thanë with the road coming from the border point of the same name, from Macedonia. We recommend that exactly where these two roads intersect, do not forget to have your camera with you to capture a rare view: Lake Ohrid, a real gem. A few meters further down, stop at the Lin peninsula and the village of the same name, 25 km from Pogradec.
It is said that in antiquity the parents of Emperor Justinian considered Lin to be their favorite place to rest. In addition to the magical view, here you can visit the mosaic in the Lin Basilica on the hill, which dates back to the 6th-7th centuries BC. and is notable for its diverse zoomorphic, floral and geometric decoration. It bears similarities to the mosaics of ancient Durrës. On the way to Pogradec, it passes by the shore of Lake Ohrid, which with its tectonic origin and with a depth reaching up to 285 m, is the deepest in the Balkans.
The two-million-year-old lake, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique values, preserves 17 species of fish, 70% of which are endemic and 30% are crustacean species, among which the Ohrid sponge, also found in Lake Baikal, stands out. On the shores of the lake you will find many comfortable restaurants, bars and hotels. Taste fish and its traditional cooking method, including the famous Koranic casserole, pickles and “kollofacja”. You will also find many types of wine, including the traditional and unique buti wine, the famous brandy “perla” and the “muskat” from Pograd
Inhabited since the Neolithic and later by the Illyrian tribes of Enkelej and Dasaret (who founded the city with the Pogradec Castle, on a hill at an altitude of 870 m), you can come to this city at any time of the year, as it enjoys a wonderful climate. Do not leave Pogradec without visiting Drilon and Tushemisht, 5 km south of the city. The waters that emerge from the springs of Drilon form another small lake.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/pogradeci/
Korça, the city of serenades!
After the unique Pogradec, the next surprise awaits you, Korça, one of the largest urban centers in Albania. On the main boulevard, in spring, you will enjoy the special aroma of blackberries, while in winter it is a pleasure to walk under the crown of snow-covered trees. In 1887, the first Albanian school was opened in Korça.
During the First World War, the city was occupied by the French and at this time the “Autonomous Province of Korça” was declared. In 1917, the French Lyceum, one of the most famous schools in Albania, was opened in this city. What impresses you is the special architecture, with villa-like houses, surrounded by gates and courtyards filled with various flowers, the area between the boulevards “Republic” and “Saint-Georges” will particularly impress you. The “Museum of Medieval Art” is located in this area. The “Prehistoric Museum” located in two typical Korça houses will offer you 1200 objects, which represent archaeological excavations from the prehistoric period, Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine periods.
Of particular interest is the house-museum of the landscape master Vangjush Mio, as well as the Bratko Collection Museum, opened in 2003 with works of oriental art from the Far East. Other objects of interest are: the Korça Bazaar (19th and early 20th centuries), the Iliaz Bej Mirahori Mosque, 1484 (the oldest monument in the city), the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (among the largest in the Balkans), the Church of Saint Ilias, etc.
Korça is the city of carnivals. They take place on the eve of Orthodox Easter and their ceremony is the largest and most beautiful in Albania.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/korca/
Elbasan, the city in the heart of Albania!
Elbasan is located in the center of the country and is the third largest city in the country. It is located 54 km from the capital and 82 km from the main port of Durrës. It was an ancient settlement at the crossroads of the west-east and north-south roads. Initially known as “Skampa”, in the 2nd century AD it was the first important station after Durrës on the “Via Egnatia”.
It was later known as Hiskampis and in 509 it emerged as an episcopal center. The old settlement was destroyed by barbarian invasions and in the 15th century it reappeared under the name Valmi. In 1466 Sultan Mehmet II, failing to take the fortress of Kruja, set up his camp in the Elbasan plain and rebuilt the fortress and the city walls, calling it “ILBASAN” (a place that rules).
The rebuilt Elbasan began to be populated rapidly and in the 16th century it became the center of the sandjak. During its history, Elbasan became a very important center of the Albanian national education, in 1909 the first Albanian high school “Normaja e Elbasanit” was established there. From this region are the famous Albanian iconographers Onufri and Kostandin Shpataraku as well as the very important linguist of the Albanian language of the 19th century Kostandin Kristoforidhi, who was born in this city.
The most important objects to visit in the city are the fortress, the Naziresha mosque, the 16th century hammam, the church of Shën Mërija in the fortress, the Ethnographic Museum, the clock tower, etc. 4 km from the city is the monastery of St. John Vladimir, built there by the Albanian prince Karl Topia in 1382. His tomb is also located there. Near the city are the thermal baths, which have been known since the Roman period.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/elbasani/
Përmet, the city of flowers and the place of an idyllic nature!
In Përmet you can enjoy the hospitality, greenery and atmosphere of a peaceful town. In summer, in Përmet you will find numerous beaches, in ponds formed like pockets on the banks of Vjosa. In restaurants inside and outside the city you will find very special cuisine and impressive service. In addition to the characteristic vegetable dishes, for which Përmet is so famous, you can taste artichokes cooked in olive oil, game meat, mountain partridge stuffed with pershesh, wild boar, wild hare, delicious Vjosa fish, etc.
You will also enjoy wine (Cabernet, Merlot, etc.), the famous traditional raki, as well as wonderful glycota with all kinds of fruits. Përmet, the city of flowers, roses, unique songs, purity and tranquility, (known in antiquity as “Tryfilia”, inhabited by Illyrian tribes), has been known as an administrative center since the 15th century. Its numerous and rich bazaars were visited by many other Balkan countries. Visiting the churches, we highlight the church of Leusa (18th century), which is famous for its iconostasis, frescoes, as well as the church of Saint Mary in Kosina (12th century).
Përmet is the birthplace of many great artists of the Albanian pantheon, such as the Frashëri brothers and many other prominent personalities of politics, science, letters, music and figurative arts, who laid the foundations of the Albanian nation. Do not miss the opportunity to climb the Frashëri mountain, about 30 km from the city. On the way to the mountain village of Frashër, you will pass through the Hotova Fir National Park, a unique panorama among countless fir and pine trees. Here you can enjoy hiking, camping etc.
Other attractive localities are the thermal waters of Bënjë and the Lengarica valley, which is only 3 km from the city. Përmet has six natural open “outdoor” springs. These waters spring from the beautiful canyons of two bridges that date back to the time of Ali Pasha Tepelena: the Kaiku Bridge and the Dashi Bridge.
Leaving Përmet, the road takes us to the Greek border, which is only 30 km from the city, and to the famous Leskovik, famous for the thermal waters of Vronomero and the steam baths of Postenan. During the summer, you can attend an annual rowing competition, where rowers set off from neighboring Greece, at the edge of the Pindos Mountains where Vjosa River begins, and are welcomed with a ceremony in Përmet.
This annual ritual is repeated for two other events such as: the “International Multicultural Festival”, which takes place in June, and the “Wine Day” which takes place in May. During this month, a national meeting dedicated to eminent personalities born in Frashër is also organized.
http://www.akt.gov.al/al/top-destinations/permet/
Apollonia, where Emperor Augustus studied philosophy!
Apollonia is located 12 km from the city of Fier. It was founded in the early 7th century BC by Greek colonists who came from Corinth. The first records of their presence are documented around 588 BC. The city was named in honor of the god Apollo. Among the 24 cities throughout the Mediterranean world that bore this name in Antiquity, Apollonia of Illyria was the most important and played a major role as a trade intermediary between the Hellenes and the Illyrians. Apollonia was at that time a large and important city near the Aoos (Vjosa) River. The city had about 60,000 inhabitants, a record figure for Antiquity. It maintained its grandeur even in the Roman period. Octavian Augustus studied oratory there. The large territory covered with monuments, the wonderful landscapes of the Mycenaean plain, the Adriatic Sea on one side and the southern beaches on the other, make the Apollonia archaeological park easily accessible to visitors and a privileged destination for cultural tourism in Albania.
